Sunday, December 30, 2012

Jailbreaking iPhone

What is Jailbreaking?

Definition of Jailbreaking
Jailbreaking is the process by which an iPhone firmware is modified to allow unsigned code to be run to gain access to files that Apple wouldn’t normally let you access. Jailbreaking adds unofficial application installers to your iPhone such as Cydia or Icy (I personally only use Cydia), which let you download many 3rd-party applications previously unavailable through the App Store.
Is Jailbreaking Legal?
Update: Jailbreaking is now officially legal in the US
Yes and no. The legality of jailbreaking is very unclear. Most iPhone owners including myself think that since we own the iPhone, we should be able to do whatever we want with it.
Apple’s lawyers think differently as they consider jailbreaking to be a violation of copyright. I had a phone conversation with Apple’s copyright attorney about a year ago and he admitted to me that they are not capable of going after every jailbreaker out there… To these days, I don’t think anyone has had legal issues with Apple due to jailbreaking.
Why Jailbreak Your iPhone

Jailbreaking lets you install applications that are not approved by Apple. Many of these applications can be very helpful but they will unfortunately never make it to the App Store due to Apple’s restrictions. There are many reasons why you would want to jailbreak your iPhone:
  • install 3rd party applications rejected by Apple for various reasons (ie. nudity)
  • video recording (now available on the iPhone 3GS)
  • changing the look and feel by installing custom graphics and themes
  • free tethering
  • get access to cracked App Store apps for free (not endorsed by me, but still worth noting)
  • be able to unlock your iPhone
Why Not Jailbreak Your iPhone

I can only think of one reason why you wouldn’t want to jailbreak. Jailbreaking your iPhone automatically voids the warranty. This is not really a problem as you can always restore your iPhone in iTunes, putting it back to its factory settings. This will make it impossible for Apple to see you jailbroke your iPhone, thus not voiding your warranty.
In the past, some jailbreak methods were not very stable and sometimes turned your iPhone into an iBrick aka an expensive paper weight. Jailbreak methods are now very stable and I have yet to hear about someone bricking his iPhone while jailbreaking. In other words, jailbreaking is safe!
How Do I Jailbreak My iPhone?
I wrote many tutorials on how to jailbreak your iPhone, depending on what iPhone and what firmware you have. Check them out, follow the instructions, and have fun. You don’t need to have a PhD in computer science to jailbreak your iPhone. It’s very simple and straightforward. If you can download 2 files and click “next” when prompted, then you can jailbreak your iPhone.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
It’s very unlikely that something will go wrong… If you have a problem, simply plug your iPhone to your computer, launch iTunes, and click “restore”. As I mentioned above, it will restore your iPhone to factory settings.
Why Are You Still Reading This?
What? You’re still aren’t sure about this whole jailbreak thing? You’re missing out big time. An unjailbroken iPhone is a plain boring iPhone! Jailbreaking is the best thing that has happened to my iPhone and I seriously can’t live without it.

What Is Unlocking?

Definition of Unlocking
Unlocking is the removal of SIM restrictions on the modem, allowing the use of the iPhone on any carrier. There are 2 types of iPhone unlocks:
  • software unlock: the iPhone is unlocked by a software
  • hardware unlock: modification have to be made to the actual hardware to unlock the phone
Software unlocks are safer because they do not modify your device and can easily be reverted back. Soft unlocks are mostly developed for free by the Dev Team, an international group of iPhone hackers. Hardware unlocks are a little tricky and usually cost money. In clear, if you want to unlock your iPhone, you can do it for free by with a safe software unlock.
Is Unlocking Legal?
According to Wikipedia, “unlocking a phone without the permission or unlocking code from the provider is usually in breach of the agreement with the provider, though most countries do not make specific laws prohibiting the removal of SIM locks. In the United States the DMCA formerly was claimed to criminalize unlocking. However, an exemption that took effect 27 November 2006 specifically permits it.”
Why Unlock Your iPhone
The main reason to unlock your iPhone is if you want to use it with a different service provider (ie T-Mobile). An unlocked iPhone also has a better resell value.
Why Not Unlock Your iPhone
If you’re good with your phone carrier and will not use your iPhone internationally, there is absolutely no reason for you to unlock your iPhone.
How Do I Unlock My iPhone?
Before unlocking your iPhone, you will have to jailbreak it. The unlock can either be done from a computer, or directly from the iPhone. Check out my iPhone unlock tutorials for step by step instructions.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
Although unlocks can sometimes mess up your settings a little bit, they are constantly improved to fix errors and bugs. If something goes wrong, you can always restore your iPhone to factory settings.

