Decrypt

[chicka]

So I had someone make an app for me and he sent me the APK file which I uploaded and works just great. What I was wondering is how to decrypt the file so I can look at the codes. I have already downloaded the Android sdk. Can someone please tell me what I can do or what I can use to decrypt the file and take a look at it?

I appreciate any help I get
Thank you very much

[PeteS]

Your question is "how" to decrypt the APK. I think the first question should be "if" you can decrypt the APK, and I suspect most people would answer that there is no straightforward way to do so. The APK is the compiled, finished product.

If APKs simply came with the source code in a form that were easily decryptable, well, that would be a waste of space, and people would be able to rip off other people's software very easily.

I think what you really want is for your friend to send you the project files/source code he used to compile the APK.

[chicka]

I was looking for source codes for the type of application this is.. Basically all it is is a redirect to my website. Does anyone happen to know where I can get a sample code of a redirect? The reason i'm asking is because I have 2 different websites and him make one. I wanted to learn how to make my own. If anyone can direct me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

[extorian]

APKs aren't encrypted (i.e. have some cipher applied to make it extremely difficult to obtain the original data) at all, so there's nothing to decrypt. Do you mean decompile (take the bytecode and convert it back into readable java-like source code)?

APK files are just JAR files, which in turn are just ZIP files. Rename the .apk to a .zip and double click it and you'll be able to see all the files.

Unfortunately, the files aren't as easy to decompile as normal Java class files. They're optimised into a .DEX (Dalvik EXecutable) file, and this optimisation is one-way, so you can never get the original source code back. You can, however, see what the code does by looking at the OP codes.

This article tells you how: http://zeaster.blogspot.com/2007/11/...ndroid_28.html

[chicka]

Do you mean decompile (take the bytecode and convert it back into readable java-like source code)?

Yes this is pretty much what I was talking about