When the first iPhone came onto the market in 2007, Apple had forgotten an essential feature: There was no app store, so there was no way to expand what was in itself a very powerful smartphone at the time. There was a telephone function, SMS, web browser and e-mail client, but that already largely exhausted the functions. It was also tied to a provider.
Software hobbyists - "positive" hackers, if you will - quickly realized that the iPhone was actually a small computer on which any software could be installed. Apple had not made the most of its performance potential. Unfortunately, unlike MacOS or Windows, the manufacturer has protected the iPhone operating system against changes by third parties . It is "trapped" and it is still so today. This is exactly where the so-called jailbreak comes into play.
With the jailbreak came the expandability.
The first jailbreak was published about six months after the iPhone release by the hacker group iPhone Dev Team: It opened the operating system for changes and at the same time launched the first app store - the Cydia store the system. Interested users could, for example, deactivate the provider connection or install new apps on the device by means of a jailbreak. Since then, numerous groups of hackers have been working on jailbreaks. A fine thing - if only Apple wouldn't mind. And so began a game of cat and mouse that continues to this day..
iPhone Jailbreak: Here's How
The iPhone jailbreak always takes place in three steps: Apple releases a new operating system version of iOS. The hackers analyze it for security holes that allow code to be injected. This possibility is exploited by means of a small tool or a special website. A distinction is made between so-called tethered and untethered jailbreaks : the former require a PC or Mac, the latter can be carried out directly on the iPhone. The tethered variant is usually the simpler one for the layperson:
- The iPhone is connected to the PC or Mac .
- A jailbreak tool is started on the computer.
- The iPhone is set to the so-called DFU mode by the user .
- The jailbreak tool unlocks the iPhone with a modified firmware and installs the Cydia store.
- The iPhone then restarts and, apart from root access, the Cydia store including Apple unwanted software and the ability to work deeply in the system, it is initially indistinguishable from a regular iPhone.
- As with Linux, software can also be installed from any source - so-called repositories - via a terminal .
- The operating system is open after the jailbreak and can be changed . This is particularly interesting for developers.
Sounds good - but it's risky
Sounds great, doesn't it? Unfortunately, the iPhone jailbreak has several disadvantages that cannot be dismissed out of hand:
- Any software can get onto the device through the jailbreak .
- This also means that viruses and Trojans are open gates and doors if used carelessly.
- The jailbreak may remove other security mechanisms that protect the device and the user from damage.
- If an iPhone is jailbroken, everything can be installed there - including immature or malicious software that damages the hardware.
- The risk of such damage occurring is massively increased by the jailbreak.
- If the iPhone breaks with the jailbreak installed , Apple may deny the warranty and repair .
The last point in particular should generally deter iPhone owners from jailbreaking. Because if such a high-priced device breaks due to software tinkering, it is then only electronic waste, which is very annoying. More serious is the risk that attackers could use malicious software to pull access data to the cloud or credit card data from the device or otherwise spy on the user.
Those who jailbreak should know what they're doing
In other words: Anyone who jailbreak their iPhone must be aware of the associated risk at all times. Beginners and laypeople in particular tend to see only the advantages: removal of the provider connection or the installation of software that Apple would never release in the app store, including terminal software, stolen apps or programs that enable pirated copies such as bit torrent Clients or video game emulators.
The jailbreak cat and mouse game
This is exactly why Apple wants to put a stop to jailbreaking: If there is a gap in the system that makes jailbreak possible, it is guaranteed to be closed with the next iOS update. For jailbreakers this means that they should not update their device: As soon as an update is regularly installed, the jailbreak will most likely be removed again . Since the hacker groups often take a while to develop a new jailbreak, this means for jailbreak users to wait with the updates. In addition, the complex jailbreak has to be carried out again every time. Apple and the jailbreak groups have been playing a game of cat and mouse for over ten years, but it is slowly drawing to a close.
Jailbreak no longer makes sense today
Because the big "problems" that the first iPhone model had are long gone: The official Apple App Store has existed since iPhoneOS 2.0 (now iOS) - Apple simply adopted the hacker's idea. Software can therefore be installed later. Today several million apps are available in the store. The other major problem area of provider connection is also history: since the iPhone 4, iPhones can simply be bought in stores without a mobile phone contract or provider connection. And last but not least, the iPhone can now also be used as a cellular modem (“Personal hotspot”) - another reason why the devices were cracked in the early days. With these three steps, Apple made jailbreaking uninteresting for the general public: There is simply no longer any reason for ordinary users to crack the iPhone unless they want to use copied software or are technically interested in the software. Inner workings. In addition, Apple adds new exciting features with every version of the operating system that melt away the desire for a jailbreak..
New security technologies prevent jailbreaking
In addition, over the years most of the vulnerabilities that allow jailbreaking have been closed. Apple now knows where the hackers usually start - and checks accordingly before the release. In addition, there are now hardware protection functions in the iPhone that make jailbreaking much more difficult. As a result, the time span between the iOS update and the jailbreak release is getting longer and less interesting for normal users.
There are still hacker groups like Pangu8 who deal with jailbreaking, but jailbreaking is becoming increasingly academic - it simply no longer makes sense for normal users. By the way, we strongly advise against jailbreaking these days: the added value is simply no longer there .