In Short…

I case you’re still not really sure you understand the difference between jailbreaking and unlocking, let me put it in very simple words. Jailbreaking an iPhone means that 3rd party applications can be installed on it (ie. apps from other developers than Apple). Unlocking an iPhone means that any SIM card can be used on it.
If you have questions or anything you want to say, feel free to leave a comment below or start a new conversation in the forum

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What are the Benefits of Jailbreaking?

The main reason why you’d want to jailbreak is to have the ability to install third party applications and tweaks that Apple doesn’t or wouldn’t approve in the App Store. There are tons of applications that don’t meet Apple standards and do things that Apple doesn’t want you to do on your iOS device for various reasons.
For example, Apple doesn’t allow you to customize your iPhone by changing app icons or the general user interface of your device. Thanks to the jailbreak community, there are several ways to completely change the way your iPhone looks, WinterBoard being the most popular one.
Besides applications, jailbreaking also gives you access to tweaks, mods, and extensions. These not exactly considered applications. They bring subtle improvements to the way your iOS device operates. For instance, Five Icon Switcher is a tweak that lets you have 5 icons in the iPhone app switcher at once, instead of the default 4.
A lot of people jailbreak their iOS device in order to unlock it to work on a different carrier. When you want to unlock your iPhone, the first step is to jailbreak it to then run and run software that will let you have other carriers work on your iPhone. For for information on unlocking, visit or dedicated unlock page.

Is Jailbreaking Legal?

Jailbreaking is completely legal, at least here in the US. For a long time, jailbreaking was considered illegal by the US government based on copyright litigation. In July of 2010, the US government passed a rule that made jailbreaking legal.
There is nothing to worry about. Even if you don’t live in the US, there’s a very slim chance that Apple would sue you because you jailbroke your iPhone. It hasn’t happened yet, and people all over the world have been jailbreaking since 2007.

Does Jailbreaking Void my Warranty?

Yes and no. Yes, because if you go to the Apple store and show your jailbroken iPhone to an Apple employee, you will be told that you can’t receive customer support because you voided your warranty the minute you jailbroke. Apple of course acknowledges the US government’s DMCA exception ruling that makes jailbreak legal, but that doesn’t mean that Apple has to allow jailbreak in its customer agreement.
From Apple’s support article on jailbreaking:
“Apple strongly cautions against installing any software that hacks the iOS. It is also important to note that unauthorized modification of the iOS is a violation of the iPhone end-user license agreement and because of this, Apple may deny service for an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that has installed any unauthorized software.”
If you really have to take your iOS device to an Apple store, you can always restore it to its factory settings in iTunes. This will bring your iOS device back to the way it was when you first bought it, and Apple will have no way of telling that you ever jailbroke.
Many people have taken previously jailbroken devices to Apple several times before that were restored beforehand. Apple is usually not able to tell will provide full and normal customer support.

Can I Brick My iPhone if I Jailbreak?

You might have heard a few horror stories about people who tried to jailbreak their iPhone or iPad and ended up turning it into a brick. While this could have happened in the early days of the iPhone, this is now completely impossible.
The worst thing that could happen when trying to jailbreak is that it might get stuck and become unresponsive, in which case some people may automatically think that there’s no hope. You’re always able to restore your iOS device’s firmware back to the stock version, and following these simple steps will make sure your iPhone or iPad goes back to its original state.

Is Jailbreaking the Same as Unlocking?

No, jailbreaking and unlocking are two different things. To unlock your iPhone, you usually have to jailbreak first. As noted previously, jailbreaking an iPhone lets you install third party applications and mods, while unlocking allows you to use your iPhone on a different carrier.
You can learn more about the difference between jailbreaking and unlocking if you’re interested.

Can I Still Use iTunes and the App Store After Jailbreaking?

People often ask this question. Yes, you can use iTunes and the App Store after jailbreaking your device. As a matter of fact, nothing will really change. The only notable change to your iOS device will be that, after jailbreaking, you will have a new application installed on your device called Cydia.

What is Cydia?

In short, Cydia is like the App Store of jailbreak applications. Just like the App Store, you can browse Cydia for apps, tweaks, and mods. Just like the App Store, you can download and install Cydia apps effortlessly. Most apps and tweaks in Cydia are free, but it is not unusual for a jailbreak app to sell for a few dollars.

Will Jailbreaking Prevent Me from Updating iOS?

