iPhone jailbreak 'for the rest of us' arrives

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 30 October 2007 01:54

Your IT - Mobility

An automated jailbreak for the iPhone and iPod touch has been developed, bringing the process within reach of anyone capable of operating the devices.

A jailbreak alters the device's software so that unofficial applications can be installed. Previous methods were complicated, and scared off some less technically-minded users.

The method was developed by a team of people working on the project and described by TUAW's Erica Sadun.

It requires users to visit a specific web site, and so presumably uses the TIFF vulnerability.

Apparently the modification can be undone simply by restoring the device's original software.

Apple plans to release a software development kit for the iPhone in February 2008, but there are already a variety of third-party programs in circulation for Apple's phone and the iPod touch.