News

Hackers release iPhone 4 'jailbreak' app

By Jeremy Kirk

August 2, 2010 08:28 AM ET

IDG News Service - The latest version of software that allows iPhone 4 and iOS 4 users to install applications not approved by Apple has been released just days after the practice was declared legal under U.S. copyright law.

JailbreakMe 2.0 can be installed by going to its developers' Web site, jailbreakme.com, where it is installed via the Safari Web browser.

One of its developers, Comex, wrote on Twitter that there were initial problems with JailbreakMe and the MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and FaceTime video chat functions, but those problems are now fixed.

The practice of jailbreaking was illegal under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which prohibits the circumvention of copy protection mechanisms.

But last week the Librarian of Congress issued a batch of exemptions, ruling that the installation of legally acquired third-party software for non-infringing reasons on mobile phones doesn't violate U.S. copyright law.

Jailbreaking also allows an iPhone to be used on other phone networks. Apple's exclusive agreement with AT&T to offer the iPhone is being challenged in a class-action suit.

Filed last month, the suit contends the two companies secretly agreed to unfairly "technologically restrict voice and data service" for five years.

Apple, which has never pushed for prosecuting someone for jailbreaking their iPhone, nonetheless discourages the practice, saying that it could interfere with the phone's normal operation.

Jailbreaking also will potentially invalidate the iPhone's warranty, Apple has warned.

Apple's regular iPhone software updates often also invalidated the jailbreak modifications, and the jailbreaking software had to be regularly updated.

Send news tips and comments to jeremy_kirk@idg.com

Continuing coverage: iPhone

Comments ()

What is Tech Briefcase?

TechBriefcase is a new, free service where IT Professionals can Search, Store and Share IT white papers and content like this. Learn more

Bookmark content

Speed up your research efforts with content across the web.

Search and Store

Find the white papers you need. Create folders for any topic.

View Anywhere

Open your briefcase on your iPhone, tablet or desktop. Share with colleagues.

Don't have an account yet?

Additional Resources

WHITE PAPER

Enter the Security KnowledgeVault

Security is not an option. This KnowledgeVault Series offers professional advice how to be proactive in the fight against cybercrimes and multi-layered security threats; how to adopt a holistic approach to protecting and managing data; and how to hire a qualified security assessor. Make security your Number 1 priority.

Read now.

WHITE PAPER

Cut Communications Costs Once and for All

New IP-based communications systems are being deployed by small and midsized businesses at a rapid rate. Learn how these organizations are enabling faster responsiveness, creating better customer experiences, speeding office or mobile interactions, and dramatically reducing existing communications costs.

Read now.

Top Stories

Free Insider Guide

Excel 2010 Cheat Sheet: Register for this Computerworld Insider Cheat Sheet and gain access to hundreds of premium content articles, guides, product reviews and more.

Applications White Papers

Establishing a Strategy for Database Security is No Longer Optional: The options for securing increasingly valuable databases are very broad and deep, and can be confusing. This research provides an overview of three...
Driving Secure Enterprise File Sharing and Syncing in the Enterprise: GroupLogic's new activEcho is the industry's only secure Enterprise File Sharing and Synching solution that balances the need for simplicity for the end...
The Enterprise File Sharing Option: Enterprises and IT departments need to address several critical security issues when considering file sharing and syncing products. Many of today's solutions do...
Activities Streams Base An Integrated Social Layer: The enterprise social software market is exploding thanks to converging trends of consumerization, cloud, and mobile. In this must-read report, "The Forrester Wave:...
Converged Infrastructure for Dummies: As you know, everything is mobile, connected, interactive, and immediate. This is exactly why organizations need a highly agile IT infrastructure in order...

Applications Webcasts

Delivery Management -- Extending Lifecycle Management: Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 1:00 PM EDT

Siloed organizations continue doing the wrong things and doing things wrong, leading to increased costs,...
Leverage automation today to reduce IT complexity: Date: Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 2:00 PM EDT

Whether your B2B complexity is caused by multiple technologies due to M&A, business or application specific...
BMC Control-M - Single Point of Control Demo: With BMC Control-M, you schedule and manage everything - down to the very last platform and application - from one simple interface. It's...
Operational Analytics - Changing the Competitive Dynamics of the Business: Date/Time: June 5, 2012, 11:00 a.m., EDT, 4:00 p.m. BST / 3:00 p.m. UTC

Please join us for this webcast, as Dr. Barry...
Oracle Database Appliance Best Practices: Business users increasingly demand 24x7 availability of their data while IT departments face the challenge of ensuring maximum availability while operating with limited...