What Is A Jailbreak?
iOS jailbreaking is the privilege escalation of an Apple device for the purpose of removing software restrictions imposed by Apple on iOS, iPadOS, tvOS and watchOS operating systems. This is typically done by using a series of kernel patches. Jailbreaking permits root access in Apple's mobile operating system, allowing the installation of software that is unavailable through the official Apple App Store. Many types of jailbreaking are available, for different versions. Because Apple publicly disapproves of jailbreaking, Apple has implemented hardware and software fixes to the vulnerabilities used in jailbreaks, meaning that many versions of iOS are not jailbroken immediately. It is analogous to rooting on Android, although software unavailable on Google Play can be installed on Android without rooting.
Reasons To Jailbreak
One of the reasons for jailbreaking is to expand the feature set limited by Apple and its App Store. Apple checks apps for compliance with its iOS Developer Program License Agreement before accepting them for distribution in the App Store. However, their reasons for banning apps are not limited to safety and security and may be regarded as arbitrary and capricious. In one case, Apple mistakenly banned an app by a Pulitzer-Winning cartoonist because it violated its developer license agreement, which specifically bans apps that "contain content that ridicules public figures." To access banned apps, users rely on jailbreaking to circumvent Apple's censorship of content and features. Jailbreaking permits the downloading of programs not approved by Apple, such as user interface customization and tweaks.
Customizing Your Device
Since software programs available through APT and or Installer.app (legacy) are not required to adhere to App Store guidelines, many of them are not typical self-contained apps but instead are extensions and customization options for iOS and its features and other apps (commonly called tweaks). Users install these programs for purposes including personalization and customization of the interface by tweaks developed by developers and designers, adding desired features and fixing annoyances, and making development work on the device easier by providing access to the filesystem and command-line tools. Many Chinese iOS device owners also jailbreak their phones to install third-party Chinese character input systems because they are easier to use than Apple's.
Types Of Jailbreaks
When a jailbroken device is booting, it loads Apple's own kernel initially. The device is then exploited and the kernel is patched every time it is turned on. Many different types of jailbreaks have come out over the years. An untethered jailbreak is a jailbreak that does not require any assistance when it reboots up. The kernel will be patched without the help of a computer or an application.[20] These jailbreaks are uncommon and take a significant amount of reverse engineering to create. A tethered jailbreak is the opposite of an untethered jailbreak, in the sense that a computer is required to boot, and the device will not boot by itself. While using a tethered jailbreak, the user will still be able to restart/kill the springboard without needing to reboot. A mix between an untethered and a tethered jailbreak is also an option, namely semi-tethered. This type of jailbreak allows the user to reboot, but there will not be a patched kernel. Non-jailbroken functions will still run, such as making a phone call, texting, or using an app. To be able to have a patched kernel and run modified code again, the device must be booted using a computer. A type of jailbreak that has become popular in the recent years, is the semi-untethered variant. This type of jailbreak is like a semi-tethered jailbreak in which when the device reboots, it no longer has a patched kernel, but the kernel can be patched without using a computer. The kernel is usually patched using a application installed on the device. Most recent jailbreaks have been the semi-untethered variant.
Jailbreaks From The Past
| Device/OS | Release date | Tool | Credited Developer(s) | Jailbreak date | Jailbroken after (days) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 2G / iPhone OS 1.0 | June 29, 2007 | (no name) | iPhone Dev Team[130] | July 10, 2007[71] | 11 | |
| iPod touch | September 5, 2007 | (no name) | niacin and dre | October 10, 2007[131][132] | 35 | |
| iPhone 3G / iPhone OS 2.0 | July 11, 2008 | PwnageTool | iPhone Dev Team | July 20, 2008[77] | 9 | |
