Apple strikes again to halt iPhone jailbreaking

Tom Warren on 16 December 2008 - 08:07 · 16 comments & 6506 views

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Apple's latest update to OSX, 10.5.6, includes an impressive list of performance and bug fixes but hidden amongst the latest and greatest is that 10.5.6 disables the Pwnage tool, making you unable to jailbreak or unlock your iPhone or iPod Touch with Mac OSX.

The update prevents jailbreaking by disabling the software at the OS level. Apple is stopping 10.5.6 Mac's from recognizing the device in DFU (device firmware update) mode by using new code that affects the USB ports on Apple computers at the driver level and how they interact with the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Apple is constantly caught up in a cat and mouse game with the iPhone dev team, a group that has successfully jailbroken the iPhone and iPod Touch to allow 3rd party applications that are not listed on Apple's official AppStore. At the time of writing the dev team has not commented on Apple's latest trick.

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(1 reply) #1 P1R4T3 on 16 Dec 2008 - 08:33

Its still a cat and mouse game. But the roles get changed at every update.

#1.1 C_Guy on 16 Dec 2008 - 15:22

Exactly. Keep your eyes peeled for a shocking headline that it's been "jailbroken" again soon...

#2 ivan300 on 16 Dec 2008 - 08:36

lol apple failed again, the pwnage tool is only used to create and image, a mac user can simply download the jail broken image and restore the phone using it. They haven't stopped anything.

(1 reply) #3 +bmdixon on 16 Dec 2008 - 09:22

Does it work on Windows? If so, people will just use windows to hack them if they want to. I don't see this stopping anything?!

#3.1 DomZ on 16 Dec 2008 - 09:55

You can jailbreak from windows yeh

#4 iAwesomeness on 16 Dec 2008 - 09:48

Apple never gives in trying to stop the jailbreaking, I don't think Apple will win the war as they will always find a way around it somehow.

#5 Richardarkless on 16 Dec 2008 - 13:29

and this is another reason for not getting a mac but they could always run windows through bootcamp

(1 reply) #6 hotdog963al on 16 Dec 2008 - 13:33

Well.. think of it another way, they can't just give up can they :-)

#6.1 Atlonite on 19 Dec 2008 - 07:51

well they could but then they wouldn't be able to sell you a new update to osx now could they

(2 replies) #7 +techbeck on 16 Dec 2008 - 14:17

Just like what Microsoft is doing with the WGA. But WGA is different as you can install any product, MS or otherwise, you just have to be valid. Apple seems to like to limit people in what they can and cannot use whether or not its legit/legal or not. This isnt cool.

Regardless, just like WGA...someone will come out with a new hack/program to jailbreak iphones...

#7.1 Ledgem on 16 Dec 2008 - 18:44

Just like WGA, I wish companies would stop wasting time and effort by putting these "features" into the operating system. It's actually near infuriating to think that they should be trying to give me, the customer, a better experience and more efficient system. Instead they spend time and waste my computing resources (even if slightly) with this garbage.

I hated WGA, but at least with WGA Microsoft had a justification that could be used: WGA was an attempt to prevent people from stealing their product. There's no justification for this. People bought the iPhone already, so let them do what they want with it.

(For the record, I do not use an iPhone, but I do use a Mac.)

#7.2 DaDog V12 on 17 Dec 2008 - 06:34

Ledgem said,

People bought the iPhone already, so let them do what they want with it.

Stevie Jobsie is nothing more than a mere tyrant with his products. You can't upgrade this, or do that. People paid for the damn thing but it is under your control. Seems like a hidden conspiracy if he keeps this up which leads to nowhere. Just let the baby have his bottle until the Dev Team works their way around or use a Windows machine. They can't even fix that DNS flaw from a few months back and they badmouth Microsoft. At least they fix their products at all.

ok, now I'm drifting away from the topic. Point being that he can have his bottle but soon he'll be weened from it and use a big boy cup.

#8 +macf13nd on 16 Dec 2008 - 16:22

its a kernel bug isn't it?

#9 QuarterSwede on 16 Dec 2008 - 19:15

The funny thing is the workaround is as simple as using a USB hub. As long as you don't directly connect to the Macs USB port you'll be able to get to DFU mode and jailbreak. Easy.

#10 thealexweb on 17 Dec 2008 - 13:37

Apple is treading of ice, the unlocking tool is an app, you can choose to install it or not. It isn't up to the manufacture to decide what you use and what you can't.

#11 Atlonite on 19 Dec 2008 - 07:56

We are the Apple you will be arse-immolated Resistance is Futile...

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Apple strikes again to halt iPhone jailbreaking

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