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iOS jailbreaking

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iOS jailbreaking, or simply jailbreaking, is the process of removing the limitations imposed by Apple on devices running the iOS operating system through use of custom kernels. Such devices include the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and 2nd Gen Apple TV. Jailbreaking allows users to gain root access to the operating system, allowing iOS users to download additional applications, extensions, and themes that are unavailable through the official Apple App Store. Jailbreaking is a form of privilege escalation, and the term has been applied to privilege escalation on other computer systems as well. The name refers to breaking the device out of its "jail",[1] a technical term used in Unix-style systems, for example FreeBSD jail. A jailbroken iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS can still use the App Store, iTunes, and other normal functions, such as making telephone calls.

Unlike rooting an Android device, jailbreaking is necessary if the user intends to run software not authorized by Apple. A tethered jailbreak requires that the device be connected to a computer each time it needs to be booted; an untethered jailbreak allows the device to be powered without computer assistance. Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, jailbreaking iPhones is legal in the United States, although Apple has announced that the practice "can violate the warranty".[2]

Reasons for jailbreaking

Cydia displaying a list of software available for jailbroken devices.

One of the main reasons for jailbreaking is to expand the feature set limited by Apple and its App Store. Most jailbreaking tools automatically install Cydia, a native iOS APT client used for finding and installing software for jailbroken iOS devices.[3] Since software programs available through Cydia are not required to adhere to App Store guidelines, many of them are not typical self-contained apps but instead are extensions and customizations for iOS and other apps.[4] Users install these programs for purposes including personalization and customization of the interface,[4] adding desired features and fixing annoyances,[5] and making development work on the device easier by providing access to the filesystem and command-line tools.[6][7]

Some users look to software outside the App Store to express opposition to Apple's censorship of content through the app approval process: in early 2010, Apple banned an app submitted by Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, Mark Fiore, because it "ridiculed public figures", in violation of Section 3.3.14 of the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement. Apple later called Fiore and asked him to resubmit his app for approval.[8] In late 2010, Apple banned the use of apps that allowed users to donate money to non-profit organization and charities.[9] Apple also banned a WikiLeaks app, stating it "violated their developer guidelines".[10] As the list of banned apps continues to grow, some users have found jailbreaking to be a viable alternative to Apple’s censorship of content.[11]

Installing software published outside the App Store has the potential to affect battery life and system stability if the software is poorly optimized or frequently uses resource-draining services (such as 3G or WiFi).[12][13][14]

Security

The first iPhone worm, iKee, appeared in early November 2009, created by 21-year-old Australian student Ashley Towns of Wollongong. He told Australian media that he created the worm to raise awareness of security issues: jailbreaking allows users to install a SSH service, which those users can leave in the default unsecure state.[15] In the same month, F-Secure reported on a new malicious worm compromising bank transactions from jailbroken phones in the Netherlands, similarly affecting devices where the owner had installed SSH without changing the default password.[16][17]

On July 15, 2011, Apple released a new version of iOS that closed the exploit used in JailbreakMe 3.0. The German Federal Office for Information Security had reported that the "critical weakness" uncovered by JailbreakMe meant that iOS users could potentially have their information stolen or unwittingly download malware by clicking on maliciously-crafted PDF files.[18] Before Apple released a fix for this security hole, jailbreak users had access to a fix published by the developer of JailbreakMe.

A 2011 study of a sample of programs available from the BigBoss repository (a default repository in Cydia) found that fewer of them leaked user data than a sample of programs available from the App Store.[19] There are programs available via Cydia designed to add extra privacy features to iOS.[19]

In response to a request by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the U.S. Copyright Office explicitly recognized an exemption to the DMCA to permit jailbreaking in order to allow iPhone owners to use their phones with applications that are not available from Apple's store, and to unlock their iPhones for use with unapproved carriers.[20][21] Apple had previously filed comments opposing this exemption and indicated that they did consider jailbreaking to be a violation of copyright (and by implication prosecutable under the DMCA). Apple's request to define copyright law to include jailbreaking as a violation was denied as part of the 2009 DMCA rulemaking. In their ruling, the Library of Congress affirmed on July 26, 2010 that jailbreaking is exempt from DMCA rules with respect to circumventing digital locks. This exemption must be reviewed and renewed every three years or else it will expire.

