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iOS 4.3.4 Prevents Hacking and Jailbreaking
Mightee writes "Apple has released a software update to iOS, version 4.3.4, for the iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad 2, 1, and iPod Touch. The main objective of this version is to prevent the hacking in Apple iOS devices which occurs through malicious PDF files. Another objective is to prevent the jailbreaking which occurs as a consequence of the previous effect. In previous versions, the iOS device is easily vulnerable to attacks. It happens because of mishandling of fonts embedded in the PDF file. Sometimes a downloaded PDF may be malicious, and there is a possibility that the file could inject malware into the iOS device, which gives a chance for the hackers to access the hardware of the iOS device."
Of course, you should still stick with 4.3.3 if you don't want to bother with re-jailbreaking anytime your phone shuts off.
Or you should not buy an iPhone in the first place. Give your money to a vendor who deserves it.
and what DO you get from a jailbreak exactly? I jailbroke my 3g-s a long time back, and other than novelty shitware noticed nothing of value so i haven't bothered since.
I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.
Actual ownership of your device. Sorta like how your PC doesn't try and fight you.
I understand that accepting total vendor control over things is the cool thing on Slashdot these days (especially among iProduct fans,) so I'll just leave you to your walled and barred garden.
Yes, Apple doesn't like jailbreaking, but it would be stupid of them to not patch the flaw now that it's discovered. It would be nice if they were to provide a sanctioned means to jailbreak the device, but that's another matter. If I wanted a device this open, I'd figure out which Android phone was most hackable and buy that.... and put up with the inferior user interface. As it turns out, I HATE inferior user interfaces, which is why I avoid things like Linux and Windows desktops and which is why I bought an iPhone. For all of the things that are commonly done with a smartphone, the iPhone works great without any fuss (AT&T's flaky network aside). I'm content to stay within this walled garden, because although there are a FEW things I might want to do that I cannot, I don't have to put up with any bullshit to do everything else.
And let me be clear that this comment from yours truly is coming from a semi-well-known open hardware designer. For me, hacking someone else's hardware is often just too frustrating and limiting. I would much rather design something new that's open to begin with and does specifically what I want.
And you may also find it interesting that, as a hardware designer, I have somewhat of a different take on the whole Free Software thing. To me, software is often a just lot of bullshit required to make the hardware work. I care a bit more about the software being stable and easy to use than about it always being open source. On the other hand, although I'm willing to tollerate closed hardware when it suits me (indeed, the vast majority of computer hardware is closed-design), I find it much more desirable to design circuitry that other people can learn from, repurpose, and reprogram as they see fit. To turn this into a proper analogy, look at all this from the perspective of the mechanical engineer. He doesn't care about circuits OR software. But he hates it when machines he buys don't come with blueprints.