Jailbreaking

Jailbreaking is a process wherein one modifies the firmware of an electronic

device to be able to access the internals of its operating system and install a variety
of third-party applications that are not otherwise available through official channels.
The term is commonly used with Apples products such as the Iphone, Ipad and the
Ipod Touch. However, the term also encompasses modification of other products
such as Sonys Playstation 3 (PS3) and Playstation Portable (PSP) and Microsofts XBox360 as well. Once a device has been jailbroken, the user will be able to install
themes, applications, programs, and extensions that are otherwise limited by the
software developer such as Apple or Sony.
It is a double-edged sword, however, because users could use jailbreaking as
a means to promote piracy through hacking a developers product store such as the
Apple Store. Furthermore, a mistake in jailbreaking will brick or render ones
device useless. This may pose a problem as developers have taken a firm stance in
stating that the process of jailbreaking will void the warranty of the product. 1 On the
other hand, jailbreaking also promotes creativity and allows brilliant minds to
flourish by letting them develop programs otherwise not available in the application
stores of developers. It also lets users optimize the use of their device through
installation of third party applications. For the purposes of this paper, we will focus
on Apples products such as the Iphone and Sonys products such as the PS3.
The Apple Iphone, Ipad, and Ipod Touch
The first instance of jailbreaking was recorded in 2007 wherein a video was

Unauthorized modification of iOS has been a major source of instability, disruption of

services, and other issues . [http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3743.]. September 27, 2010.

posted over the internet by users stating that they have installed custom ringtones
in their Iphone.2 This was followed by an article posted on engadget.com stating
that a third-party application has been installed in an Iphone. 3 This started a catand-mouse game between jailbreakers and developers wherein developers would
release updates patching the jailbroken devices while jailbreakers would up the ante
by breaking through these patches.
February 2008 proved to be a breakthrough for jailbreakers as Italian
programmer Zibri el Fontu created ZiPhone, a program that created the foundation
for modern jailbreaking. Apple then released Operating System (OS) 2.0 thinking
that it would quell the jailbreaking scene. This would be a fruitless effort as a group
called the IPhone Dev Team was able to hack the Iphone and release a program
called Pwnage Tool, which is still used today. 4
OS 3.0 was released to deter jailbreakers. This, again, frustrated Apple as the
IPhone Dev Team was able to jailbreak the software. To add insult to injury, another
jailbreaker, geohot, released the tool blackra1n which allows jailbreaking of all
iPhones and iPod touch devices running on iPhone OS 3.1.2.
2010 proved to be bittersweets as OS 4.0 was released and it quelled the
jailbreaking scene for a certain amount of time. In the same year, the US Library of

Ricker,
Thomas.
Iphone
Hackers:
We
have
owned
the
filesystem
[http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/10/iphone-hackers-we-have-owned-the-filesystem/]. July
10, 2007.
3

Topolsky,
Joshua.
First
third-party
"game"
app
appears
for
iPhone
[http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/06/first-third-party-game-app-appears-for-iphone/].
August 6, 2007.
4

PwnageTool 2.0 (2.0.1) to JailBreak Unlock iPhone 3G or 2.0 and iPod Touch Free
Download.
[http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/07/22/pwnagetool-20-201-to-jailbreakunlock-iphone-3g-or-20-and-ipod-touch-free-download/]. October 11, 2009.

Congress ruled that jailbreaking was explicitly exempted from provisions of the
Digital Millennium Copyright Act. 5 The biggest breakthrough was on August 1, 2010,
Comex released the first publicly available jailbreak for the iPhone 4 called
JailbreakMe

2.0.