Tim Wu, a professor at Columbia Law School, argued that jailbreaking is "legal, ethical, and just plain fun."[22] Wu cited an explicit exemption issued by the Library of Congress in 2006 for personal unlocking, which notes that locks "are used by wireless carriers to limit the ability of subscribers to switch to other carriers, a business decision that has nothing whatsoever to do with the interests protected by copyright" and thus do not implicate the DMCA.[23] Wu did not claim that this exemption applies to those who help others unlock a device or "traffic" in software to do so. As of July 26, 2010, the U.S. Copyright Office has approved exemptions to the DMCA that allow iPhone users to jailbreak their devices legally.[24] These exemptions also allow phone users to unlock their phone in order to switch carriers. It is still possible Apple may employ technical countermeasures to prevent jailbreaking or prevent jailbroken phones from functioning, but they will not be able to sue users who jailbreak.[25] It is also unclear whether it is legal to traffic in the tools used to make jailbreaking easy.[25]

History of iOS jailbreaking tools

For a chronological list of jailbreak history, see History of iOS jailbreaking.

A few days after the original iPhone became available in July 2007, developers released the first jailbreaking tool for it,[26] and soon a jailbreak-only game app became available.[27] In October 2007, JailbreakMe 1.0 (also called "AppSnapp") allowed people to jailbreak iPhone OS 1.1.1 on both the iPhone and iPod touch,[28][29] and it included Installer.app as a way to get software for the jailbroken device.

File:Pwnapple.png
"Pwnapple" icon used by redsn0w and PwnageTool. (See Pwn.)

The iPhone Dev Team has released free desktop-based jailbreaking tools for versions of iOS from 2.0 to 5.0.1 on most devices. They released a version of PwnageTool in July 2008 to jailbreak the new iPhone 3G on iOS 2.0 as well as the iPod touch,[30][31] newly including Cydia as the primary third-party installer for jailbroken software[32] (PwnageTool continues to be updated for untethered jailbreaks of iOS versions up to 5.0.1).[33][34] The iPhone Dev Team released QuickPWN to jailbreak iOS 2.2 on iPhone and iPod touch, also including options to enable functionality that was possible but disabled by Apple on certain devices.[35] After Apple released iOS 3.0, the Dev Team published redsn0w as a simple jailbreaking tool usable on Mac and Windows, and also updated PwnageTool (now primarily intended for expert users making custom firmware, and only for Mac).[36] They continue to maintain redsn0w for jailbreaking most versions of iOS 4 and for iOS 5 on most devices except the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S.[37]

George Hotz, who had developed the first iPhone unlock, released a jailbreaking tool for the iPhone 3GS on iOS 3.0 called purplera1n,[38] and blackra1n for iOS version 3.1.2 on the iPod touch 3rd generation and other devices.[39] In October 2010 he released limera1n, a low-level boot ROM exploit that permanently works to jailbreak the iPhone 4 and is used as part of tools including redsn0w.[40]

comex has released multiple jailbreaks for iOS devices, beginning in May 2010 with the Spirit jailbreak for iOS version 3.1.2 on devices including the iPad for the first time.[41] In August 2010, comex released JailbreakMe 2.0, a web-based tool that was the first to jailbreak the iPhone 4 (on iOS 4.0.1).[42][43] In July 2011, comex released JailbreakMe 3.0, a web-based tool for jailbreaking all devices on certain versions of iOS 4.3, including the iPad 2 for the first time (on iOS 4.3.3).[44] He was hired by Apple as an intern in August 2011.[45]

Chronic Dev Team initially released greenpois0n in October 2010, a desktop-based tool for jailbreaking iOS 4.1[46] and later iOS 4.2.1[47] on most devices including the Apple TV,[48] as well as iOS 4.2.6 on CDMA (Verizon) iPhones.[49]

The iPhone Dev Team, Chronic Dev Team, and pod2g collaborated to release Absinthe in January 2012, a desktop-based tool to jailbreak the iPhone 4S for the first time and the iPad 2 for the second time, on iOS 5.0.1 for both devices and also iOS 5.0 for iPhone 4S.[50][51][52][53]

