blackra1n is the latest, simplest Jailbreak tool from iPhone hacker George Hotz (Geohot) and supports all modern iPhone and iPod touch devices running the latest 3.1.2 firmware. blacksn0w is the associated Unlock utility. (Jailbreaking lets you run software not approved by Apple, like background tasks, Google Voice apps, etc. Unlocking lets you use your iPhone on other carriers, like T-Mobile US or international carriers when traveling). blackra1n makes the process faster and easier than ever before, but if you need extra help, TiPb has your back.

Note: For those of you who are planning on jailbreaking your new iPhone 3GS with the updated bootrom, you should be aware that BlackRa1n supports only a tethered jailbreak. This simply means if you have to reset your phone or your battery runs out on you, you will need to connect your device to your computer and run BlackRa1n to be able to boot your iPhone.

Disclaimer: Neither TiPb nor I take any responsibility for any problems/issues/bricking/etc. that may occur while using this software to modify your iPhone. Please be aware of what you are doing. If you don’t understand it — don’t do it.

Lets get started, after the jump!

Preparation

First things first, before we start please be sure you are currently on the 05.11.07 baseband. If you are not, connect to iTunes and update your software to 3.1.2. Once that is done it is time to begin. You will need to go to the BlackRa1n homepage, and click on the Apple to download the proper software. You will want to save the zip file to your desktop and then double-click on it. This will then create the BlackRa1n launch icon.

The Jailbreak Process

Connect your iPhone to your computer. Once connected double-click the BlackRa1n icon to begin the process.

Now simply click “make it rain”. Your device will now enter recovery mode.

Your device will now reboot.

Once your device reboots the jailbreak process is complete and you will see the following message on your desktop.

Installing Cydia/Rock/Unlock

On your Springboard you will now see the BlackRa1n icon. Make sure you have a data connection and then press the icon to proceed.

* If you plan to unlock your device for T-Mobile USA (or any carrier not supporting iPhone 3G bands) you must first disable 3G in your settings before proceeding. *

Here you will now choose your installer. Your choices are Cydia and Rock. You can also select “sn0w” if you are unlocking your device. After you make your selections press “install”.

* Do not select “sn0w” if you are not unlocking your iPhone. *

Once complete your Springboard will reset and you will now see Cydia or Rock, whichever you chose, on your screen.

Congratulations, you have successfully jailbroke/unlocked your iPhone. If you wish, you can uninstall BlackRa1n from your iPhone by simply going back into the application and pressing “uninstall”.

If you are in need of some further help with this process please visit our iPhone Jailbreak/Unlock forums as there are many friendly forum members who are always willing to help you out.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

How to: Jailbreak and Unlock iPhone 3G/3GS 3.1.2 Using blackra1n and blacksn0w — Mac OS X Edition

So if you’ve jailbroken your iPhone, installed SSH, and still haven’t changed your password from the default despite our previous warnings about Dutch Ransomers and Australian Rickrollers? Maybe you thought those were just funny (as seen in this video from iPhoneMVP) and not worth worrying about? Well now things have gotten more serious — there’s a new attack making the rounds that just plain steals your data.

Same method of attack, the bad guy scans the local network for insecure SSH on Jailbroken iPhones, and when it finds it, begins to copy your contacts, messages, email, events, photos, media, etc. This could, of course, include passwords, financial data, and those pics you never got around to deleting…

If you haven’t already, go change your SSH password now. If you need help, go to the TiPb iPhone Forums and get it. Just secure your iPhone.

[Intego, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Jailbroken, Installed SSH, Didn’t Change Password? New Attack Aims to Steal Your Data

For iPhone Jailbreakers using SSH to access their devices — without changing the default password — getting Rickrolled by a worm may be annoying (no worse than getting held for ransom by a hacker) but it’s a sign that far more insidious and malicious attacks are possible — so change those passwords now!

Back to the Rickroll. TUAW reports:

A hacker, going by the name “ikee,” created a worm that changes the home screen background on jailbroken iPhones whose owners failed to change the default password after installing SSH.

And the new background is, of course, Rick Astley. While removal details are included in an interview with the hacker, it’s better to be safe than sorry. So, check our iMuggle’s tutorial on how to change your SSH password, and change it right away.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Jailbreakers Who Don’t Change SSH Password — There’s a Rickroll for That

We have some good news for all of you Nintendo fans out there as ZodTDD, the developer the Nintendo Gameboy Advance emulator GpSPhone, has announced that they are currently working on an N64 emulator for the iPhone 3GS and iPod touch. Zodttd feels that the iPhone 3GS and the current iPod Touch contain the graphical horsepower needed for N64 games.

“You may soon see N64 on your favorite Apple device, But I can’t promise it will run games top notch just yet, as things are too early to say. There’s hope though, with a 3D accelerated graphics plugin, as well as an ARM dynarec.”

