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Prevent your iPhone from spying on you

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated November 13, 2019

As prevously reported, everytime you tap press the home button to close an application, your iPhone takes a screenshot of the screen your on in order to provide the zoom out effect of the application closing.

Jonathan Zdziarski, author of iPhone Forensics, and iPhone Open Application Development found a way to prevent your iPhone from saving those screenshots:

I found that the screenshots themselves actually get written to /var/mobile/Library/Caches/Snapshots. If you delete this folder and symlink it to /dev/null, the screenshots don’t get written to disk. The side effect to this is that when resuming an application, you’ll get the default screen in the zoom-in effect. Once the application resumes, however, you’ll have your application screen back. For example, your mail application will always zoom to the front as if you had an empty inbox, but will quickly correct itself once the application resumes. On a jailbroken iPhone, you can disable these screenshots with the following commands:

# rm -rf /var/mobile/Library/Caches/Snapshots # ln -s /dev/null /var/mobile/Library/Caches/Snapshots

“To return to the default behavior, just delete the symlink and the directory will get recreated. Mind you, this has no effect on the many other pieces of data stored on the iPhone, and therefore your iPhone will always be at risk for leaking private data, especially to seasoned forensic examiners. Use at your own risk.

Credit Photo: Gizmodo

iPhone home activation returning… kinda

Sébastien Page ∙ September 22, 2008

There's been quite a bit of noise over the weekend about the possible return of the iPhone home activation. This process was available with first gen iPhones and let you buy your iPhone in store or online and activate ot from the comfort of your home, using iTunes.

Well, it's not really what we expected but a similar process will be in place soon and will not activate your iPhone per say, but it will help streamline the activation process. How this will work?

Prior to purchasing your iPhone, you will go online and you will enter your mobile contract details, social security number and billing information if you are a new subscriber. From there, you will head to the Apple Store (maybe AT&T?) and purchase your phone. A rep will load your information and actiavte the phone from there.

[via BGR]

AT&T wants users back on iPhone 3G plan

Sébastien Page ∙ September 22, 2008

If somehow you have managed to pay only $15 for AT&T’s MEdia Net Unlimited to use with your iPhone 3G, enjoy while it lasts...

Boy Genius Report posted about this AT&T user who received an email from AT&T to kindly ask him to switch to a standard iPhone 3G plan.

Subject: Important information regarding your iPhone 3G

The new AT&T - Your world. Delivered.

Our service records indicate that you are using an iPhone 3G with a data plan designed for other devices.

To avoid unexpected data overage charges and enable Visual Voicemail, please contact your telecom manager, or an AT&T representative at 1-800-331-0500.

Thank you for choosing wireless from AT&T. We appreciate your business.

Sincerely, AT&T Customer Service

Another app gets rejected from the App Store

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated March 9, 2016

Apple did it again. Once again they rejected a usefull application from the App Store because it "duplicates the functionality of the built-in iPhone application Mail without providing sufficient differentiation or added functionality, which will lead to user confusion".

Last week, it was Podcaster that was rejected and now it is MailWrangler, a Gmail account email manager, that is not approved by Apple's shady acceptance process...

The developer of MailWrangler wrote a post on his blog about this and he cynically jokes that he should have created a flashlight application as Apple doesn't seem to have any problem with those types of apps (see the 20 different flashlight apps in the App Store).

Jailbreaking your iPhone has become more and more relevant since the App Store opened. Yes you can download thousands of applications from the App Store. No you can't have the most useful application from the App Store. I really hate how Apple does business.

Unlock your iPhone 2G with QuickPwn

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

After posting the QuickPwn 2.1 tutorial yesterday, I got many emails from people asking me if the method worked for unlocking iPhones. The answer is yes! It does work to unlock the iPhone. It only works with the 1st Generation iPhone though. So if you have an iPhone 3G, it's not gonna work.

In the guide I posted yesterday, I show you how to jailbreak an iPhone (no matter what iPhone you have) but many people that are not really tech savvy asked me for a tutorial on how to unlock the iPhone 2G. So here we go...

Before starting, do not hold me responsible if something goes wrong. If you follow these instructions carefully, chances are you won't have any problem. So read everything!