First jailbreaks

Device/OS Release date Date of first jailbreak Tool Developer
iPhone/iOS 1.0 June 29, 2007 July 10, 2007[26] (no name) iPhone Dev Team[54]
iPhone 3G/iOS 2.0 July 11, 2008 July 20, 2008[31] PwnageTool iPhone Dev Team
iOS 3.0 March 17, 2009 June 19, 2009[55] PwnageTool iPhone Dev Team
iPhone 3GS June 19, 2009 July 3, 2009[56] purplera1n George Hotz
iPad April 30, 2010 May 3, 2010[41] Spirit comex
iOS 4.0 June 21, 2010 June 21–23, 2010[57][58] PwnageTool iPhone Dev Team
iPhone 4 June 24, 2010 August 1, 2010[42] JailbreakMe 2.0 comex
iPad 2 March 11, 2011 July 5, 2011[44] JailbreakMe 3.0 comex
iOS 5.0 October 12, 2011 October 13, 2011[37] redsn0w iPhone Dev Team
iPhone 4S October 14, 2011 January 20, 2012[50][51] Absinthe pod2g, Chronic Dev Team, iPhone Dev Team

Recent releases of jailbreaking tools

Software Name Release Date Hardware Firmware Untethered? Notes Publisher
JailbreakMe 3.0[59] July 5, 2011[59]
[59] 		4.2.6–4.2.8
4.3–4.3.3[59][notes 1] 		Yes[59] Uses a flaw in PDF file rendering in Mobile Safari.[60][61] comex[59]
Seas0npass[62][63][64] c. October 18, 2011[62] 2nd generation Apple TV[62][63][64]
 4.3-4.4.4[62][63][64] Yes[62][63][64] Firecore[63]
redsn0w 0.9.10 beta 6[65][34] c. December 27, 2011[66]
[65][34] 		4.1–5.0.1 Untethered: 4.1–4.3.3, 4.2.6–4.2.8, 5.0.1[66]

Tethered: 4.2.9–4.2.10, 4.3.4–4.3.5, 5.0, 5.1[34][notes 1]

5.0.1 untether ("Corona") by pod2g is for A4 devices (iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad 1, and iPod touch 3rd and 4th generation). iPhone Dev Team[65][34]
Absinthe 0.4[52] c. January 23, 2012[52]
[53] 		5.0–5.0.1[53] Yes[50] pod2g, Chronic Dev Team, iPhone Dev Team[52]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b The Verizon CDMA iPhone 4 ran on iOS 4.2.5 to 4.2.10, with incremental updates being bugfixes that were simultaneously applied from 4.3.1 to 4.3.5.

