Sep 16

Hackers Hone in on Jailbreak Solutions for iPhone OS 3.1

Posted in: Apple, Hacks, iPhone, Phones, Today's Chili

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Last week Wired.com provided an overview on iPhone OS 3.1, the latest upgrade for the iPhone operating system. As is always the case with iPhone software updates, this one removed unauthorized apps for jailbroken (i.e., hacked devices). We also forewarned iPhone 3GS owners of a major loss: After upgrading to 3.1, they cannot downgrade to an earlier version of the OS to jailbreak again and regain access to their unauthorized apps. Fortunately that problem has already been fixed.

Jay Freeman, creator of the unauthorized Cydia app store for jailbroken iPhones, has posted instructions on how iPhone 3GS owners can downgrade from iPhone OS 3.1 to 3.0. The process is actually pretty sneaky.

For the new iPhone 3GS, Freeman explains, Apple now verifies the authenticity of the software whenever you attempt to restore the device to factory settings (i.e., format the iPhone and reinstall the OS). Apple stopped signing 3.0, so iPhone 3GS owners could not downgrade from 3.1. Now Freeman has launched a method to trick iTunes into signing from his own servers. The instructions for downgrading are listed on his personal site. Even if you didn’t upgrade to iPhone OS 3.1, Freeman recommends you follow these steps anyway to “future proof” your iPhone 3GS through future updates.

Meanwhile, owners of the first- and second-generation iPhones are in luck: Dev-Team, the famous group of iPhone hackers, has released a tool to jailbreak and unlock iPhone 3.1 for their devices. So they need not worry about losing access to their precious unauthorized apps. It’s unclear when iPhone 3GS owners will get a jailbreak solution, but it appears the Dev-Team is hard at work.

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Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com


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