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Apple IOS 4.3.4 Jailbroken Hours After Update
Stoobalou writes "The cat and mouse game between Apple and the jailbreaking community continues unabated as an updated version of PwnageTool hits the web just hours after apple updated its iOS mobile operating system to lock out the JailbreakMe PDF-based exploit."
Thanks to your desire to run any software you wish, you're finding security holes for Apple, free of charge.
Keep up the good work.
No, this isn't a new jailbreak. It's an existing exploit which uses the same hardware exploit found by Geohot MONTHS ago. The exploit install software is now configured for the new iOS version is all. This is why it's a TETHERED exploit, as the untethered exploit add-on no longer works in 4.3.4.
Is anyone technical even working at Slashdot anymore?
This jailbreak requires you to have your phone connected to your computer at every reboot in order to root it, and root is lost if phone is rebooted without connecting to the computer.
The PDF font handling vulnerability gave you perma-root (unthethered) and could also be used as a drive-by exploit.
In short, misleading title is misleading.
Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
Note: "There was an unknown error in the submission", constantly. I suspect you think this is spam
nah, /. implemented Hotmails ban of common passwords and "swordfish" is on the list...
as a more serious remark: no, I didn't expect a different outcome of the update. It seems that Apple is way too exposed, the [add color]-hat scene has a new interesting opponent - it is boring to hit guys already lying on the ground. But Apple fights like hell to keep their secrets secret, obviously irresistible for hackers.
This reminds me of the PS3 debacle: The system was attacked after Sony removed the playground "other OS", I believe that a more open approach for iDevices (like store-independent software installation) would decrease the breaking attempts.
Here's a fixed title for you: Slashdot user fails at basic reading comprehension. It is NOT a drive-by-download exploit. The drive-by-download PDF vulnerability existed in 4.3.3 but was rapidly patched with the release of 4.3.4, and it has yet to be reopened as a viable exploit. Instead, what these hackers/developers/<your spin here> have managed to do is update their tethered means of jailbreaking to work with 4.3.4, but it currently requires being tethered to your computer with each and every reboot, otherwise you lose root. It's about as far from a drive-by-download as you can imagine and is not currently susceptible to malicious attacks unless you compromise physical access to your device. Now, pardon me while I tout how secure my Apple product is.
Is that what they're calling locking down a device these days?
By your logic, if the black helicopters showed up on your front lawn and hauled you and your family away to a detention camp they'd be "removing security holes".
In a way, you'd be right, too.
Remember what Ben Franklin said about security. If you're willing to give up your freedom for security, you don't deserve either. By Franklin's logic, Apple users deserve nada.
You are welcome on my lawn.
In two separate stories now, it has been put forth that Apple pushed out this fix with the mustache-twirling intent to stop jailbreaking.
Well obviously not, since the problem that lets tethered jailbreaking work is without issue. The REAL reason Apple "broke" untethered jailbreaking is that it was a gaping flaw in PDF handling that would let an attacker gain control of the system.
I realize Slashdot has a more general readership these days but surely anyone can see that leaving an exploit like that unlatched is bad. In fact other companies have been chastised for leaving holes like that open for too long, and rightfully so...
So please let us drop the pretense that every security patch is Apple out to stop jailbreaking. Apple in fact does not really care if you jailbreak, and is using it covertly to see what new features might be good to add to the platform by viewing the experimental jailbreak community... sometimes not so covertly as the case of them hiring the guy who did jailbroken notification handling to fix notification handling in iOS5! I can't think of a clearer signal that jailbreaking has at least covert approval within Apple.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley