October 11, 2007 9:56 AM PDT

The Great iPhone Hack, round 3

Two weeks to the day after Apple's iPhone software update wiped third-party applications from the device and disabled unlocked phones, the hackers have struck back.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog posted details of the iPhone Dev Team's latest effort, which once again opens the iPhone up to third-party applications and the ability to use it on any other GSM network than AT&T's. This appears to be a more substantial effort than the one posted earlier in the evening that exploits a vulnerability in a TIFF image file; you can bet that one will be patched fairly quickly.

The latest hack allows iPhone users who have already installed the OS X 1.1.1 update to revert their iPhones to the previous 1.0.2 update, "jailbreak" it for third-party applications, and then somehow update back to the 1.1.1 version without the cell door slamming shut. TUAW and iPhone Atlas have tested the latest hack and have declared that it works, assuming you have a certain amount of knowledge of the iPhone's command line interface.

We're not posting links to the actual files you'll need to make this happen, but if you're an enterprising fellow with access to the Internet, I doubt you'll have too much trouble. I downloaded the files, and in a readme file accompanying the patches and guide you'd need to jailbreak your iPhone, the iPhone Dev Team (or NerveGas, Pumpkin, Edgan, drudge, dinopio and asap18) actually posted a disclaimer: "The iPhone Dev Team disclaims any liability of damage to your iPhone as a result of following these instructions. While the instructions listed here are believed to be safe and accurate, there is always a possibility that your iPhone could be permanently damaged." Can you really sue somebody for providing you with a hack that damages your iPhone, even though you're violating your service agreement to install that hack?

Anyway, if you unlocked your iPhone and then installed the 1.1.1 update only to be left with a pretty paperweight, the iPhone Dev Team says their update won't fix your problem. However, the iPhoneSIMFree folks announced Thursday morning that as a result of the iPhone Dev Team's work, they're now able to not only unlock 1.1.1 iPhones but they are also able to unbrick those unlocked iPhones that fell silent after installing the update.

Where's Harold Lederman when you need him? Now that the iPhone hackers have figured out how to get past the latest update, which many thought was much more difficult to crack than the original software, the third round goes to them. I'll score it 10-9, but Apple's still in the lead going into the fourth round, by virtue of the 10-8 second round in which they knocked iPhone hackers to the canvas by disabling the unlocked iPhones. The first round, of course, went to the hackers.

So what has Apple got up its sleeve? With Leopard's release around the corner, many are starting to wonder if Apple might start to tire of this fight and figure out a way to let third-party application development onto the iPhone. It's pretty clear that Apple will be unable to completely fend off an army of determined hackers forever, but I think it is trying to find a way to allow third-party application development without letting people unlock their iPhones just yet.

In the meantime, if you really, really want third-party applications on your iPhone, understand that you might be forfeiting your right to future technical support. Those who previously hacked the iPhone were able to restore the factory settings before bringing it in for service, but it's not clear whether that's still an option with this latest update.

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 35 comments (Showing first 20 comments)
There's no fight
by locrelite October 11, 2007 11:31 AM PDT
I don't think apple caress who hacks their phone or why. When the hackers open the phone, they make it available to people who don't want AT&T, and those people can buy more iPhones. When the hacks fail, people who really want the phone go and buy more iPhones, because they voided their warranty by hacking it. People who think it is a war want to hack away at a non-existent opponent, so they buy and break and buy yet more iPhones. If you want to put it to apple, steal more iPhones. This is a chunk of hardware. I doubt Apple paid any attention to what their update would do to the hacks; they just updated their system, and completely disabling the hacked phones was just luck, and caused people to buy more iPhones.
Reply to this comment View all 3 replies
Hackers win round, lose the war
by E B October 11, 2007 11:47 AM PDT
It's a phone. How many people really want their phone to break every time there's an update?

As you said, Apple will surely fix the security hole, and re-brick all the un-bricked phones. Then hackers will figure out a way around that, and Apple will fix that hole, and then we'll start over for the fourth time. Meanwhile, how many people will continue to line up to download and install the hack, get bit by Apple, rinse, and repeat? How many times will they suffer through the process before they give up and stick with the delivered phone on the approved network?

A computer without third-party apps isn't going to do as well as one with third-party apps. But cell phone users aren't going to put up with losing their phone each time there's a patch. All Apple has to do is make sure each patch (or even every third patch) has some new must-have feature, and they win.
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The iPhone hack works great.
by Stormcold October 11, 2007 3:09 PM PDT
It's my phone and I'll do what I want with it.
The thing is once you get it working don't update it until there is an updated hack.
Reply to this comment
Can't want to have non apple software on my iphone!
by inachu October 11, 2007 4:33 PM PDT
cheap low grade web 2.0 apps will not cut it!

APPLE OPEN IPHONE NOW!
Reply to this comment
Stop voiding your warranty, keep a great phone
by Feedbacker October 11, 2007 9:50 PM PDT
If I buy a care, should I be upset if I modify the engine or
transmission, something breaks, and Toyota/Pontiac/etc. won't
fix it for free because I voided the warranty? Of course not...(any
sensible person anyhow)

If I buy a TV, and open it up, changing the brightness controls
so that it's brighter than the manufacturers default limits,
should the TV manufacturer honor the warranty and replace the
TV? Of course not.