The

jailbreak

was

activated

by

visiting

web

page

(JailbreakMe.com) on the device's Safari web browser. The jailbreak is applied onto
the iOS device right from within the browser. This type of jailbreak had not been
used since iPhone OS firmware 1.1.1 on first-geneation devices. It was able to
jailbreak firmware versions 3.1.2 to 4.0.1 on all of the latest iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad
models.6
Today, the cat and mouse game in jailbreaking continues. OS 4.3 has not
been jailbroken yet and programmer Geohot (George Hotz) is facing a lawsuit for his
jailbreaking activities with Sonys PS3. Only time will tell if OS 4.3 can be jailbroken.
Sony PS3
The PS3 was first jailbroken on 2010 wherein a group called PS Jailbreak
found an exploit in Sonys operating system. This is available through a USB chipset
that allows unauthorised gameplay of PlayStation 3 games and commercial game
backup to the user's hard drive. It bypasses a system security check using a
memory exploit which occurs with USB devices that allows the execution of
unsigned code. One of the most popular pieces of software used with the device is
Backup Manager, which allows users to dump and then run games from the hard
drive of the PlayStation 3, or from an external USB drive.

Shields, Todd and Satariano, Adam. `Jailbreaking' of IPhones to Add Apps Backed by U.S.
[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-26/apple-iphone-users-have-u-s-blessing-tojailbreak-add-own-applications.html]. July 27, 2010.
6

http://www.jailbreakme.com

PlayStation Jailbreak. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Jailbreak]. March 6, 2011.

Today, the PS3 is running at firmware 3.56 and there hasnt been a hack that
could get through Sonys defenses. With main hackers Geohot and Graf_Chokolo
facing lawsuits from Sony, it could take a while before the PS3 is jailbroken again.
How to Jailbreak Apple Products
Basically, there are 2 types of jailbreaks in Apple Products, a tethered
jailbreak and an untethered jailbreak. A tethered jailbreak means that once your
iPhone is successfully jailbroken with jailbreaking software, you'll need to connect
your iPhone to your computer if you ever need to reboot your iPhone or your iPhone
loses battery charge. What you'll see when you reboot your iPhone (if you're
tethered) is the iTunes and USB picture. Once you get this, simply open up your
jailbreaking software to re-boot your iPhone for you. 8 On the other hand, an
untethered jailbreak allows the device to be powered off and rebooted without
affecting the jailbreak, i.e., without requiring that it be reconnected to a computer. It
is more advantageous to use an untethered jailbreak especially for convencience.
However, when iOS updates are released, software to perform tethered jailbreaks is
often released before untethered jailbreaking software becomes available. 9
Jailbreaking an Apple product usually involves downloading a jailbreaking
program (such as blackrain or spirit) in ones personal computer and plugging the
device using the USB port. Once this is done, a user has to run the program and it
will automatically jailbreak the device. This process usually lasts from 30 seconds to
a few minutes. After the process, a user can now install third-party applications in
his device. This is called untethered jailbreaking.
8

Un-tethered v. Tethered Jailbreak. [http://www.everythingicafe.com/forum/iphone-jailbreak/un-tethered-vtethered-jailbreak-58893.html]. December 11, 2009.

9

iOS Jailbreaking. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_jailbreaking]. March 9, 2011.

O.S. 4.3 has not been jailbroken yet. However, there are rumors of a tethered
jailbreak on the works using Pwnage Tool, a program made by the Iphone Dev
Team.10
Sony PS3
The PS3 jailbreak is done through a USB inserted to the device. This USB
contains a file called Backup Manager which enables a user to install third-party
applications in the device. The first step in jailbreaking is to insert the USB in the
PS3 then turning the power on. Once the USB light turns green, that means that the
jailbreak will work. The user then goes to the Game Menu and then selects the
option Install Package Files. Selecting "manager.pkg will basically install Backup
Manager for you and after that, it is basically smooth sailing from there.

11

However,

this process only applies to firmware 3.55 and below.

Today, the PS3 runs firmware 3.56 and has no known jailbreak for it yet. With
the lawsuit against the PS3s main hackers and the constant bullying by Sony, it
may take a while before a jailbreak appears for the latest firmware of Sony.

10

iOS 4.3 GM Jailbroken Already on iPhone 4 Using PwnageTool. [http://www.sinfuliphone.com/showthread.php?

t=66004]. March 4, 2011.
11

How
to
Jailbreak
Playstation
3
Step
by
Step
Guide.
[http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?/topic/29601-how-to-jailbreak-playstation-3-step-by-step-guide/].
August 23, 2010.