The recent spate of worm attacks in the past week has brought the focus on the importance of your root password.
Unlike feature phones, smartphones like the iPhone run on operating systems, which very much like our computer have administrator privileges.
It is hence that when the hackers get access to your iPhone's administrator account, they can lay their hands on anything that is on the iPhone. However, in a non-jailbroken device, this administrator account (called root) cannot be accessed as the iPhone has no console or terminal access and also does not run services like SSH.
But when an iPhone is jailbroken and SSH is turned on, it becomes imperative that you change the default password of your root since hackers now have an easy access to your iPhone. Here is a short guide on how to change your root password.
Instructions to Install Mobile Terminal:
Step 1: Tap on the Cydia icon on your jailbroken iPhone to launch the application
Step 2: Open the 'Sections' tab on the bottom of the screen and select 'Terminal Support'
Step 3: From the list of packages, select and open 'Mobile Terminal'
Step 4: Tap on the 'Install' button and choose 'Confirm' to begin installation
Step 5: Once installation completes, tap on 'Close Window' button to finish the installation process.
Once mobile terminal is installed on your iPhone, you can proceed to changing the root password
Instructions to Change Root Password:
Step 1: Tap on the 'Mobile Terminal' icon on your iPhone Springboard to launch it.
Step 2: You are shown a black screen. Against the command prompt, type su and tap the return key.
Step 3: You are now prompted for the password. The default password for root is alpine. Input this text and tap the return key once again.
Step 4: You are now logged in as the root user. Against the command prompt, enter the command passwd and tap the return key.
Step 5: You will be prompted to enter a new password. Enter this new password and retype to confirm.
Your root password has been changed. Please do note that the root password is stored in encrypted format in the device and so in the event of you losing the password, it is quite a task to retrieve it. So, make sure to remember your new root password.
As always, please let us know how it goes.
today my iphone (jailbroken 3.0) is stucked, first I was not able to access it via WinScp with usual password (alpine), later on I tried to close(not hard reset) and now can not open again, it stucks with apple logo, hard reset does not work also connected with itunes but does not work too, itunes recognize
my iphone, some time later apple logo comes back and the same story, please help, thx…
After you reboot plug unto your computer and run blackrain again for a few seconds…it will start like nothing happened. Ishappening on all iPhones made after Oct 09
Thanx – I followed the instructions for changing root password then followed yours for changing mobile password – anyone not used to Unix (and I'm one of them) should type 'exit' to get right back to the start of the session. (I think I'm right, but feel free to correct me).
how do i change the mobile password? i followed the instruction on changing the root password and did it succesfully.
do i need to do this if im never use the internet on my iphone, its basically disabled
thanks
Can someone help me on this one?
I can't upgrade my system-cmds, which is also needed to install Mobile Terminal. When i open Cydia on my iphone it says that a upgrade is needed. I can choose upgrade essential, complete upgrade or ignore temporarily. When i choose to upgrade, both essential as well complete, i get errors trying to install a newer version of system-cmds. When it's running i get the following errors:
Error: running
sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned
an error code (1)
Then i can press okay en i get this message:
/var/cache/apt/archives/firmware-sbin_0-1_iphoneos-arm.deb
sub-process pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
Does anybody know what is going on? What do i need to do to fix all this crap?
Thanks
I NEED HELP WITH THIS TOO
I got my ipad jailbroken. Do I also need to change the root password as with the iphone?
Mobile terminal not working with iOS4.
Correct opens and closes straight away
Is there any variation to the default passowrd? I have tried alphine, but it comes up with incorrect password from the start? Yet I have never changed it??
any fixes to this. It's happening with mine as well
Mobile Terminal does not work on my jailbroken unlocked 3G with iOS4 — opens then closes immediately without showing a cursor.
ditto. hopefully there will be a fix soon. ios4 also lags on the 3g i noticed
I have same issue, as you Jim. iPhone 3g + iOS 4.
Mobile Terminal Crashing.
I have a 3g phone
upgraded to ios 4.0.1
Jail broke using redsn0w_win_0[1].9.5b5-5
Unlocked using Ultrasn0w 0.93
Wanted to change the root password. So installed 'mobile terminal' using cydia. But when I lanuch the application it crahes.
Can you let me know what I am doing wrong ?
hello i changed the default ssh password a while ago but now i forgot what i changed it to. how do i reset everything or retrieve the old one?
Hi. I've jailbroken, installed Cydia,installed mobile terminal but I can't seem to start the Terminal (Mobile terminal) from the Springboard. I click on it and the black screen comes up in a flash and that's it. Back to the Springboard. I've reinstalled it a couple of times and rebooted my iphone4 as well. Can you help me please?
One other question. I've already copied SMS ringer to Iphone via SSH already and I won't be need to do this again any time soon so I'm wondering if there is a threat of being hacked if I just leave it like this. I have SSH installed via cydia but if I don't connect to a PC via Wi-Fi it won't be a threat?
same problem here.
I also couldn't get Mobile Terminal to work – I think it is incompatible with iOS4 and hopefully a fix will be along shortly.
In the mean time you can try this:
1) In Cydia install "OpenSSH" ssh server.
2) Download PuTTY (or a similar SSH client). Google a download site.
3) Run PuTTY and SSH into your iphone using "root@192.168.1.3" or whatever IP address your phone is. Password is "alpine"
4) Enter "passwd" to change password.
5) Enter "su mobile". Password is "alpine"
6) Enter "passwd" to change that password too.
7) Enter "exit". Close window!
thanks!
just did it, just used Mac's Terminal instead of putty.
my terminal keep crashing over and over after unlock and jailbreak :S
if you turn off SSH is the iPhone still vulnerable?
for anyone still needing help for mobile terminal crashing on startup i had the same problem and fixed it following the instructions in this link:
http://code.google.com/p/mobileterminal/issues/detail?id=172#c82
changed my root and mobile pass easily
see this link if mobile terminal is crashing on start up for you:
http://code.google.com/p/mobileterminal/issues/detail?id=172#c82
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Hey trying to change terminal password. Did everything you said, only when I select it off spring board it opens and then closes right away. I tried re installing it and rebooting phone but not working still. I have 4g. Please help, lol not computer savvy. Thanks
Nicole