JailbreakMe 3.0 Opened Way To Make Apple's iOS More Safe?
On Wednesday July 6, the third version of JailbreakMe, a tool that allows iOS device users the option to upload software not approved by Apple unto their iPhones and iPads, was released by Comex.
In just over one day, reports were given that over 1 million “jailbreaks” had been served.
Is that something good or bad?
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That depends on the angle you take. If you believe that hacking, no matter what form it takes, is plain wrong, then JailbreakMe 3.0 isn't for you. But if you accept there is nothing wrong with hacking into your own device at your own expense, then you might want to keep reading.
Apple has always been known for its stringent posture towards prohibiting any unapproved software to go into their Apple devices. Hackers however, have always seemed to find "holes" present in Apple's mobile operating system, the iOS, and have taken advantage of that to free or “jailbreak” phones, allowing them to store and run applications not permitted by Apple.
Sounds somewhat like a Robin Hood stunt from the tech-world.
As opposed to illegal activity that create vulnerabilities for Apple's devices, a JailBreakMe hacker, Comex, wrote on a website, "I did not create the vulnerabilities, only discover them. Releasing an exploit demonstrates the flaw, making it easier for others to use it for malice, but they have long been present and exploitable." With this he suggested that this would alert Apple to make the iOS more secure.
Users must be informed that on Wednesday the BSI, Germany's federal institution for information security, warned the public about the vulnerabilities the current iPhone 3G possesses as well as other devices that run iOS versions up to 4.3.3, according to ComputerWorld.
With such "holes" hackers could potentially steal valuable information such as passwords, bank details, emails, and much more.
Apple aware of this situation responded with a statement of their own, this time coming from their senior director for corporate communications Alan Hely who said, "Apple takes security very seriously, we're aware of this reported issue and developing a fix that will be available to customers in an upcoming software update."
Comex has apparently taken the initiative by creating a patch that would resolve the current vulnerability the iOS possesses and said it would only work if people install JailBreakMe.
Apple so far doesn’t encourage such practice.
