iPhone: Jailbreaking and Unlocking (Updated 4/2010)

img: http://iphoneroot.com/

Before this Winter, I really had no interest in purchasing an iPhone. Between the cost of the phone and AT&T’s ridiculous data plan, it was simply out of the price range for a full time college student working a part time job. However, a friend of a friend generously bequeathed his battle damaged iPhone 2G to me after upgrading to the latest 3GS. Naturally, I researched everything I could about the device. Note that everything in this post applies to an iPhone 2G (Original iPhone), but I don’t see why most of the general options could be applied to a 3G/3GS/iTouch.

This is a process to Jailbreak the iPhone. If you choose to follow any or all of these steps, you do so at your own risk. Jailbreaking is a hack that takes advantage of the iPhone’s OS. You may lose data, void your warranty, or make the iPhone impossible to use. That said, you can learn a lot about the iPhone through this process and unlock new options to make your device more interesting, useful, and fun.

The term Jailbreaking sounds devious, but currently has no legal implications in the United States. Jailbreaking an iPhone voids the Apple warranty (however, the software my simply be restored through iTunes to a non-warranty-voiding state). Simply put, Jailbreaking circumvents the limitations of the iPhone OS, allowing users to install software from sources other than Apple’s iPhone App Store. This extraneous software is maintained by independent developer communities and also allows modifications and customizations not previously possible in the iPhone OS.

The easiest way to Jailbreak the device is to use Blackra1n, a Windows application developed by George Hotz. This process will completely erase everything previously on the iPhone and start completely from scratch. You will end up with a fresh install of the latest Jailbreak-able firmware.

Jailbreaking Process:

1. Install/upgrade to the latest version of iTunes. Note: Do NOT allow iTunes to update the iPhone! iPhone firmware 3.1.3 (the latest version) has not yet been Jailbroken! If your iPhone is using 3.1.3 you will have to restore the device to 3.1.2 before attempting Jailbreak.
2. Download iPhone firmware 3.1.2 -> Select your specific model and version number (Tap: Settings -> General -> About)
3. Put the iPhone in DFU mode: Turn off iPhone. Hold down the Power Button and the Home Button. When the Apple logo appears, keep holding the Home Button down and release the Power Button. It will enter DFU mode.
4. Install firmware 3.1.2. To do this, connect the iPhone to the computer and open iTunes. (Again, do not let iTunes try to update the iPhone!) Click on the iPhone in iTunes. Go to the Restore tab. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click the restore button. This will open a file browser. Navigate to where you downloaded the 3.1.2 firmware file and choose that to install. Let it do its thang.
5. Download and run Blackra1n.
6. When the iPhone reboots, run the Blackra1n application. You will be able to select an application that allows you to download and install iPhone software. Choose Cydia (Icy has been discontinued).
7. Your iPhone is now Jailbroken (can install 3rd party software) and unlocked (can use SIM cards for any GSM network).

Important:

Once an iPhone is Jailbroken, its root user account is reset a default password: ‘alpine’. It is important to reset the root password right away. If you do not, malicious software or hackers may easily infiltrate your iPhone by using this default password! We will take care of this now, as well as demonstrate how to install software in Cydia.

1. Connect your iPhone to a wireless network with internet access.
2. Open the Cydia App. (If it prompts  you with updates, ignore them for now)
3. Tap ‘Search’ and type ‘mobileterminal’ in the search box. (Yes, all one word)
4. Tap on ‘MobileTerminal’ in the results.
5. Tap ‘Install’ on the top right. Tap ‘Confirm’ and wait for the package to install.
6. Exit Cydia.

Now open the Terminal application. You will see an old-school terminal window. Type ‘passwd’ and tap Return. For the old password, type ‘alpine’ and then press Return. Don’t screw up. Type a new password, Return, type again, Return. Done. (Be sure to remember this password, as you will use it if you decide to access your iPhone over SSH or FTP!)

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~ by Jason Andersen on April 2, 2010.