If your iOS device is jailbroken and you decide to update it to the latest version of iOS, doing so will overwrite the jailbreak and restore your device to its factory settings. This might not be a big problem for most people, but it can become an issue for people who rely a lot of jailbreak apps and tweaks.
Every time Apple releases a new iOS update, hackers generally aren’t too far behind with an update for the tools that let you jailbreak. When a new iOS version and accompanying jailbreak are released, the preferred method is to backup your device first, update to the latest iOS version, and jailbreak again using one of the updated tools.
It’s important to note that it sometimes takes a while for hackers to develop a jailbreak following an iOS update, which is why we usually recommend jailbreakers to hold off on updating when a new iOS version is made available.

What are the different types of jailbreaks?

The are 3 types of jailbreaks: tethered, semi tethered, and untethered. Read this article to learn more about the differences between these kinds of jailbreak.

Can Jailbreaking Allow Me to Get App Store Applications for Free?

Yes, but we do not recommend installing pirated apps on your jailbroken device. Not only are you doing something illegal, but you’re also stealing money from hard working developers. We do not help troubleshoot or give support on app piracy.

Is Jailbreaking Easy?

These days, jailbreaking is very easy. Usually, you just need to download a piece of software, plug your iOS device into your computer, and run the software. There is no specific knowledge or skills required.
You will find some very useful tutorials on how to jailbreak at the bottom of this page. If you don’t feel completely comfortable jailbreaking your iOS device, make sure to have a look at our tutorials, they will guide you through the process with step-by-step instructions and illustrations.

What is the Best Jailbreak Tool?

There isn’t a “best” jailbreak tool, as tools are constantly being updated and replaced with new and improved methods. Performing an actual jailbreak can be a very different experience depending on your iOS device and software version. What tool you use is also determined by if you use a Mac or Windows computer.

Does it Cost Anything to Jailbreak?

No. You should never pay for a jailbreak.
Hackers that develop jailbreaks do it for free, sometimes (rarely) asking for donations. Some people may charge you to jailbreak your iOS device for you. If it makes you feel better to pay someone, you can do that, but why pay when you can do it yourself for free?

How to Jailbreak Your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Apple TV

iOS 6.0.1:

iOS 6:

iOS 5.1.1:

iOS 5.1:

  • Jailbreak iPhone 4S: No jailbreak for this firmware version
  • iPhone 4: RedSn0w
  • iPhone 3GS: RedSn0w
  • Jailbreak iPad 3: No jailbreak for this firmware version
  • iPad 2: No jailbreak for this firmware version
  • iPad 1: RedSn0w
  • iPod Touch 4G: RedSn0w
  • iPod Touch 3G: RedSn0w
  • Apple TV 3:  No jailbreak for this firmware version
  • Jailbreak Apple TV 2: Seas0nPass

iOS 5.0.1:

iOS 5:

iOS 4.4.4:

iOS 4.3.5:

iOS 4.3.4:

iOS 4.3.3:

iOS 4.3.2:

iOS 4.3.1:

iOS 4.2.8

iOS 4.2.1

Jailbreak iPhone iOS 4.1

Jailbreak iPhone iOS 4.0.2

Jailbreak iPhone iOS 4.0.1

Jailbreak iPhone iOS 4

Jailbreak iPad 3.2.1

Jailbreak iPad 3.2

Jailbreak iPhone 3.1.3

Jailbreak iPhone 3.1.2

Jailbreak iPhone 3.1

Jailbreak iPhone 3.0.1

Firmware 3.0 Jailbreak

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3 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 8, 2015 at 2:04 AM

    Thanks for the article on jailbreaking and unlocking. As the article suggests most people unlock their cell phones to get the freedom of swapping networks at desired time. I also unlocked my phone for a similar reason. I unlocked my cell phone safer and easier using unlock code. I got the accurate unlock code for my cell phone from Mobile-Unlocker.com at affordable cost with an easy unlocking guide.

    ReplyDelete
  2. tomakNovember 10, 2018 at 1:48 PM

    Thanks for the article i will bookmark it

    The Xmod Games Hacking APK software
    Back Up Your Cydia Downloads before Upgrading iOS

    ReplyDelete
  3. Devin HugoJuly 14, 2019 at 9:44 PM

    Really informative post on jail breaking the phone. My little sister was also stuck in this problem during changing the network carrier of the SIM. When she changed the Network carrier of the phone his phone got locked. Then she used unlock codes for unlocking the phone instantly. Unlock codes is the best method for unlocking the phone. If your phone is also locked then this is the best option for you.

    ReplyDelete

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