One of the reasons for jailb-reaking is to expand the feature set limited by Apple and its App Store. Apple checks apps for compliance with its iOS Developer Program License Agreement before accepting them for distribution in the App Store. However, their reasons for banning apps are not limited to safety and security and may be construed as arbitrary and capricious. As the list of banned apps continues to grow, users rely on jail-breaking to circumvent Apple's censorship of content and features. Jail-breaking permits the downloading of programs not approved by Apple, such as customization apps used to change the User Interface.
Since software programs available through Cydia are not required to adhere to App Store guidelines, many of them are not typical self-contained apps but instead are extensions and customizations for iOS and other apps. Users install these programs for purposes including personalization and customization of the interface, adding desired features and fixing annoyances, and making development work on the device easier by providing access to the filesystem and command-line tools. Many Chinese iPhone owners jailbreak their phones to install third-party Chinese character input systems because they are easier to use than Apple's.
Use of handset on multiple carriers
Jail-breaking also opens the possibility for using software to unofficially unlock carrier-locked iPhones so they can be used with other carriers. Software-based unlocks have been available since 2008, with each tool applying to a specific iPhone model and base-band version (or multiple models and versions).
Early exploit fixes
On July 15, 2011, Apple released a new version of iOS that closed the exploit used in JailbreakMe 3.0. The German Federal Office for Information Security had reported that the "critical weakness" uncovered by JailbreakMe meant that iOS users could potentially have their information stolen or unwillingly downloaded mal-ware by clicking on maliciously crafted PDF files. Before Apple released a fix for this security hole, jailbreak users had access to a fix published by the developer of JailbreakMe.
Device customization
After "jail-breaking" their iPhone, owners can access almost unlimited customization, allowing for better "control" of the phone's settings, like the user interface, and color scheme. For iPhone users, this is the solution to the iPhone's restrictions, putting it in the same level of customization as Google's operating system, Android.
Since software programs available through Cydia are not required to adhere to App Store guidelines, many of them are not typical self-contained apps but instead are extensions and customizations for iOS and other apps. Users install these programs for purposes including personalization and customization of the interface, adding desired features and fixing annoyances, and making development work on the device easier by providing access to the filesystem and command-line tools. Many Chinese iPhone owners jailbreak their phones to install third-party Chinese character input systems because they are easier to use than Apple's.
Use of handset on multiple carriers
Jail-breaking also opens the possibility for using software to unofficially unlock carrier-locked iPhones so they can be used with other carriers. Software-based unlocks have been available since 2008, with each tool applying to a specific iPhone model and base-band version (or multiple models and versions).
Early exploit fixes
On July 15, 2011, Apple released a new version of iOS that closed the exploit used in JailbreakMe 3.0. The German Federal Office for Information Security had reported that the "critical weakness" uncovered by JailbreakMe meant that iOS users could potentially have their information stolen or unwillingly downloaded mal-ware by clicking on maliciously crafted PDF files. Before Apple released a fix for this security hole, jailbreak users had access to a fix published by the developer of JailbreakMe.
Device customization
After "jail-breaking" their iPhone, owners can access almost unlimited customization, allowing for better "control" of the phone's settings, like the user interface, and color scheme. For iPhone users, this is the solution to the iPhone's restrictions, putting it in the same level of customization as Google's operating system, Android.
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