‘Pokémon Go’ Cheats, Hacks, and Bots Are Back After Hackers Broke Through Updated Algorithm [VIDEO]
ByPlayers of the famous "Pokémon Go" has previously used several hacks cheats, bots, and even a third-party software which integrate valid hashes to request data for the game into applications. However, Niantic has blocked these application in the last "Pokémon Go" update. Recently, creators of the cheats developed examined the update and created a new API.
Hackers who claimed to hack the app said that they observed the algorithm of the update, specifically, the hidden data called the Unknown 6 or U6.These bits of data, among the long line of codes is responsible for collecting data from the game client.
After the update, initial observations of the behavior showed that API requests that did not send U6 data to the servers of "Pokémon Go" was returned with negative responses. The previous app had no problem with this and did not send any response to blank fields in the data. The reason is, the hashed U6 data is a hashed encryption that can only be sent from a valid client that possesses the information.
Each tick of "Pokémon Go's" internal heartbeat timer changes the U6 data, YIBADA reported.
This means that cheats and hacks that uses bots cannot access data of the game from the servers. However, hackers managed to get through and cracked the new U6 algorithm in only three days.
This led to the creation of new unofficial API that can fetch data by altering the function code of the game and observing the result. This API lets the players use hacks, cheats, bots and third-party software again, according to Ars Technica.
The hacking group responsible managed to replicate the U6 encryption function. The new encryption function was critical in making the new API. There is a problem however, since the team sis not fully unlock U6's inner execution, meaning, Niantic can still see cheaters. This includes all GPS spoofers, hackers, and players who use bots in the game.
Also, people who use cheats are in risk of losing their privacy since most hacks and bot software collects information about users, which in turn, puts the user at risk.
Presently, the game set the record with 75 million downloads.