Apple

Apple stopped signing iOS 12.1 yesterday, but you can still downgrade to iOS 12.1 beta 2

On Tuesday, Apple stopped signing the iOS 12.1 public release, preventing downgrades from iOS 12.1.1 or 12.1.2, which patched a variety of bugs and exploits that could potentially amount to something in the jailbreak community down the road.

Citing a Tweet shared this morning by hacker and unc0ver lead developer Pwn20wnd, Apple is still curiously signing iOS 12.1 beta 2, which means you could downgrade to iOS 12.1 beta 2 via iTunes if you tried:

Apple stops signing iOS 12.1, preventing firmware downgrades via iTunes

Apple officially closed the signing window for iOS 12.1 on Tuesday, a move that prevents all iPhone and iPad users from downgrading their handset’s firmware via iTunes to any version lower than iOS 12.1.1.

Apple released iOS 12.1.1 just under two weeks ago and followed up with iOS 12.1.2 yesterday afternoon, so it’s not very surprising that the company is halting downgrades to iOS 12.1. It’s somewhat typical for Apple to stop signing an older firmware version about two weeks after an update is released.

Qualcomm claims Apple’s most recent iOS 12.1.2 update hasn’t circumvented its patents

Qualcomm

Even though Apple has not officially confirmed that the latest iOS 12.1.2 update does pack in fixes for a pair of Qualcomm software patents that were supposed to remove any infringing functionality, Qualcomm told Reuters yesterday that the Cupertino firm remains in violation of a Chinese court’s orders to stop selling iPhone 6s through iPhone X in the country.