These are all items that are designed with quality in mind, things
that give people value over the long run. The reason companies
have warranty policies is because they can't guarantee that your
impulsiveness to play mr. gadget-improver won't break their
product. In the few years I've used Apple products, I've come to
realize they have the same mindset. There's a reason they put
their warranty policies into effect, to ensure you have a quality
product that lasts.

One of the greatest advantages of the iPhone is that with a
simple firmware upgrade, the entire phone can become a new
product. The reason people wanted the phone so bad that lines
formed like crack addicts (even among the anything-but-Apple
fanbase) is not because it was advertised as an open phone, but
a great phone. I think it lived up to every facet and claim they
made. Will an SDK be released an Apple allow native programs to
be released, I'm sure they will. Should they do it now, probably
not. Apple has a few things up their sleeves they want to pull out
before that happens. Also, with hackers persistent as they are, it
does give Apple a chance to further secure the phone. The last
thing I want is some 3rd party developer to code a program that
in the background sends all my information to that programmer,
nor do I want a program that crashes/bricks my phone on a
whim.

Apple has a great product. It is your choice to void the warranty
and hack the phone, it is not any company's responsibilty to fix
the problems YOU create.

One last analogy. If I buy a dinner entree from a restaurant and
decide for the heck of it I want to add cyanide to the plate
because I think it tastes better, is it the restaurant's fault that
their plate killed me? If you answer yes to that question, please
take a lesson in logic and common sense, because your life is
going to be horrible without it.
Reply to this comment View all 5 replies
OS/X hacking will spread
by alliance99 October 12, 2007 5:45 AM PDT
Apple should probably be more concerned that by gaining expertise in breaking the iPhone version of OS/x, the community will expose and utilize vulnerabilities OS/x as a whole. The MAC has benefited from a lack of attention from the hacker community. That may change if this is not handled properly.
Reply to this comment
3rd Party Apps
by thedreaming October 12, 2007 6:32 AM PDT
Steve Jobs never wanted 3rd Party Apps on the iphone, but decided that such apps, made to run under safari, would be ok. People don't want to run apps through a web browser, they wanted native apps. They also wanted to customize their phones with alot more than just wallpaper and ringtones.
Reply to this comment
Compelling Reason for 1.1.1?
by don-shelman October 12, 2007 7:09 AM PDT
I upgraded to 1.1.1 (previously un-hacked), and personally didn't see any compelling reason to keep it. The wi-fi iTunes was "ok", but no reason to forego 3rd party apps via Tapp App. So, once the downgrade was available from the Dev crew I downgraded, and I'm happy as a clam with 1.0.2 and all my 3rd party apps.

However, if anyone can give me a compelling reason to move forward, I'll listen.

Anyone? Anyone?
Reply to this comment View all 2 replies
Who cares?
by wiarumas October 12, 2007 8:37 AM PDT
Everything is hackable. Just like a safe, its ony a matter of time before the most secure code falls victom to a skilled hacker. What gets hacked is whats popular. Deal with it... it is inevitable.
Reply to this comment
If AT&T wants to own your I-phone, they should not make you pay for it.
by disco-legend-zeke October 12, 2007 8:42 AM PDT
I see no problems in the telcos owning the equipment you carry around with you, and preventing you from using for other services.

But once you BUY a device, you should have a choice of how you choose to use it.

By the way, once you OWN your own phone, you can negotiate with the cell carriers for cheaper rates.

In 5 years this will become a moot point, your handset will work on WI-FI, and WI-FI will be everywhere. The cell-phone business model is going the way of the dinosaur.
Reply to this comment
If microsoft did this....
by AngeloFleming October 12, 2007 9:05 AM PDT
If Microsoft locked out 3rd party apps on a pda they would already be in court being sued by every government in the world.
Reply to this comment
Telcos will become ...
by AngeloFleming October 12, 2007 9:07 AM PDT
Telcos will become ISPs with the same horrible service. lol
Reply to this comment
Outrage over nothing...
by thatxbxtchxnicoll October 12, 2007 10:03 AM PDT
For a couple of years, I wanted a Sidekick. I have AT&T/Cingular, and I switched from T-Mobile because of a horrible customer service experience. Sure, I could have hacked one and made it work with Cingular, and did in fact do that for a month, but the phone was so horribly gimped out.

I have an iPhone now. I don't see anyone being outraged over the fact that T-Mobile is the exclusive carrier of the Sidekick. I don't see lawsuits being filed for other companies that have exclusive phones... It's all stupid.
Reply to this comment
Why At n t
by Al E. Gator October 12, 2007 10:56 AM PDT
When Apple decided to partner up with a customer service free
company like atnt... they pretty much lost me as a customer...

I'll just wait for something that is connected to a network that you
can make phone calls on...

The fact that hacking it away from Atnt domination is so popular
oughta tell Apple something...
Reply to this comment
only AT&T by name
by clsmithj October 14, 2007 3:16 AM PDT
I really dislike AT&T just cause I know its really the crap cell phone service Cingular renamed since the SBC buyout.
Reply to this comment
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