Tool opens iPhone, iPod Touch via web
Look, ma, no PC/Mac
iPhone hackers have released a tool that allows owners of firmware 1.1.1 iPhones and iPod Touches to open up their devices to third-party apps - all without the need for a host Mac or PC.
AppSnapp in action
The utility's called AppSnapp, and it's launched via the devices' Safari web browser. The code uses a known vulnerability with firmware 1.1.1, which it subsequently patches. Before doing so, it activates iPhones, jalbreaks both types of device to allow third-party apps to run, installs Installer, and allows the YouTube app to connect on non-AT&T iPhones.
What it won't do is unlock an AT&T-only iPhone to allow the handset to be used with other networks. For that, the nine hackers behind AppSnapp suggest downloading and running AnySim 1.1 after you've used AppSnapp.
We'd point out that AnySim 1.1 is designed for iPhones that have not yet been unlocked in any way, so shouldn't be run on firmware 1.0.2 handsets that have been previously unlocked.
Early reports suggest that AppSnapp does exactly what it claims, though the process may take a little time due to the number of users grabbing the code off the AppSnapp web site, jailbreakme.com.
COMMENTS
Shouldn't the title read...
"iPhone software hideously insecure, owners advised to avoid all websites until patch is issued"?
Seriously - visiting a website is all it takes to make large changes to the device? 'kin hell.
Works just fine
I tried this last night and within half an hour I managed to Jailbreak my iPod Touch, install the BSD SubSystem and OpenSSH so I could connect using SFTP from my PC and then put the 'missing' iPhone applications like mail and maps onto my iPod - fantastic!
If Apple decides to release new firmware with some amazing extra features then maybe I'll reset to factory defaults and upgrade, but I really can't see myself doing that unless they offer some compelling feature I can't get through 3rd party applications.
There's really nothing to lose by Jailbreaking an iPod Touch at the moment, iTunes works exactly as it did before the Jailbreak and I have some great extra functionality. Coupled with my BT-FON Wireless access I can now get my mail on the move in a very friendly UI :-)
Err... restore....
Restoring is great for getting rid of software changes etc, but a hardware reset is somewhat unlikely to reset a firmware change folks.
It would be a bit daft if it did.
Worked like a charm!
And to think that last week you had to go through some 100 step geek-fest to get it working, just incredible work.
The ipod touch is now the greatest gadget of all time.
Am I missing something ?
Isnt this a little worrying, that the product can be hacked remotely and so easily ? How long before the malware crowd start to take notice of this trick ?
What a wonderful thought, Zombie iPhones spewing out Viagra spam :)
