iOS jailbreaking is the process of removing the limitations on Apple devices running the iOS operating system through the use of software and hardware exploits – such devices include the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and second generation Apple TV.
Jailbreaking permits root access to the iOS operating system, allowing the download of additional applications, extensions, and themes that are unavailable through the official Apple App Store. Jailbreaking is a form of privilege escalation, and the term has been used to describe privilege escalation on devices by other manufacturers as well.
Restoring a device with iTunes removes the jailbreak. Unlike rooting an Android device, jailbreaking is necessary if the user intends to run software not authorized by Apple.
Latest Jailbreak news…
Apple Blocks Pangu Jailbreak Exploits With Release of iOS 9.1
Apple has blocked exploits used by the Pangu Jailbreak with the release of iOS 9.1. Pangu was able to jailbreak iOS 9.0 to 9.0.2; however, in Apple’s document on the security content of iOS 9.1, PanguTeam is credited with discovering two vulnerabilities that have been patched…
Pangu Releases Updated Jailbreak of iOS 9 Pangu9 v1.1.0
Pangu has released an update to its jailbreak utility for iOS 9 that improves its reliability and success rate…
Activator 1.9.6 Released With Support for iOS 9, 3D Touch
Ryan Petrich has released Activator 1.9.6, an update to the centralized gesture, button, and shortcut manager, that brings support for iOS 9 and 3D Touch…
Pangu Releases Updated Jailbreak of iOS 9 Pangu9 v1.01
Saurik Releases Cydia Substrate for iOS 9
Pangu Releases Jailbreak of iOS 9
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Types of jailbreaks (untethered and tethered)
An “untethered” jailbreak has the property that if the user turns the device off and back on, the device will start up completely, and the kernel will be patched without the help of a computer – in other words, it will be jailbroken after each reboot.
However, with a “tethered” jailbreak, a computer is needed to turn the phone on each time it is rebooted. If the device starts back up on its own, it will no longer have a patched kernel, and it may get stuck in a partially started state. By using a computer, the phone is essentially “re-jailbroken” (using the “boot tethered” feature of a jailbreaking tool) each time it is turned on.
A device with a tethered jailbreak may have a semi-tethered solution, which means that when the device boots, it will no longer have a patched kernel (so it will not be able to run modified code), but it will still be usable for normal functions. To use any features that require running modified code, the user must start the device with the help of the jailbreaking tool in order for it to start with a patched kernel (jailbroken).