News
Developer reverse engineers Apple’s private AirPlay key
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Tuesday, April 12, 2011
News Category: iPad, iPhone, iPod, iTunes
Developer James Laird has reverse engineered Apple’s private AirPlay key, opening the door to third-party AirPlay-enabled AirPort Express emulators. In a blog post announcing the release of ShairPort, an open-source AirPort Express emulator, Laird explains that Apple used a public-key crypto scheme in the AirPort Express, hiding a private key inside. Laird ended up opening the AirPort Express, dumping the ROM, and reverse engineering the keys out of it to achieve his goal. As noted by Mac Rumors, third-party apps allowing users to stream audio to an AirPort Express or other AirPlay devices have previously been available, but none were able to accept incoming audio streams. In addition, it seems unlikely that hardware manufacturers would want to use the key, as it is possible to become an officially licensed AirPlay partner instead.
Related Stories
- Pulp adds iCloud sync, new Home Page
- Sony launches Music Unlimited for iOS
- Third-gen iPad to launch in Guam, Philippines May 29
- Apple tweaks App Store with Editors’ Choice, Free picks
- Panic releases Diet Coda
- Tweetbot adds Nearby tweets, Keyword mute filters + more
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- Pulp adds iCloud sync, new Home Page
- WordPress for iOS adds Push Notifications
- Sony launches Music Unlimited for iOS
- Apple device poll ends, computing poll begins
- Fruit Ninja adds new features and power-ups
- Apple to sell Nest Learning Thermostat
- Third-gen iPad to launch in Guam, Philippines May 29
- Apple tweaks App Store with Editors’ Choice, Free picks
- Panic releases Diet Coda
- Booq rolls out new Folio for iPad
Recent Reviews
- Pelican i1075 Hardback Case for iPad
- Skinit Skins for iPad (3rd-Generation)
- Spigen SGP Steinheil Ultra Optics Screen Protector for iPad (3rd-Gen)
- ZeroChroma VarioProtect for iPhone 4/4S
- BodyGuardz UltraTough Clear Skins for iPad (3rd-Gen)
- Wrapsol Original + Ultra Hybrid Protective Film for iPad 2/iPad (3rd-Gen)
- iBattz Mojo Removable Power Card Wallet
- dreamGEAR i.Sound Power View Pro S 2.1A Dual Charging Dock
- dreamGEAR i.Sound Universal Power View
- Sena Cases Florence Portfolio for iPad (3rd-Gen)
Recent Articles
- Removing music from iTunes after copying to iPod
- iOS Gems: Farm 123, Facebook Camera, Scribblenauts, Shoot the Zombirds + Virtua Tennis Challenge
- iTunes TV show size totals don’t match actual disk storage
- Consolidating Multiple iTunes Libraries
- Converting Purchased Videos to 1080p HD
- Find My Friends always reports home location
- Creating an iTunes Match library from an external hard drive
- Benefits of keeping apps in iTunes when using iCloud
- Recovering iTunes from an External Hard Drive
- Normalizing volume levels for Voice Memos
1
It’s only a matter of time before Apple slams the door on this. Look for a minor update to iTunes and the AirPort firmware very soon.
Posted by Farnsworth on April 12, 2011 at 8:35 AM (PDT)
2
@1: Nope, this door is open, and unless Apple wants a PR nightmare will stay open.
Pretty sure you can’t flash the firmware on most (any?) of the AirPlay speakers that are out there, and if that’s the case, this is more like when people figured out the encryption keys for DVDs and BlueRay. The nature of the multiple vendors and ways it was implemented means you can’t just change the key because you want to.
The question is will anyone have the cojones to actually create an unauthorized AirPlay receiver/speaker given that I’m sure Apple would have them in court before it even hits the shelves if they’re in most countries Apple deals with.
Posted by Code Monkey in Midstate New York on April 13, 2011 at 4:10 AM (PDT)
3
I think your conflating AirPlay and AirTunes here — the article you linked to regarded reverse engineering the AirTunes private key, enabling anybody to simulate AirTunes recipient hardware (like the Airport Express). While AirPlay is being marketed as an evolution of AirTunes, adding video streaming to what was formerly only an audio streaming service, the technology behind the two is apparently quite distinct and not really related. So I really doubt this new development has any bearing on the future of AirPlay implementations.
Posted by Joe on April 13, 2011 at 7:33 AM (PDT)