References

  1. ^ Mike Keller (February 13, 2012). "Geek 101: What Is Jailbreaking?". Geek Tech. PCWorld. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  2. ^ Leander Kahney (July 26, 2010). "Apple's Official Response To DMCA Jailbreak Exemption: It Voids Your Warranty". Cult Of Mac. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  3. ^ Chris Foresman (December 13, 2010). "iPhone jailbreaker set to bring Cydia to Mac OS X". Infinite Loop. Ars Technica. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Adam Dachis (March 14, 2011). "How to Get the Most Out of Your Jailbroken iOS Device". Lifehacker. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  5. ^ Jenna Wortham (May 12, 2009). "Unofficial Software Incurs Apple's Wrath". The New York Times. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  6. ^ Zdziarski, Jonathan (2008). iPhone Open Application Development: Write Native Applications Using the Open Source Tool Chain. pp. 3–4. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Landau, Ted (2009). Take control of your iPhone. p. 107. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ Ryan Singel (April 15, 2010). "Apple App Store Bans Pulitzer-Winning Satirist for Satire". Wired. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  9. ^ Strom, Stephanie (2010-12-08). "Donations Ban on iPhone Apps Irritates Nonprofits". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  10. ^ Helft, Miguel (2010-12-21). "Why Apple Removed a WikiLeaks App From Its Store". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  11. ^ Ki Mae Heussner (2010-04-24). "Banned by Apple: 9 iPhone App Rejects". Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  12. ^ Ellis Hamburger (May 3, 2011). "The Truth About Jailbreaking Your iPhone: The 5 Biggest Drawbacks". SAI: Tools. Business Insider. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  13. ^ Adam Dachis (May 5, 2011). "Four Reasons Not to Jailbreak Your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad". Lifehacker. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  14. ^ Brennon Slattery (August 3, 2010). "5 Reasons to Jailbreak Your iPhone - and 5 Reasons Not". Today @ PCWorld. PCWorld. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  15. ^ Brigid Andersen (November 9, 2009). "Australian admits creating first iPhone virus". ABC Online. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  16. ^ "New iPhone worm can act like botnet say experts". BBC News. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  17. ^ Mikko (2009-11-22). "Malicious iPhone Worm". News from the Lab. F-secure. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
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  28. ^ Wilson, Ben (2007-10-10). "Official iPhone 1.1.1 jailbreak released with easy-to-follow instructions; does not require TIFF exploit". CNET.com. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  29. ^ Gregg Keizer (October 29, 2007). "Hacker Software Can Install Unauthorized Software on iPhones". PCWorld. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
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  34. ^ a b c d e iPhone Dev Team (December 27, 2011). "Untethered holidays". Dev Team Blog. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
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  37. ^ a b Elizabeth Fish (October 13, 2011). "iOS 5 Jailbreak Is Already Here; Geeks Not Surprised". Geek Tech. PCWorld. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  38. ^ Leslie Katz (July 3, 2009). "iPhone 3GS jailbreak, 'purplera1n,' hits Web". Crave. CNet. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  39. ^ Charlie Sorrel (November 5, 2009). "BlackRa1n Plus Blacksn0w: Unlock Any iPhone in Seconds". Gadget Lab. Wired. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  40. ^ Thomas Ricker (June 7 2011). "iOS 5 jailbroken". Engadget. Retrieved October 26, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ a b Dan Goodin (May 3, 2010). "Hackers release jailbreak for iPad and newer iPhones". The Register. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  42. ^ a b John D. Sutter (August 2, 2010). "First iPhone 4 'jailbreak' posted online". CNN Tech. CNN. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
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  44. ^ a b Eric Mack (July 6, 2011). "App enables iPad 2 jailbreak from your browser". Crave. CNET. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  45. ^ Andy Greenberg (August 26, 2011). "Apple Hacker Extraordinaire Comex Takes An Internship At Apple". Forbes. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  46. ^ David Murphy (October 9, 2010). "iPhone Hackers Square Off With Competing iOS 4 Jailbreaks". PCMag. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
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  49. ^ Blair Hanley Frank (February 7, 2011). "Verizon iPhone Now Available for Jailbreaking". Geek Tech. PCWorld. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  50. ^ a b c Joseph Volpe (January 20, 2012). "Absinthe A5 jailbreak released for iPhone 4S, Hacker Dream Team makes untethered dreams come true". Engadget. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
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  54. ^ iPhone Dev Team. "How to Escape Jail".
  55. ^ Ross Miller (June 20, 2009). "Pwnage Tool for iPhone OS 3.0 now live, ultrasn0w still on standby". Engadget. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  56. ^ Daniel Brusilovsky (July 3, 2009). "First iPhone 3GS Jailbreak Hits The Web". TechCrunch. The Washington Post. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
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  61. ^ jean (July 18, 2011). "Analysis of the jailbreakme v3 font exploit". Sogeti ESEC Lab. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  62. ^ a b c d e Mike Keller (August 23, 2011). "Jailbreaking 101: Which Tool to Use to Hack Your iDevice". Geek Tech. PCWorld. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  63. ^ a b c d e james (August 19, 2011). "Seas0nPass Updated for AppleTV 4.3". Firecore. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  64. ^ a b c d james (October 18, 2011). "Seas0nPass Updated for AppleTV 4.4". Firecore. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  65. ^ a b c Sarah Jacobsson Purewal (October 18, 2011). "How to Jailbreak Your iOS 5 Device". Phones. PCWorld. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  66. ^ a b Richi Jennings (December 27, 2011). "Yes! Jailbreak iOS 5.0.1 on iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad... UNTETHERED". The Long View. ComputerWorld. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
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