iPhone jailbreaking has existed for a long time, since Apple first unveiled iPhone in 2007. Though Apple phones come with several dazzling apps for almost anything, many of their users seek other apps that are not present in Apple App Store.
The truth is, Apple’s thorough and detailed scrutiny of apps prevents many developers from getting their apps into their store; and this does not necessarily mean the apps are bad or inadequate.
Because of this problem, several groups of hackers, including iPhone Dev-Team, began to produce and publish very easy-to-use tools that work across different platforms enabling third party apps to install on Apple iPhone.
iPhone Jailbreaking – The Basics
Basically, iPhone jailbreaking is the term used to describe the process of freeing your iPhone from limitations that came with the phone by using custom kernels. These limitations were either set by AT&T, Verizon or Apple.
Jailbreaking gives you root access to the phone’s operating system, enables you to install additional apps, extensions and themes that are not in Apple App Store; and thus allows you to run software not authorized by Apple.
Fortunately, jailbreaking does not hinder your access to Apple App Store, iTunes or other regular functions of their phone. It only increases your privilege. Devices that you can jailbreak include iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and 2nd Gen Apple TV.
There are two types of jailbreaking – tethered and untethered jailbreaking. Tethered jailbroken iPhones will not boot until you connect to a computer; whereas untethered jailbroken iPhones can boot without connecting to a computer.
Is iPhone Jailbreaking Safe?
The most significant consequence of jailbreaking your iPhone is the violation of the company’s warranty. Apple strongly discourages the act of jailbreaking their devices, but the U.S Library of Congress has ruled that the practice does not violate Apple’s copyright.
Secondly, wrongly jailbreaking your iPhone can turn the phone to a “brick” – dead. So, you need to ensure you jailbreak your device using the right method, device and firmware. However, this can be reversed by restoring your iPhone using iTunes.
Thirdly, shopping or downloading unauthorized apps can expose your phone to malicious software. The apps in Apple App Store are thoroughly tested and trusted by Apple, but the apps in other stores leave you to your own discretion.
Also, you have to jailbreak your iPhone every time you allow Apple to update your phone. This is because most Apple updates will reverse your iPhone to its original state to fit their firmware.
Other than that, jailbreaking your iPhone is very safe and reversible. If you mistakenly tamper with your settings or get an undesirable result, you can quickly revert to the previous state of the phone.
So, jailbreaking your iPhone is necessary if you want greater freedom with your iPhone – the ability to enable new screen designs, modify your iPhone settings, tweak the theme, edit carrier’s name, change default message tones or add other third party apps.
Though iPhone features several great apps, there are many other great apps outside of Apple App Store. In fact, some apps first existed for jailbroken devices outside Apple App Store before Apple was able to develop its own version of the apps.