Apple Releases iPhone Firmware Update v1.1.2 - Breaks Single-Click JailBreaking Method

As reported yesterday, Apple has finally released the latest firmware v1.1.2 for the iPhone and iPod Touch. So with the release the vicious cycle in the iPhone Hacking world restarts. It typically starts with Jailbreaking, then unlocking and eventually figuring out a way to install the cool but unauthorized iPhone applications.

Before you go ahead and update to the latest firmware, read more details after the jump as what this means for you in case you have spent time and effort customizing your hacked iPhone.

Based on initial reports it appears that there is no major functionality has been released with the new firmware update. It is what we already know:

• Support for dozens of languages along with full support for French and German, with special keyboard lay-outs.
• Access to The Cloud Wi-Fi hotspots for UK users something already available in iPod Touch.
• It has been confirmed that the firmware v1.1.2 fixes the TIFF exploit (security flaw) which has been used to jailbreak and hack the iPhone OS v1.1.1. I will be confirming this as I check it out myself.
• If you are an iPod Touch user then apparently the firmware also fixes the bug which prevented you from adding events in iPod Touch's Calendar App (something we did not know will be part of this update but knew would be fixed by Apple sooner than later).

The firmware update is not actively being pushed by Apple currently, so if you go to iTunes and click on "Check for Update" you will get the message informing you that "This version of iPod software (1.1.1) is the current version" (I guess iPod as I tried this on my iPod Touch).

So if you are looking to upgrade to the latest firmware then you will have to use the restore option. For this you will first need to download the ipsw file directly from Apple using this link. Once you have downloaded the file you need to copy it to the iPhone updates folder (in case of Mac copy the downloaded file to ~/Library/iTunes in the iPhone updates folder and then use option-update to select the downloaded file and iTunes will do the rest).

Erica Sudan over at Tuaw and folks at Engadget are confirming that there is no issue updating a hacked iPhone (using AppSnapp) with the latest firmware, you don't need to restore first in order to restore using the latest firmware. I am still downloading the 160 mb firmware update so will let you know once I have tested it out.

They are also confirming that as reported earlier the firmware v1.1.2 fixes the TIFF exploit and that AppSnapp, the single-click method to JailBreak the iPhone firmware v1.1.1 no longer works with firmware v1.1.2. Also as expected the unauthorized third-party iPhone applications are no longer accessible post the firmware update. So if you have spent a lot of time and effort in customizing your hacked iPhone you probably should not update the firmware until we have a method to jailbreak iPhone v1.1.2.

iNDependence which was another method to Jailbreak the iPhone again using the TIFF exploit also no longer works with the firmware v1.1.2.

However, some users over at Tuaw have been able to downgrade to firmware v1.1.1 and even firmware v1.0.2 which is great in case you want to revert back to your hacked iPhone.

Erica has also reported some good news, the iPhone/iPod Touch hacking geniuses have already managed to jailbreak firmware v1.1.2, Phase 1 of the vicious cycle. Details will be available soon as the method gets debugged and safety-features put in-place. You can read more on that story at this link.

I had answered most of the questions you might have on the latest firmware in my article yesterday, so do check it out. Also stay tuned here at iPhone Hacks for more updates on the latest iPhone/iPod Touch firmware update.

Forgot to mention it in the original post, thanks Lumos and Jake Fields for the tip.

You might be interested in checking out the Top 6 iPhone Hacks:

• AppSnapp: Single-Click Method to JailBreak iPhone OS v1.1.1
• anySIM v1.1 - Free GUI based SIM unlock tool
• Navizon's Virtual GPS
• iPhone Apps to add Custom Ringtones to your iPhone
• SummerBoard enables scrolling of iPhone's home screen 
• Activate the Voicemail Button on your Unlocked iPhone