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It looks like we're about to see a jailbreak for iDevices: good news for users who want non-AppStore apps. It's even working for the new iOS 4.02 and 4.1. Listen up, if you want the latest operating system, or you've accidentally upgraded to it (specifically, if you own an iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad, or iPod Touch 4G). It's a bootROM exploit, which appears tricky for Apple to fix (oh boo-hoo, how terribly tragic). In IT Blogwatch, bloggers breathe a sigh of relief, thanking pod2g, p0sixninja, and the Chronic-Dev team.
Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment. Not to mention the Microsoft Opera browser urban legend... (AAPL)
Dan Goodin says the jailbreak hole will be "hard to close":
Just hours after Apple released iOS 4.1 ... hackers found a way to jailbreak [it]. ... first announced by iPhone Dev-Team member pod2g ... soon confirmed by other hackers. ... The exploit targets such a low-level part ... Apple won't be able to stop jailbreakers without ... hardware changes. ... Ironically, an ... earlier jailbreak known as the 24kpwn exploit was eliminated ... [with] you guessed it the vulnerable boot ROM. ... Dev-Team members say there is still work to be done ... and that would-be jailbreakers are best served by forgoing the update to 4.1 for now.
Dean Takahashi ventures to offer background:
Hackers have shown time and again that they can beat the security ... Apple puts in place to keep control of its hardware devices ... so that they can run unauthorized software on the phones. ... Jailbreaking the iPhone is now legal, thanks to ... the U.S. Copyright Office ... [and] the Electronic Frontier Foundation. ... More than a million iPhone owners are said to have jailbroken ... [to] get apps from sources other than Apples iTunes App Store, or change wireless providers. ... If you pay for something, you have the right to use it as you wish as long it is not for ... commercial benefit.
Jennifer Allan has had her rumo[u]r confirmed:
The rumours we heard about the iPhone iOS 4.1 jailbreak a couple of days ago were true. ... The rumour said that there were two vulnerability points ... one deeper down in the iPhone than the other, and its this latter thats come through. ... Because the vulnerability is at such a low level ... Apple will have a job patching it, and might even have to make hardware changes to put a stop the jailbreak.
So Darren Allan wishes Apple would just give up:
The problem this time round will be much more of a headache for Apple. ... Although there could be a potentially very simple solution. Just let people run what they want on their iPhones.
But George Hulme spreads FUD:
Users may want to think twice. ... In February, Apple filed for a patent that covers the ability to spot and disable various unauthorized uses ... jailbreaking included. ... By jailbreaking the device, you may not only be voiding the warranty but you may one day end up with a bricked phone or MP3 player..
Richi Jenningsis an independent analyst/consultant, specializing in blogging, email, and security. A cross-functional IT geek since 1985, you can follow him as @richi on Twitter, pretend to be richij's friend on Facebook, or just use good old email: itbw@richij.com.