Now before we start the process, you need to make sure you have downloaded and installed iTunes 8 and backed up your iPhone. And there are a few files you need to download too. Create a folder on your desktop and save all these files in there:

QuickPwn 2.1 for Windows BL 3.9 BL 4.6 iPhone 2G 2.1 firmware Connect your iPhone to your PC and open iTunes. Hold the Shift key and click "Restore" at the same time. You could click "Update" but that would eat up your disk space for nothing. See my previous post about that. So, when you click SHIFT + RESTORE, a window will pop up asking you to choose your firmware. Select the firmware you downloaded before Step 1. iTunes will then restore your iPhone to 2.1, which may take a while. Once iTunes has restored your iPhone to 2.1, launch QuickPwn. Make sure your iPhone is connected to your PC and click the blue arrow. Click the BROWSE button to locate your iPhone firmware you downloaded before Step 1. Select the firmware. QuickPwn will automatically check and make sure the ipsw (firmware) is correct. Click the blue arrow to go to the next step. Now select what you want to do. You HAVE TO install Cydia. Using custom logos and installing Installer is pretty useless at the time. Also make sure you check the "Unlock Phone" checkbox. Click the blue arrow to continue. You will then be asked to choose your BootLoader files you downloaded before step 1. Select them and click the blue arrow to continue. QuickPwn will ask you to confirm that your iPhone is connected to your computer. Make sure it is and click the blue arrow to continue. QuickPwn will now put your iPhone into recovery mode. Once it is in recovery mode you will be asked to: a) Hold the Home button for 5 seconds, b) Hold the Home and Power buttons for 10 seconds, c) Release the Power button and continuing holding the Home button until your iPhone is in DFU mode. QuickPwn gives you very detailed instructions to make it even easier for you! Once QuickPwn detects your iPhone in DFU mode, it will start the pwning process. Once pwned, QuickPwn will informa you that you successfully completed the pwnage process. Your iPhone will then proceed to run BootNeuter, which may take a few minutes, so be patient! Once done, your iPhone will reboot. Done!

How easy was that?

I closed the comments on this post but if you have any question about unlocking your iPhone 2G, please ask in the forum.

Upgrade a jailbroken iPhone

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated February 5, 2016

Later today I posted the QuickPwn 2.1 tutorial and I was reminded by a commenter that this type of tutorial is only good if you're already on an "up-to-date iPhone", meaning that in this case, this tutorial is only good if you already have 2.1 running.

Now what happens if you are still running on an older firmware, let's say 2.0? Well, if you hit this Restore button, you will lose all your Cydia apps and cool customizations. Do you really want that? Of course not.

As highlighted by BigBoss, you never want to upgrade on a jailbroken iPhone. If you upgrade, you will lose about 500MB of space. If you do that again on the other update, you will lose another 500MB, and so on. This space will only be recovered after a restore. The data loss is because Cydia moves your files around to free up space. The moved files become inaccessible but stay on your disk which means you essentially just lose the space.

To prevent this from happening, simply restore! Do not upgrade! Follow these few steps to upgrade from 2.X to 2.1 without losing any of your apps.

If you haven't yet, upgrade your iTunes to iTunes 8. You can find the direct link from our iPhone Downloads section. Install AptBackup from Cydia and run it. It will backup all your apps and put them in a location that will be backed up by iTunes in the next step. Sync/backup your iPhone with iTunes. Do the full on backup. Yes, I know, it's probably gonna take a while but you have to. Restore. Just click "Restore" in iTunes and let iTunes put the latest firmware on your iPhone. Again, this might take some time but be patient. If you are a legit iPhone user, meaning that you have a legit AT&T contract, activate your iPhone with iTunes. If you are an "unlocker" (this is for iPhone 2G users), you will see the "slide for emergency" message. Do not do anything else. Do not restore your backup yet. Simply unplug your iPhone. Now let's jailbreak the phone. Again, do not restore your backup yet! To jailbreak your iPhone, use QuickPwn by following this QuickPwn tutorial for Windows and this QuickPwn for Mac guide. Once your iPhone is jailbroken, go to Cydia and install AptBackup again. It is the most important step so don't fuck it up! Again, go to Cydia and install AptBackup. Also install Open SSH and BossPrefs. Ok, now we can restore the backup. So plug your iPhone in and iTunes will ask you to set up as a new phone or restore from backup. Restore from your latest backup. If everything goes fine, iTunes will restore all your stuff, such as notes, photos, email accounts, etc... Now we have to restore your Cydia apps. Open AptBackup and tap "Restore". It should reinstall all your apps from Cydia. AptBackup may not be visible. To see it, just open BossPrefs, and look it up in the "hidden icons" section. Tap it to unhide it. You may also unhide any other hidden icons. Done!

