Jailbreakers beware
Apple has apparently stepped up its efforts to thwart the ubiquitous practice of iPhone jailbreaking. Indeed, Club Cupertino is currently seeking a security expert who would be tasked with leading a team dedicated to preserving the iPhone’s fragile integrity.
According to Apple, the team currently focuses on a number of security related parameters, including booting sequences, OS installation, hardening of security domains within the OS, cryptographic services and risk analysis of security threats.
So what does Apple expect from the lucky candidate?
“This position requires a very technical and hands-on leader, someone with a passion for understanding security exploits and coming up with innovative methods to create secure platforms,” the company explained in an official job post. “You must be a highly self-motivated individual who seeks to create a dynamic and creative team environment in which old problems are solved in new and innovative ways.”
The “old problem” of jailbreaking has clearly become a source of serious concern for Apple. To be sure, hacked iPhones allow users to run “unauthorized” applications and unshackles their dependence on AT&T – which is currently the only officially sanctioned iPhone carrier.
Unsurprisingly, previous attempts to lockdown the iPhone have unsuccessful. For example, serial hacker George Hotz recently released a crack known as Blacksn0w to unlock the latest iPhone OS Version (3.1.2) and baseband 05.11.07.??
According to Network World, Blacksn0w exploits a known crash (via the AT+XEMN command) to create a heap overflow, thereby facilitating the injection of code and subsequent software unlock.
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Will the vulnerability eventually be patched? Undoubtedly. But Apple knows it won’t take long for Hotz and other professional jailbreakers to code yet another exploit for the eager masses.??
See Also
Hacker jailbreaks iPhone 3GS with blacksn0w crack
iPhone jailbreakers held hostage
Smartphone users make lousy partners
