Can Apple Really Make iPhone 3GS Jailbreak-Proof?

by Simon Ng on October 20, 2009

Earlier, it’s widely reported that Apple is now shipping iPhone 3GS units which are jailbreak-proof, trying to end the cat and mouse game. The new iPhone units will come with a new bootrom that can resist to the existing jailbreak technique. Presently, jailbreaking relies on the so-called 24kpwn exploit that allows iPhone hackers to bypass the bootrom signature on low-level bootloader and makes jailbreaking possible. As claimed by several sources, Apple now completely closes this exploit by shipping iPhones with new bootrom. That means, if you still haven’t owned an iPhone 3GS and plan to buy one, it’s very likely you’ll get an iPhone that is jailbreak-proof.

It sounds like that the new bootrom will end the jailbreak game. Really?

Wired.com has interviewed Eric McDonald, a member of the iPhone Dev-Team and here was what Eric mentioned.

“It’s not going to be impossible to jailbreak even if the exploit we used is gone,” said Eric McDonald, a member of the iPhone Dev-Team, which publishes tools to jailbreak the iPhone, in a phone interview with Wired.com.

McDonald explained that current tools will still work with the latest batch of iPhone 3GS units. The “24kpwn” exploit used to help jailbreak previous iPhones and iPod Touch devices only made it easier to boot up the hacked devices.

The newly shipping iPhone 3GS’s bootrom interferes with 24kpwn, but that will only make the handset difficult to start up after it shuts down. Booting up will require being “tethered” to a computer. That means if you shut down a jailbroken iPhone 3GS, or if it runs out of power, you can only turn it back on by plugging it into a computer.

In short, the new bootrom will not completely end the jailbreak game. It’ll just make jailbreaking more difficult and iPhone hackers to take more time to find another exploit. As long as there is a need for jailbreaking, you’ll continue to see iPhone hackers working out great jailbreaking solution. It’s still an endless cat-and-mouse game.

What do you think about it? Do you think Apple can really release a jailbreak-proof iPhone? Leave us comment and share your thought.

Share with Your Friends

What's Next?

If you find the post is useful, subscribe to Simon Blog using RSS or Email to get free iPhone updates. Alternatively, you can follow me on Twitter or join us on Facebook.

Related Post you'll like:

Tagged as: apple, iPhone, iPhone Dev Team, jailbreak-iphone

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

1 ar_meme October 20, 2009 at 7:21 am

I read a quote once: “whatever man does another can undo”.

2 pablo October 21, 2009 at 2:56 pm

i would not be surprise that making a jailbreak-proof iPhone is due to lobbying from AT&T and other cellphone provider who has a exclusivity of the iPhone.

After all they are the ones loosing money with the jailbreak hack. Not Apple. In fact being able to jailbreak an iPhone must boost their sales by a huge %.

So Apple is probably trying to look good towards these guys but must be happy to have genius from the iPhone Dev-Team for example, jailbreaking iPhones.

It’s common business thinking. unfortunately money talks in this world. And if you want to make the shareholders happy, “a company do what a company got to do”. And with the announcement of their quarterly profit early this week. Shareholders must be very happy. And i bet jailbreaked iPhones have a lot to do with that.
Jailbreak iPhones also mean more sales in the app store.

I would be curious to see a graph with the iphones sales numbers compared to the number of registration to these “exclusive” cell phone providers.

And like we have been seeing for decades in the computer world, once there is a new protection, security etc…. you bet someone will find the way to bypass these.

I think “hackers” (white, black, red or rainbow) are actually needed in the development of computer technologies. As they are pushing developers to always improve their products.

3 ethan October 26, 2009 at 8:04 pm

I actually agree with you on this one pablo. The fact that iphone’s can be jailbroken, does in fact help Apple boost its sales. On the other hand, I also think that this would affect the money that Apple would generate from its applications and softwares. Do you think?

4 pablo October 26, 2009 at 10:47 pm: i’m not too sure, but interesting point. I know that for many people, jailbreaking or doing thing they don’t understand at all, is scary. You’ve got to admit that jailbreaking and unlocking your iPhone can be a scary procedure when your not tech savvy. Especially when you read the “Caution warning”. So even if you can find someone to do it for you, it stays a bit scary/illegal for the average joe blow.

They are the profound engine of our consumer society: the human sheep. They just do as the commercial says to do. The same that never question or push the any boundaries. They have been here, they are here and will still be here. We need them.

So i think that the app store as a bright future. Don’t get me wrong i also use app from the app store. But i don’t see why this should be under the total control of Apple when we see and know that there is still a huge mercantile vision deciding who gets in the app store.

I don’t believe that a brand should impose so much restriction on his product. You can easily argue by saying that i am not oblige to buy one.
Granted! But what if apply the same concept to other product. If i buy a GM car i can only gaz at Shell and use a very specific type of fuel?

Ok, i’m getting away from your question here. So no i don’t think it will such a great impact as having your app in the app store is also somewhat of a recognition or seal of quality (even though it is not really). The App still has a bright future.

And knowing Apple, they must already have something new up their sleeve.

Reply