Hackers Dissect The iPhone

July 05, 2007 | by Christopher Nickson

Hackers and security companies have been tearing apart the tech world's newest toy, the iPhone, to check and bypass its security.

It should be no surprise, but hackers and security experts have been tearing the iPhone apart in attempts to discover flaws.
 
Since its release last Friday, the device has been pored over, primarily to find a way to hack the code that binds the iPhone to AT&T. Once successful – and a successful hack is expected this week – the iPhone could be used on any network.
 
There have already been successful attempts to activate the phone without going the legal route of registering it with AT&T via iTunes.
 
Researchers have already identified a flaw in the phone’s Safari browser (actually the same one discovered in a version of Safari designed to run on Windows). Errata Security found the problem, which could allow hackers some control over the phone. However, overall the company is quite satisfied with the device, especially the feature that allows it to receive updates when connected to iTunes.
 
“We think the iPhone is inherently more secure than competing smartphones - such as those based on Windows Mobile or Symbian,” wrote Errata chief executive Robert Graham.
 
One hacker, Jon Lech Johansen, has an iPhone activation tool posted on his site. It will allow the handset to work as an iPod and other things, but not as a phone.
 
The degree to which the eager have gone to unearth the iPhone’s secrets have been remarkable. Ifixit.com has a series of pictures of the innards, along with detailed notes. Others haven’t been quite so precise. A video posted on YouTube, which has already been seen 300,000 times, shows two people dismantling the phone – which retails for several hundred dollars – with a hammer.

Post Your Comment...Comments

Mapper 99... on Jul 5th, 2007 at 7:22 AM:

That didn't take long at all! I look forward to seeing all the iPhone mods in the future.

http://iphone.corank.com

Ryan on Jul 5th, 2007 at 10:01 PM:

All I want is the iPhone without the phone. Apple will you create this for me!?

Toby on Jul 5th, 2007 at 10:02 PM:

Can you hack it to work on Sprint or Verizon? Or do those carriers use a different technology?

Chris Rowe on Jul 6th, 2007 at 2:52 AM:

"There have already been successful attempts to activate the phone without going the legal route of registering it with AT&T via iTunes."

Bypassing the activation is not illegal as you suggest. Upon buying an iPhone handset it is not actiavated and thus you are simply buying a piece of hardware. What you do with that is your own free will.

Marco on Jul 6th, 2007 at 5:05 AM:

Well, it's all nice, but using an iPhone on a non-ATT network will mean it'll be crippled. Certain functions, like visual voicemail are really a network function, and not so much a phone feature.

So, good for those who want a basic phone with iPod capabilities, not useful for those who want a real iPhone.

Matty Matt on Jul 6th, 2007 at 5:17 AM:

I would want an iPhone even if I could only use the wifi capabilities. This is great news. http://pixelspotlight.com/

focher on Jul 6th, 2007 at 6:15 AM:

I hate it when articles use words like "legal" when it is pretty apparent that the author has no basis for declaring whether a behavior is legal or not.

For sure, bypassing the SIM lock which restricts the iPhone to AT&T is not illegal in the USA (and pretty much anywhere else) based on the Librarian of Congress' published decision in November of 2006 that removing the protection of a SIM lock is not a violation of the DMCA.

So what exactly is the questionable "legal" behavior here? "Activating" the iPhone so that it actually starts functioning? Gimme a break.

Dasutin on Jul 6th, 2007 at 6:35 AM:

I hate to break it to anyone hoping that the iPhone would be one day be used on Verizon's or Sprints networks. The iPhone is only capable of working on a GSM network. Sprints and Verizon's networks are CDMA. The iPhone WILL NOT work on a CDMA network. Even if people are able to break into it and be able to modify the phone, you will not see it working on a CDMA network. Maybe the second generation of iPhones will have GSM and CDMA capabilities but only then will there be a chance for it to be on Verizons or Sprints network

Rupert on Jul 6th, 2007 at 9:10 AM:

For those saying that it won't work on Sprint or Boostmobile, you don't know what you are talking about. My cousin is really good with electronics, he said he could make it work using the internals of another phone he got because they use the same type of chip. I believe he called it a Dorito. He also has his spreadsheets printed out on his bedsheets.

shane on Jul 6th, 2007 at 12:02 PM:

LMAO at Rupert. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PENTIUMS, WHAT!?

Rupert on Jul 6th, 2007 at 12:34 PM:

Shane,

You say you've had your Iphone for over a week?
Throw that junk away, man, it's an antique!!!!!

GSMFans Brasil on Jan 24th, 2008 at 10:38 PM:

GSMFans.com.br

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