There was a time in which the world wondered as a collective how free-to-play games could thrive in an industry built on hefty price tags, but that was a time before the wonders of in-app purchases had been discovered. It isn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the popular method of profit, though, as Alexey Borodin, a Russian hacker, was able to manipulate the system to complete over 8.4 million fake transactions and spread their benefits all around the globe. Responding to the attack on such popular titles as Plants vs. Zombies HD, Infinity Blade, and Fruit Ninja, Apple this week provided developers with a fix that will eliminate all illicit purchases.

As of now, the fix only applies when a given application is updated to the point that it can recognize faulty purchases. Until the transition to iOS6, a revamped operating system due out this fall, users can avoid Apple’s remedy by simply abstaining from patching their existing applications. On his blog, Borodin has conceded that the proverbial jig would be up upon the release of iOS6, but, until then, he will continue to provide the service that has made him so notorious within the smart-phone community.

Borodin is far from done making an impact on Apple’s platform; now, the hacker has turned his attention towards the App Store on Mac OSX and Apple’s Newsstand, an application that, if properly manipulated, will allow free access to comic books and magazines.

[The Guardian]