Apple only announced iOS 5 yesterday and released the developer version of iOS 5, and it seems that the guys over at the iPhone Dev team have already managed to jailbreak iOS 5.
According to @MuscleNerd, iOS was jailbroken using limera1n and a tethered boot. You can see in the photo below that iOS 5 is running Cydia.
That really didn’t take them long to jailbreak iOS 5, considering that the developer SDK of iOS was only just released yesterday.
Understanding Jailbreaking
Jailbreaking an iOS device involves removing software restrictions imposed by Apple on iOS. This process allows users to gain root access to the iOS file system and manager, enabling the download of additional applications, extensions, and themes that are unavailable through the official Apple App Store. The term “tethered boot” mentioned by MuscleNerd refers to a type of jailbreak that requires the device to be connected to a computer each time it is restarted to maintain the jailbreak.
The tool used for this jailbreak, limera1n, is a popular jailbreaking tool developed by George Hotz (also known as Geohot). Limera1n exploits a hardware vulnerability in the boot ROM of the device, making it a powerful tool for jailbreaking various iOS versions. However, tethered jailbreaks can be inconvenient for users as they need to connect their device to a computer every time it reboots.
Implications and Risks of Jailbreaking
While jailbreaking can provide greater flexibility and customization options for users, it also comes with several risks and implications. One of the primary concerns is security. Jailbroken devices are more vulnerable to malware and other security threats because they bypass Apple’s security measures. Additionally, jailbreaking can void the warranty of the device, meaning that Apple may refuse to provide support or repairs for jailbroken devices.
Another potential issue is stability. Jailbroken devices can become unstable, leading to crashes and other performance issues. This is because the additional software and modifications installed through jailbreaking may not be as rigorously tested as official apps available through the App Store.
Despite these risks, many users choose to jailbreak their devices to access features and customization options that are not available on stock iOS. For example, jailbroken devices can run apps that allow for greater control over the device’s settings, such as changing the default web browser or adding new gestures for navigation. Users can also install themes to change the appearance of the iOS interface, providing a more personalized experience.
The speed at which the iPhone Dev team managed to jailbreak iOS 5 highlights the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between Apple and the jailbreaking community. Each time Apple releases a new version of iOS, developers quickly work to find new vulnerabilities and create tools to jailbreak the latest software. Apple, in turn, patches these vulnerabilities in subsequent updates, leading to a continuous cycle of jailbreaking and patching.
Source Engadget
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