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Apple Releases Patch For Evasi0n Jailbreak (After It's Used 18 Million Times)

Sparrowvsrevolution writes "Apple has released a new update for iOS that prevents the jailbreak evasi0n released last month. But that hacking tool has already become the most popular jailbreak ever: It's been used to remove the software restrictions on 18.2 million devices in the 43 days between its release and the patch, according to data from Cydia, the app store for jailbroken devices. In its announcement of the update, Apple says it has fixed six bugs and was polite enough to credit the hackers behind evasi0n with finding four of them. At least one of the bugs used by evasi0n remains unpatched, according to David Wang, one of evasi0n's creators. And Wang says that he and his fellow hackers still have bugs in reserve for a new jailbreak, although they plan to keep them secret until the next major release."

7 of 112 comments (clear)

  1. Re:FFS by sg_oneill · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you know about a security flaw, you should report it so they can be fixed.

    How are they going to produce jailbreaks if they report it?

    It would be irresponsible of them to deliberately collaborate with restricting user freedoms.

    --
    Excuse the Unicode crap in my posts. That's an apostrophe, and slashdot is busted.
  2. Re:FFS by SimonTheSoundMan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I hate it when people cry foul when Apple patches a jailbreak method. I find visiting a web page or opening a PDF that can root your device then automatically installs binaries and run them without user intervention that has full access to your whole phone quite worrying.

    I do wonder if someone has maliciously used a jailbreak methods on their own web site, installing binaries remotely without the user knowing, and then taking data. How do you find out if this has happened?

  3. Re:FFS by sFurbo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This would clearly be the case if Apple did not insist on locking down devices in ways the consumers don't want. If there were, say, a menu option for "allow installation from unknown sources", there would be no excuse for sitting on bugs. As it is now, it is muddier: On the one hand, it is a security flaw that should be patched. On the other hand, it is a way to ensure that they can keep using their hardware in the way they want to.

    Of course, the easy way around the dilemma would be to insist on only paying money for hardware you actually own, not quasi-lease, which is the only option Apple wants for iOS hardware.

  4. Re:FFS by SternisheFan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This wouldn't be needed had Apple not been Apple. You know the whole "we know better than you what you want" motto.

    If they didn't know what people wanted I'm assuming they wouldn't be selling so well.

    Apple obviously doesn't know what at least 18 million, 200,000 of their customers want.

  5. No. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Fuck no.

    For fucking millionth time, the only way to not deliberately collaborate with restricting user freedoms is to not fucking buy the restricted stuff in the first place.

    You buy DRM'ed shit - you give the DRM producer money. The fact that you intend to use hacks to circumvent the DRM later only sends a clear message: "We're doing fine, we just need to clamp down on them hackers harder".

    This is not fighting for freedom, this is entitlement complex. I could somewhat understand looking to break DRM when non-DRM media in some class is nonexistent or virtually nonexistent - like in DVD video case, but not in cases like smartphones or, say, videogames. You're not entitled to it. Just say "fuck you" to them and their shiny toys and go play elsewhere - the playground is huge and alternatives are plenty.

  6. Re:FFS by AK+Marc · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I jailbroke my idevices because the ones I have can't be unlocked any other way. It was just the carrier locking I wanted around.

  7. Re:FFS by Nerdfest · · Score: 4, Insightful

    there's never been malware that used any of them.

    That you know of.