| iPod touch (2nd generation) | September 9, 2008 | redsn0w | iPhone Dev Team and Chronic Dev Team | January 30, 2009[133][134] | 143 | |
| iPhone OS 3.0 | June 17, 2009 | PwnageTool | iPhone Dev Team | June 19, 2009[135] | 2 | |
| iPhone 3GS | June 19, 2009 | purplera1n | George Hotz | July 3, 2009[136] | 14 | |
| iPad | April 30, 2010 | Spirit | comex | May 3, 2010[87] | 3 | |
| iOS 4.0 | June 21, 2010 | PwnageTool | iPhone Dev Team | June 23, 2010[137][138] | 2 | |
| iPhone 4 | June 24, 2010 | JailbreakMe 2.0 | comex | August 1, 2010[88] | 38 | |
| Apple TV (2nd generation) | September 1, 2010 | PwnageTool | iPhone Dev Team | October 20, 2010[139] | 49 | |
| iPad 2 | March 11, 2011 | JailbreakMe 3.0 | comex | July 5, 2011[91] | 116 | |
| iOS 5.0 | October 12, 2011 | redsn0w | iPhone Dev Team | October 13, 2011[83] | 1 | |
| iPhone 4S | October 14, 2011 | Absinthe | pod2g, Chronic Dev Team, iPhone Dev Team | January 20, 2012[20][99] | 98 | |
| iPad (3rd generation) | March 16, 2012 | Absinthe 2.0 | pod2g, Chronic Dev Team, iPhone Dev Team | May 25, 2012 | 70 | |
| iOS 6.0 | September 19, 2012 | redsn0w | iPhone Dev Team | September 19, 2012 | 0 | |
| iPhone 5 | September 21, 2012 | evasi0n | evad3rs | February 4, 2013 | 136 | |
| iPod touch (5th generation) | October 23, 2012 | evasi0n | evad3rs | February 4, 2013 | 104 | |
| iPad (4th generation) | November 2, 2012 | evasi0n | evad3rs | February 4, 2013 | 94 | |
| iPad Mini | November 2, 2012 | evasi0n | evad3rs | February 4, 2013 | 94 | |
| iOS 7 | September 18, 2013 | evasi0n7 | evad3rs | December 22, 2013 | 95 | |
| iPhone 5C | September 20, 2013 | evasi0n7 | evad3rs | December 22, 2013 | 93 | |
| iPhone 5S | September 20, 2013 | evasi0n7 | evad3rs | December 22, 2013 | 93 | |
| iPad Air | November 1, 2013 | evasi0n7 | evad3rs | December 22, 2013 | 51 | |
| iPad Mini 2 | November 12, 2013 | evasi0n7 | evad3rs | December 22, 2013 | 40 | |
| iOS 7.1 － 7.1.2 | May 29, 2014 | Pangu | Pangu Team | June 23, 2014 | 25 | |
| iOS 8 | September 17, 2014 | Pangu8 | Pangu Team | October 22, 2014 | 35 | |
| iPhone 6 | September 19, 2014 | Pangu8 | Pangu Team | October 22, 2014 | 33 | |
| iPhone 6 Plus | September 19, 2014 | Pangu8 | Pangu Team | October 22, 2014 | 33 | |
| iPad Air 2 | October 22, 2014 | Pangu8 | Pangu Team | October 22, 2014 | 0 | |
| iPad Mini 3 | October 22, 2014 | Pangu8 | Pangu Team | October 22, 2014 | 0 | |
| iOS 8.1.1 － 8.4 | November 17, 2014 | TaiG, PP Jailbreak | TaiG, PP Jailbreak | November 29, 2014 | 12 | |
| iPod touch (6th generation) | July 15, 2015 | TaiG, PP Jailbreak | TaiG, PP Jailbreak | July 16, 2015 | 1 | |
| iOS 9 | September 16, 2015 | Pangu9 | Pangu Team | October 14, 2015 | 28 | |
| iPhone 6S | September 25, 2015 | Pangu9 | Pangu Team | October 14, 2015 | 19 | |
| iPhone 6S Plus | September 25, 2015 | Pangu9 | Pangu Team | October 14, 2015 | 19 | |
| iPad Mini 4 | September 9, 2015 | Pangu9 | Pangu Team | October 14, 2015 | 35 | |
| iPad Pro | November 11, 2015 | Pangu9 | Pangu Team | March 11, 2016 | 121 | |
| iOS 9.1 | October 21, 2015 | Pangu9 | Pangu Team | March 11, 2016 | 142 | |
| Apple TV (4th generation) | September 9, 2015 | Pangu9 | Pangu Team | March 23, 2016 | 196 | |
| iPhone SE | March 31, 2016 | PPJailbreak | PPJailbreak, Pangu Team | July 24, 2016 | 115 | |
| iOS 10 | September 13, 2016 | Yalu | Luca Todesco | December 28, 2016 | 15 | |
| iOS 9.3.5 | August 25, 2016 | Phoenix | Siguza, tihmstar | August 6, 2017 | 346 | |
| iOS 8.4.1 | August 13, 2015 | EtasonJB | tihmstar | September 19, 2017 | 768 | |
| iOS 11 | September 19, 2017 | LiberiOS | Jonathan Levin | December 26, 2017 | 98 | |
| iOS 11–11.1.2 | September 19, 2017 | Electra1112 | CoolStar, Ian Beer, xerub, Siguza, theninjaprawn, stek29, angelXwind, comex, isklikas, goeo_, DHowett, and rpetrich | February 26, 2018 | 160 | |
| iOS 11.0–11.4.1 | July 7, 2018 | Electra1131 | CoolStar, Ian Beer, xerub, Siguza, theninjaprawn, Brandon Azad, stek29, Jamie Bishop, Pwn20wnd | July 7, 2018 | 217 | |
| iOS 11.0–11.4.1 | October 14, 2018 | unc0ver | Pwn20wnd, sbingner, Ian Beer, xerub, Siguza, ninjaprawn, stek29 | October 14, 2018 | 316 | |
| iOS 12.0–12.2, 12.4 | September 17, 2019 | unc0ver | Pwn20wnd, sbingner, Ian Beer, Brandon Azad, Jonathan Levin, PsychoTea, xerub, ninjaprawn, stek29 | February 22, 2019 | 158 | |
| iOS 12.0–12.2, 12.4 (some devices) | September 17, 2019 | Chimera | Coolstar, Jamie Bishop, tri'angle, ninjaprawn, Brandon Azad, PsychoTea, Ayden Panhuyzen, Umang Raghuvanshi, aesign | April 30, 2019 |