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How to explore an iPhone application bundle
Authored by: asmeurer on Feb 20, '09 09:56:06AM

I am surprised that this has just not made it to Mac OS X Hints. I learned how to do this not long after the app store came out. The key is realizing that the .ipa file is just a compressed archive of the app.

I wonder, has anyone tried modifying an app, for example, replacing an audio file with something different? If the previous poster is correct, the .ipa file is just a .zip file with the extension changed.



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How to explore an iPhone application bundle
Authored by: asmeurer on Feb 20, '09 09:58:20AM

Sorry, that should have been "just now made it to Mac OS X Hints".



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How to explore an iPhone application bundle
Authored by: marook on Feb 20, '09 12:09:08PM

That won't work.

The application .ipa is Digitally Signed! If even One Bit is chnaged, the app will not run on a stock iPhone.
Now, on a jailbreaked device... that's another story...

---
/Marook



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How to explore an iPhone application bundle
Authored by: macnixer on Feb 21, '09 10:02:30AM

As marook says, the digital signature prevent the app to be modified. The whole purpose of the digital signature is to provide security to the user. Apple requires developers to codesign the apps and sell them through the App Store only so that users like us do not have to worry where the app came from and cause problems with our device.

Imagine if you had the capability to modify the app, someone could insert a rouge code which would read all your numbers and send it to them. Also someone could create apps that would be able to record your conversation including the keys (touch tones) and mail it out. Imagine what would happen if someone had the last 4 digits of your social, your birthday (someone called to wish you) and obviously your name. And you also happened to talk to your banker who wanted your credit card number. Possibilities are unlimited. Apple has tied down the iPhone to one central controlled system so that I live in peace.



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