We would love to see this pulled off but the lack of physical buttons on the iPhone may prove to be a major issue. There currently is no release date set but regardless, we are looking forward to checking this one out.

[Via Gizmodo]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

N64 Emulator Coming to Jailbroken iPhone 3GS/iPod touch Devices

iPhone hacker extraordinaire, Geohot, blaming successful initial testing, has moved up the release for blacksn0w, his new iPhone 05.11.07 unlock tool, to… today! More specifically, noon today (Eastern time). And it looks slick:

If you are a loyal blackra1n user who kept the blackra1n.app on your iPhone, run it. You will see Icy replaced by an option “ra1n”. Install this to upgrade your app. After upgrading, run blackra1n.app again. You will see “sn0w”. Install this, and enjoy your unlocked iPhone.

He has notes up for new jailbreakers, pwnagetool users, and iPhone 2G owners as well (who don’t need blacksn0w but rather BootNeuter, as always).

(If you’re a Twitter user, show him love by helping #blacksn0w trend.) Lastly, a warning:

Also, a note. This may be the best iPhone users ever have it. Be sure, if you have a 3GS or iPod Touch 3, to use Cydia’s “On File” or Firmware Umbrella in order to be able to restore to 3.1.2 in the future. And as always, the baseband cannot be downgraded, so be super careful with updates if you need the unlock.

For more, head on over to TiPb’s Jailbreak and Unlock Forums, and happy sn0w day!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

blacksn0w iPhone Unlock Day Moved To — Today

It seems like just the other day TiPb linked to a concept rendering of what Apple’s Mac Exposé might look like for the iPhone, and now Steve Troughton-Smith, creator of Stacks for iPhone, has gone and brought it to Jailbreak.

It’s not publicly available yet, not via Cydia much less via Apple. But do we want?

[Slashgear via Engadget Mobile]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone “Exposé” Shown Off for Jailbreak!

Not much to go on yet, other than blackra1n.com going live and Twitter chirping it up as usual, but it looks like Geohot is back on mission and his “one exploit to Jailbreak them all” is on its way.

Jeremy’s keeping an eye on things and will post when there’s something worth posting about, until then how happy are we it wasn’t called chocolatera1n…?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

blackra1n Universal Jailbreak on the Horizon?

Seems like Geohot, the original iPhone hacker, was set to announce “one jailbreak to rule them all”, or a simple, clean way to jailbreak all current iPhone and iPod devices, when another hacker team, Chronic, announced the same exploit and plans for a tool of their own, dubbed greenpois0n. Geohot responded on Twitter and his blog that, in light of their disclosing the exploit he felt a) they were taking credit for his work and b) Apple would patch it fast enough that it wasn’t worth doing any more.

Hackers, guys, boobalas: as much as the jailbreak community gives all of you all due respect and admiration, get over each other. You don’t owe anybody anything, not even the 3.1OTB (out the box)-hungry community who’s benefitted greatly from your work over the years, but you don’t need to spite the community over each other either. Apple’s the one you have the cat-and-mouse game with, right?

Just do the awesome Jailbreak voodoo that you do so well.

[via nfrederick on the TiPb Jailbreak Forums]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Dear iHackers — Less Nerdfight, More Jailbreak, Okay?

For those of you who have patiently been waiting to jailbreak your iPhone 3GS with the 3.1 software, your patience is about to pay off. According to MuscleNerd all of the testing is complete and the new PwnageTool is almost ready to be released to the public.

Regarding the iPhone 3GS 3.1 software unlock, if you have already updated to the official 3.1, there still is no known way to unlock your device. In order to unlock the 3.1 software on a iPhone 3GS, this next version of the PwnageTool will be needed to make a custom IPSW file to preserve the 04.26.08 baseband firmware. Again — that older baseband is needed if you plan on unlocking your device successfully.

Stay tuned as we will bring you the news when the latest PwnageTool drops.

[Thanks to mysterio for the tip!]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone 3GS 3.1 Jailbreak/Unlock PwnageTool Release Imminent

SmartScreen provides widgets for your iPhone lock screen — provided you’re jailbroken, that it. The demo above shows calendar, stocks, and weather, but the developer will be making an SDK available so other apps can get in on the widgety goodness. Conceivably Twitter updates, IMs, to-dos — any information snippet really — could be added.

On behalf of non-Jailbreakers, Gizmodo asks Apple to bake this type of functionality into the official firmware, and let’s face it — they need something for iPhone 4.0 next year. Does it complicate Apple’s current, zen-like lock screen? Sure, but that lock screen is currently so informationally sparse, maybe it could use some complication?

If you try out SmartScreen, let us know what you think.

[Thanks angelrat101 for the tip!]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Quick Jailbreak App: SmartScreen Widgets for Lock Screen