All of us have probably seen the word “jailbreaking” at least once, especially for iPhones, when surfing the Internet. So, what does this illegal-sounding term means? Let’s find out today!

Jailbreaking: What is it, and how does it work?

In the most literal sense, “jailbreaking” means removing the restrictions manufacturers put in, to take administrative control of a device. It is widely known that Apple ecosystem, or to be more specific iOS, is very closed-off, unlike the openness of Android. “Jailbreaking” is mostly associated with iOS, and it’s the act of removing all the restriction Apple has put, to let you take more control of your device. It’s very similar to “cracking” (for games and apps on PC) and “rooting” (on Android devices).

In a way, “jailbreaking” puts you in control of your device, not Apple, or anyone else. You can install apps that are not on the App Store, not approved yet by Apple, change the interface any way you like, and a bunch of other customization normally not possible. It makes iOS more like Android. iOS is a closed ecosystem as mentioned before, so when you jailbreak it, you will be able to do literally anything you want with your device, like escaping from jail to find freedom.

On the iPhone, once jailbroken, you can install those apps outside of the App Store, and get paid apps for free. You can also tweak many aspects of the iOS interface, replace default apps, and so on. What’s more, all the tools to jailbreak are free, and there are detailed guidelines to do it. One quick Google search and you will find a lot of tools for this purpose. However, once jailbroken, you cannot get automatic updates from Apple anymore – the newer software version will render the tool, and maybe the device too, unusable. You will have to wait for appropriate updated hacks, or stay in the older version.

Jailbreaking: Should you do it?

Nowadays, Apple has given more access to iOS for developers and users, so jailbreaking is not as popular as before. However, if you want to be the true “administrator” of the phone, go for it. Just be aware of these facts: getting apps from non-official sources can be considered piracy, although the act of jailbreaking is not illegal (yet!). Furthermore, even if you jailbreak your device just once, the warranty will be void. Considering that, do think carefully, or you won’t have anywhere to fall back on if things went wrong. Finally, just like using cracked apps and games, you will be vulnerable to security attacks. If you think the risks are worth it, then jailbreaking is for you!