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iOS 8 beta jailbreak efforts are off to a promising start

Published Jun 4th, 2014 10:37AM EDT
iOS 8 beta 1 Jailbreak

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Now that Apple has released the first iOS 8 beta version, some developers have started work on jailbreaking the new mobile operating system, with well-known iOS hacker i0n1c having already revealed that an iOS 8 jailbreak may be possible.

Since the iOS 7 jailbreak, which Apple patched in iOS 7.1, hackers have not released a new untethered jailbreak, likely waiting for Apple to launch iOS 8 rather than revealing the new exploits used to jailbreak iOS 7.1.1. Of note, i0n1c recently showed us that jailbreaking iOS 7.1.1 on 2013 Apple devices is possible.

I0n1c on Monday tweeted that “initial tests show that iOS 8 beta does not fix anything,” likely referring to his recent iOS 7.1.1 jailbreak. “Dumped kernel fine, but code changed and patches are not found.” He added that once he fixes the code, the jailbreak should be iOS 8 beta compatible.

In the following days, he revealed that iOS 8 “seems to have new root filesystem protections,” and that Apple’s “whole directory structure of containers was changed,” wondering whether Cydia, the unofficial store for jailbroken devices, will run on iOS 8.

Thus, the iOS 8 jailbreak effort seems to be going well, although a successful iOS 8 jailbreak is yet to be announced, and far from being released. Even if achieved, an iOS 8 beta jailbreak will likely not be made public until the final iOS 8 version is available for download, in order for Apple not to patch it in a following beta release.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.