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How to submit an app to Apple’s App Store when it uses encryption

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Re: How to submit an app to Apple’s App Store when it uses encryption

#61
post #37
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Holy crap that is a bureaucratic nightmare. Why does encryption even need to be registered in the first place? I don't see any point beyond the holdover of 'encryption is munitions' which is a pile of crap in the first place.

Because you might be exporting it to an un-friendly country. Don't try to apply logic here -- "But can't they just compile openssl or just use Linux!? or some library..." -- this is government contracting and security world, regular logic doesn't work here.

what if I am working in un-friendly country trying to import it to friendly countries via the App Store?

Re: How to submit an app to Apple’s App Store when it uses encryption

#62
post #45
post #2

Last year I learned that to publish an app in the App Store or Mac App Store, if it uses encryption of any kind and yes, HTTPS and SSL count, you need an Encryption Registration (ERN) from the US Bureau of Industry (BIS). Some people claim it's fine to lie to Apple, claim no use of encryption and get in the app store. I'd rather do it the right way. When I started the process of getting the ERN, I quickly notice it w…

This seems to be only for US based developers, I can't remember having to fill in more then a handful of radio buttons regarding crypto when I submitted an iOS app as a Dutch developer.

From the blog post the developer's to be based in the UK.

Re: How to submit an app to Apple’s App Store when it uses encryption

#63
post #45
post #2

Last year I learned that to publish an app in the App Store or Mac App Store, if it uses encryption of any kind and yes, HTTPS and SSL count, you need an Encryption Registration (ERN) from the US Bureau of Industry (BIS). Some people claim it's fine to lie to Apple, claim no use of encryption and get in the app store. I'd rather do it the right way. When I started the process of getting the ERN, I quickly notice it w…

This seems to be only for US based developers, I can't remember having to fill in more then a handful of radio buttons regarding crypto when I submitted an iOS app as a Dutch developer.

Nope, this is for everyone. Apple is exporting your app from US, so they need this paperwork from you. The only other options are:

* send Apple a paper promising that you will only distribute your app in US and Canada stores, discarding all other markets.

* make your encryption use insecure 64-bit keys.

* make your complete app open source.

* (some other options, such as when using encryption only for authentication)

If you lied to Apple and if US government finds out you export encryption without registration, and if they care enough, they will fine you (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/10/17/intel_subsidiary_cry...)

Re: How to submit an app to Apple’s App Store when it uses encryption

#64
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We continue to need to bear arms of all sorts, equal to those that the military uses. As you pointed out, the purpose of the 2nd amendment was to avoid tyranny in a powerful central government. As long as the (federally funded & led) military uses firearms, responsible civilians _must_ also keep & bear them.

If that is so, then we have already lost. No firearm held by the citizens can compete with the firepower of the military of today. The spirit of the amendment may have been in the right place and surely worked when the constitution was written but we live in a very different world now and if you still think the an armed citizenry will avoid tyranny, you need to go to youtube and see what the military can now do.

Are you sure about that? Look at Iraq. Also, while soldiers in the military might be fine oppressing a compliant populace, how many will jump ship if they are forced to wage actual war on their countrypersons?

Re: How to submit an app to Apple’s App Store when it uses encryption

#65
Not specific to Apple. Same thing has to be done for any other app store, like Google's. Some mentioned that there is an exception if you use OS libraries for encryption. I think that's not the case, but I think using some third party SDKs like Game Center (for which I guess the providers did the paper work) is excepted.

Re: How to submit an app to Apple’s App Store when it uses encryption

#67
post #14
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That cannot possibly be true. I guarantee you virtually every REST app in the store uses HTTPS and none of them went through all of this. In the latest version of iOS you can't even load HTTP by default and must use HTTPS unless you put a special exception in your Info.plist. Everybody uses HTTPS, and nobody has to go through any of this. So either you asked the wrong question, misinterpreted the answer, or you simpl…

Thank you! It is definitely a misinterpretation. Apple makes https mandatory now and there is no way every developer would have to go through this process.

I think "only" apps that allow communication are affected. Websites that only pull generic data are safe.

Re: How to submit an app to Apple’s App Store when it uses encryption

#68
post #2

Last year I learned that to publish an app in the App Store or Mac App Store, if it uses encryption of any kind and yes, HTTPS and SSL count, you need an Encryption Registration (ERN) from the US Bureau of Industry (BIS). Some people claim it's fine to lie to Apple, claim no use of encryption and get in the app store. I'd rather do it the right way. When I started the process of getting the ERN, I quickly notice it w…

Where is your blog?

Re: How to submit an app to Apple’s App Store when it uses encryption

#69
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Note 4: Category 5, Part 2 does not apply to items [...] meeting all of the following: > (a) The primary function or set of functions is not any of the following: [...] > ...... (3) Sending, receiving or storing information ( except in support of entertainment, mass commercial broadcasts, digital rights management or medical records management); (Emphasis mine.) Triple negative - now that's something. And DRM and t…

I would have thought that DRM is a loophole you can drive a truck through. As long as any of your data is of value, you can claim the reason for encryption is DRM. Even if you let the end user have access to all data, you could always send some sort of DRM heartbeat.

No loophole! It only count's if you exclusively need encryption for DRM. Not for other stuff like, to protect your users chat communication for example.

Re: How to submit an app to Apple’s App Store when it uses encryption

#70
Don't you wish you hadn't surrendered software distribution authority to a single faceless corporate party? When nobody tried to demand bullshit crypto paperwork?

Remember when you could distribute software yourself without getting threatened[1]? Remember when platform vendors didn't take a 30% cut of everything you earned just because they wrote an OS? Not even Microsoft was that evil.

I hope you enjoy the world you've built, hipsters.

[1] See the f.lux Apple distribution debacle

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