5 Myths About Jailbreaking
When talking to prospective jailbreakers, I am both shocked and outraged by the lies and myths that they swallow. They will believe almost anything, simply because it is said by men in suits from apple.
1. Jailbreaking is illegal.
This is the argument that I hear most often, and the one apple fan-boys (and girls!) defend resiliently. The simple truth is, it’s not. The law states that “reverse-engineering of hardware is acceptable in order to add functionality”. Jailbreaking certainly adds functionality, so there should be no leg for apple to stand on, yet they resort to these scare tactics.
2. Jailbreaking voids the warranty.
This is not true. Because the restore process unmounts the drives (according to ih8sn0w- a prominent member of the jailbreaking community) there is *no* possibility of apple finding out that it was previously jailbroken. All of the software is wiped, including the products of the jailbreak. A friend of mine had jailbroken his ipod touch when the screen started to come loose at the edges. He restored it and took it back to apple. They issued a replacement; no questions asked.
3. Jailbreaking damages your iDevice.
I cannot stress enough how useful the restore option in iTunes is. *Whatever* happens, software wise, you can always restore. Since DFU mode is built into hardware, there is no way that you can modify it. As a result, there will be no situation in which modifying the software will cause your iDevice to not be able to restore. Seriously, try it out. SSH in as root and delete everything. That’s right; everthing. A restore will still work. I know, it sounds crazy! I didn’t believe too so I tried it. Needless to say, I was shocked and overjoyed when iTunes fixed it. There can still be hardware errors that occur, but this is just your bad luck; they can’t be brought about through software.
4. Jailbreaking leaves your device open to hacks.
I must admit, this is based partly in truth. However, it was the users’ fault, not the jailbreak’s. They installed openSSH, yet didn’t change the password. This is downright idiotic. Imagine creating an email adress and leaving the password as “password” then complaining about getting hacked into. You’d get laughed at. It’s the same principle here. There are some easy to follow guides on the internet of how to change your root password, something highly recommended.
5. Jailbreaking doesn’t add functionality; it is only used to get cracked apps.
Is being able to background apps not adding functionality? Is theming not adding functionality? Is being able to circumvent pointless “protections” by apple (such as apps not being able to change screen brightness) not adding functionality? Is instant access toggles from anywhere (sbsettings-check it out!) not adding funcionality? Suddenly this argument seems petty doesn’t it? I’ll admit it, a high proportion of users jailbreak for the abilty to get cracked apps. I do not condone this at all. However, anti-jailbreakers need to realise that we’re not all criminals. A lot of us jailbreak for one simple reason; it allows our devices to reach their full potential.
In order for the jailbreak community to flourish we need to better educate possible jailbreakers of the misinformation they are being fed by so called “impartial” bloggers.
If you have any suggestions/personal comment/advice/tips etc or if you just simply want a chat then feel free to contact me.
Email; greg@jailbreaknews.com
Or if you’re into twitter; http://www.twitter.com/gb1501
@gb1501
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Great app!..Just finished reading “5 myths about jailbreaking” nice read. Number 4 “Jailbreaking leaves your device open to hacks” you mention changing the root password (I have no idea what that is) Is that something I need to change if I’m just adding apps, themes, sbsettings etc.?
This is so true! I jailbreak people iPods/iPhones/ipads for fun( They usually only do it for themes and other great stuff like changeing the carrier and stuff) but most people always say this stuff and they refuse to because there just scared of these rumors :/
@elfknight
Go to cydia=> manage => packages
if you have the app “openSSH” installed then you need to change it
if you have openSSH installed go to http://http://bit.ly/2X9MBO Thats a guide of how you can change it
@Gregb
Thanks for the reply. I just checked and nope I don’t have “OpenSSH” installed. I’m new to jailbreaking but I really like it..lol
My Jailbroken iPhone stopped working and was stuck in the reboot mode. I went to a apple store close to my house and they gave me a brand new Phone. When it’s about that I love the iPhone. Sad that they don’t open it right away so you don’t have to jailbrake it. I think then it would be even more possible if the big companies would be allowed to create apps or change the software.
Wouldn’t it be more apt to say that jailbreaking actually allows you to become more educated and close open holes and vulnrebilities? Even the holes Apple placed there for their own use Thus making the device more secure?
this is a very cool app just got done readin bout jailbeakin
Couldnt cope without mine beeing jailbroken, it adds so much extra function to the divices. Happy times. And who would look for divices to hack ?
Very good post but very ugly iPhone cover on the top. Haha yuck
I use SSH o bur only as necerary. For athing else i use Phone View.
The changing root password was a good idea. That was really the only thing I had heard about was hacks and was worried about them. Not anymore!
Not that it has ever stopped me, but jail breaking an apple device is actually a violation of the anticircumvention provision of the digital millennium copyright act. There is a pending exception to this provision that would permit jail breaking, but the library of congress hasn’t yet ruled on it. That ruling is expected any day now.
#3 not correct, there are many errors that can happen the will result in no restore, I just had an error 23…aka hardware failure, so I had to return it to apple with the JB still On it, but they sent me a new one… Warranty
True it is to reach their full potentian becuase apple should do that and they dont..
This is a great argument! I support it 100%!
@whiplash
Sorry I didn’t make it clearer, meant through tampering with the software. Obviously if thrown off a building or something a restore won’t fix it
Updated the post
Thanks
@tonedef
Yeh I know! But its also protected by that other law that I said! :/
Its in a state of unknown at the moment, clarification is being seeked
But until a judge rules it illegal its “innocent until proven guilty” and all that
Also, the law I stated is an international law (I think; could be wrong) but the DMCA is an american law
Thus, there’s no ambiguity in countries other than the US, its 100% legal everywhere else
Thanks for bringing forward ‘the truth’ about the myths and preconcieved notions that people have in regards to jailbreaking.JBN- Great app !!!
All I know is that the Iphone is the best phone on the market. I’ve had a Blackberry Storm 1&2, and a Droid(piece of s—) and nothing compares to an iPhone that’s jailbroken. I’ll never go back!
Really jailbrek rocks!!and to the guy who created spirit thx
I enjoyed reading it. I need to read a lot more on this subject..Thanks for sharing a nice info..Any way I am going to subscribe for your feed and I hope you publish again soon.
Hey, couldn’t agree more with your point on full potential. A couple of work mates shake their heads and tut when my iPhone ring tone comes direct from my iTunes library. I enjoy catching them quickly turning their heads from the 5×5 icon layout. If I where to lose my ability to jailbreak then I really do believe I would drop Apple in a heartbeat……
I liked myth 5 because it’s true I didn’t jailbreak my iPod touch for cracked apps I had actually for an intire year before I bought it I had been watching videos on YouTube about ppl that have done like awesome things with there iPod touch and I bought mine so I can do the same I actually never heard of cracked apps untill I got installuos
#2 is correct, you can restore to get warranty back, and apple will accept that.
i called apple tech and asked them about jailbreaking.
they said if it is restored, they can help me.
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It’s great to be able to do things that Apple doesn’t want us to do. Mr Jobs needs to stop being so damned greedy. He wants all the money from aqll the capabilities of the iPhone for himself. If he would just allow more, he would make even more money! Hello? There’s still two things I need to accomplish on my 3G…..install Android, which I’ve attempted to do. I just can’t get past an error, trying to install, “openiboot”. Just doing it to check it out, really. I also want to be able to unlock 5.12.01. I upgraded to the real 3.1.3 software when my phone locked up, before I knew about custom ipsw restoring. Bummer!!