iOS 6 untethered jailbreak released, Cydia app store flooded

IDG News Service - Apple modders can rejoice: The latest jailbreak software for iOS 6 was released on Monday.

The jailbreak is the result of months of work by a four-man computer security research team called the "Evad3rs." They probed Apple's latest OS to find a string of vulnerabilities that would allow an untethered jailbreak, or one that can be installed without the device being connected to a computer.

The jailbreak is available through the website evasi0n.com, which has links to file-storage services hosting the jailbreak such as Box.net, Kim Dotcom's Mega and RapidShare.

One of the researchers, David Wang, who is known as @planetbeing on Twitter, wrote on Monday that the jailbreak has a file size of about 10MB. On Box.net alone, about 4.2TB of jailbreak files had already been downloaded, he wrote.

"We're at 4.2TB on the http://box.netA mirror, and the links are still working!" Wang wrote. "Thanks @BoxHQ!"

Those also contributing to the jailbreak are Cyril, who is known as @pod2g on Twitter, Nikias Bassen (@pimskeks) and Eric McDonald (@musclenerd).

McDonald tweeted: "I really hope @planetbeing and @pimskeks get some food and sleep soon. You know, to make up for ALL of last week."

Apple significantly bolstered the security of iOS 6, which made it difficult to find enough vulnerabilities to enable a jailbreak. The Evad3rs team decided to hold back releasing a jailbreak until after Apple released iOS 6.1 on Jan. 28.

That's because Apple could have patched some of the vulnerabilities if they had released the jailbreak beforehand, closing the gap of time in which the software would be effective.

Jailbreaking is legal in the U.S. due to an exemption under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which forbids circumventing protections in place to prevent modification of devices. Apple strongly discourages jailbreaking and can void warranties for devices that have been modified.

With a jailbroken Apple device, users can install applications not vetted by the company as well as make other modifications. One of the most popular unauthorized application stores for Apple devices is Cydia.

Late Monday, Cydia's website appeared not to be working, the apparent result of a wave of traffic following the release of the jailbreak.

"If you have problems with Cydia sources, it's ok, it's just that they are under heavy load at the moment," @pod2g wrote. "Try again later."

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