macOS Sierra accidentally kills app piracy

25 September 2016, 03:29

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The recent macOS Sierra update breaks many cracks and serial number generators (known as keygens) used in the piracy community to overcome software protection.

The cracks and keygens crash instantly upon running, with the crash log reporting the following:

This UPX compressed binary contains an invalid Mach-O header and cannot be loaded.

This occurs because the creators of the hacks and keygens use the popular open source UPX app to package their code but subsequently attempt to cover their tracks by erasing any mention of the app, including the vital markers to compressed data. This confuses macOS Sierra, causing the error.

The developers behind UPX have been made aware of the error, which affects more than just cracks and hacks, and the up-coming 3.92 release of UPX contains fixes that amongst other things addresses the problem. However, repairing existing cracks so they function on macOS Sierra is complicated by the additional requirement to resign the app after the code has been patched.

Mac Kung Fu has reached out to a prominent member of the Mac cracks and keygen community and will update this piece if we receive a response.

UPDATE: Mac Kung Fu has yet to receive a response to our enquiries but we note that a special patch app for Sierra has been released that patches “recent” cracks and keygens so that they now function.

UPDATE #2: Several people in the comments have asked for a link to the patch and/or hacks. At Mac Kung Fu we don’t condone piracy, and will not provide such links.

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Leave a comment...

Where is the special patch app for sierra??

— Fabio · Sep 28, 04:45 AM · #

where i can find that special patch for Sierra?

— Tommy · Sep 30, 02:06 PM · #

Seriously…what kind if crap is that? Clearly you dont know how to write content, as YOU FORGOT TO PROVIDE A LINK TO THE “SPECIAL” PATCH! Thats if there even is one…

— wtf · Dec 17, 02:08 PM · #

Sorry Mr Wtf, Mac Kung Fu does not condone piracy. That’s why we don’t link to the path you mention.

— Keir · Dec 17, 02:14 PM · #

 
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