James Delahunty
3 Oct 2007 5:18
Hackers of Apple Inc.'s iPhone are making progress in reversing the effects the iPhone v1.1.1 firmware update had on unlocked or hacked models. Apple fought back against hacking by disabling phones that were unlocked from the tie with AT&T with a firmware update. Now hackers are posting instructions on how to reverse back some of the effects, but getting a model to make phone calls again has not yet happened.
The iPhone Dev Wiki has posted instructions on how to regain the use of the iPhone's iPod functionalities and WiFi capabilities, but the race is still on to find a solution to use the device as an actual mobile phone again. Hackers need to find a way to roll back firmware of the iPhone's baseband chip, which is used to make calls.
"So far all attempts to downgrade the baseband have been unsuccessful," the Wiki said. "There have been several reports of successful baseband downgrades online, but these haven't been confirmed." Of course, rolling back is not the only option, and the race is also on to find a method to unlock iPhones with v1.1.1 firmware installed.
Tom Ferris, a security researcher who works on hacking the iPhone, said that due to tougher encryption of the iPhone firmware, it is going to be harder this time to hack the device. "That's what everybody's working on right now is trying to get into the firmware," he said. "Just like Steve Jobs said, it's a cat and mouse game."
Apple Inc. has recently been the subject of a lawsuit that primarily targets the $200 iPhone price drop but also names AT&T due to the lock it has on the iPhone in the United States. The world's largest handset maker, Nokia, has sent out some cryptic posters that ridicule the provider lock being enforced by the iPhone maker.
Source:
PC World