I would like to thank BigBoss for showing me the way, although he doesn't know... Bigups to the B O S S, aka BigBoss.

Apple recalls iPhone 3G power adapters over shock risk

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 23, 2016

This is an important safety notice from Apple:

Today Apple announced the Apple Ultracompact USB Power Adapter Exchange program.

Apple has determined that under certain conditions the new ultracompact Apple USB power adapter's metal prongs can break off and remain in a power outlet, creating a risk of electric shock. We have received reports of detached blades involving a very small percentage of the adapters sold, but no injuries have been reported.

The ultracompact USB power adapters were supplied with every iPhone 3G sold in the following countries, and may also have been purchased separately as an accessory:

US Japan Canada Mexico Several Latin American countries (click here for a detailed list of countries)

Note: Apple USB power adapters supplied with original iPhones or supplied with iPhone 3G units sold in other countries are not affected.

Customer safety is always Apple's top priority, and therefore we have voluntarily decided to exchange every ultracompact power adapter for a new, redesigned adapter, free of charge.

Users with ultracompact power adapters should immediately stop using them until they exchange them for a new, redesigned ultracompact adapter.

In the meantime, they should charge their iPhone 3G by connecting it to their computer with the USB cable that came with their iPhone or by using a standard-sized Apple USB Power Adapter (with fold up prongs) or with a third party adapter designed to work with the iPhone, such as a car charger.

Identifying your adapter

If you purchased an iPhone 3G in any of the countries listed above, you received the ultracompact USB adapter.

Compare your USB power adapter to the pictures below. If it matches, we will provide a replacement adapter in exchange for your current one. If you have purchased this ultracompact adapter as a standalone accessory, you may also exchange it for a new one. Replacement adapters have a single green dot on the bottom, like this:

If you have an ultracompact adapter with a green dot on the bottom, you already have a new, redesigned adapter and do not need to participate in this exchange program.

The Exchange Process

Replacement adapters will be available starting Friday, October 10, 2008.

There are two ways to exchange your current ultracompact Apple USB power adapter for a new, redesigned adapter.

Order a replacement adapter via the web. These replacement adapters will ship within three weeks of your order, starting on Friday, October 10. Exchange your adapter at an Apple Retail Store starting on October 10.

We'll need to collect your iPhone 3G's serial number as part of the exchange process.

If you apply via the web, you will also need to provide your name and address so that we can send you a new adapter along with a shipment box so that you can return the affected adapter to Apple.

If you visit an Apple Retail Store, you need to bring your affected adapter(s) and your iPhone 3G(s) with you to complete the exchange process.

If you live in Latin America, we will announce the appropriate exchange program information before October 10.

Thank you for your cooperation with this exchange program, and we apologize for any inconvenience.

QuickPwn 2.1 Guide & Tutorial

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

UPDATE: This post in kind of outdated since firmware 2.2 became available. I wrote new tutorials on how to jailbreak iPhone 2.2 with QuickPwn and how to unlock iPhone 2.2 with QuickPwn.

UPDATE 2: I closed the comments for this post. If you have any question about QuickPwn, please ask in the forum.

This guide will show you how to use QuickPwn 2.1 to jailbreak your iPhone. This tutorial is for PC users. If you use a Mac, you may want to refer to QuickPwn tutorial for Mac OS X or PwnageTool 2.1 Tutorial for Mac OS X.

This QuickPwn 2.1 tutorial will be short as I have already posted a QuickPwn guide before.

Before starting, make sure you have downloaded the latest version of iTunes. Also make sure you are currently running firmware 2.1 (thanks Tim for pointing that out!). Plug your iPhone and make sure iTunes has detected it. If you're iPhone is already jailbroken, you may want to remove all the apps that you have downloaded from Cydia. Certain applications such as Winterboard, Categories and more cause trouble. You will be able to reinstall them later.

Supports 2.1 firmware with the unlocking and jailbreaking of iPhone 1st generation (2G) device. Supports the jailbreaking of iPod Touch 1st generation device and iPhone 3G. Does not support the unlocking of iPhone 3G or jailbreaking of second generation (n72ap based) iPod Touch.

Note that you are pwning your iPhone at your own risk... Success is not guaranteed!

Create a folder called "QuickPwn" on your desktop. Download your appropriate iPhone firmare from here. Also download the QuickPwn 2.1 from here and place it. Place these files in the newly created QuickPwn folder on your desktop. If you want to unlock your iPhone (only works with iPhone 2G), download the Bootloader 3.9 & 4.6 Files. Extract QuickPwn zipped file. Launch QuickPwn and select your iPhone version. You will be asked to select your iPhone firmware. Select the firmware your downloaded in Step 1. If the firmware you selected is valid, QuickPwn will show a green checkmark. Click Continue. You will then have the opportunity to select Cydia, Installer and to choose a custom boot logo. You have to select Cydia. You may also choose to install Installer. Click Next. You will now have a message saying that you are ready to launch the QuickPwn process in a new Window. Click Go. You will then be asked to power off your iPhone and press Enter once it has been turned off. QuickPwn 2.1 will now help you put your iPhone into DFU Mode (aka recovery mode). Read the instructions carefully then type in Y for YES and press Enter. You will be asked to hold down the Power button for 5 seconds. Then you will have to also hold down the Home button for 10 seconds without letting go of the Power button. At the end of 10 seconds you will need to release only the Power button. After a few seconds of holding down just the Home button QuickPwn will detect the your iPhone in DFU mode and start performing some "operations". After 8 operations are performed QuickPwn will tell you to "Please wait while your iPhone is Jailbroken". Press any key to continue. Your iPhone will display a turning wheel and in a few minutes will be jailbroken!

If you have a 2G iPhone and would like to unlock it simply install and run BootNeuter from Cydia.

If this post was helpful, please DIGG it! Thanks.

QuickPwn 2.1 for Windows

Sébastien Page ∙ September 19, 2008

It's here! QuickPwn 2.1 for Windows is not out and available. It's so new that it is still warm... The DevTeam just spread the news on its blog. You can download QuickPwn 2.1 for Windows from our iPhone Downloads section.

I wrote a new QuickPwn 2.1 Tutorial. So go check it out!

(sha1) QuickPwn21-1.zip = f8124d0e8f31f64ef3272de8fbc679e1dd1f93a7

Lightsaber Unleashed Is Now Available

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 23, 2016

It's official, it's here, it's available in the App Store as Lightsaber Unleashed [iTunes Link].

Remember how this app was pulled off the App Store for copyright infringement? Well, Lucas Arts approached the developpers and made this new official version.

The good news is that it's still completely useless, yet still as funny as ever. Also worth noting is that the app is still free. We love free!

This new version has

5 characters from The Force Unleashed with their own unique Lightsaber Dueling music for "extra fun"

May the iPhone be with you!

Photo Credit MacRumors

Private-I, the Lojak for iPhone

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated February 14, 2018

Private-I [iTunes link] is a $.99 application that may help you find the person who stole your iPhone, if that ever happened. This app will add a "PRIVATE" icon in red font on your springboard and it may provoke the thief to open it.

When launched, the app loads up a fake screen that says "Accessing Pictures" while actually locating you via GPS or triangulation and emailing you the location of your iPhone.

Brian at Wired says:

It seems like this app would be more useful for iPhone 3G owners who can get more precise coordinates using GPS. I just tested the app on my first-generation iPhone and received a Google Maps link that doesn't tell me anything.

I'm not sure how worthy this app is but anything that could get your iPhone back is probably good.

[via Wired]

Hackers distribute Trojan as iPhone game

Sébastien Page ∙ September 18, 2008

Beware of this Penguin.Panic.zip attachment!

A new spam email aimed at Windows users who have an iPhone has surfaced. The virus, which pretends to contain the most popular iPhone game in a attachment, actually contains a Trojan Horse Troj/Agent-HNY. Although it looks like a pretty cute and funny game, it could really arm your PC.

The attachment doesn't even execute on a Mac but it will infect your PC right away.Instead of opening the game as you would expect, a simple message pops up saying "Shoes". Once opened, deleting the game will not help at all as it will delete other files on the system, which will cause some of your Windows process to crash.

Do not open emails that show the following subject lines:

Virtual iPhone games! Take a break! Apple: The most popular game! Virtual iPhone toys! Beet my score! (7000 points)

Possibly more are coming so be careful. If you see an email from someone you don't know, delete it right away. I sounds like common sense but it seems people are still being tricked by these emailed viruses.

Source: Sophos