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PwnageTool
PwnageTool is a iPhone jailbreaking application for Mac OS X that jailbreaks by creating a custom ipsw file. (ipsw is an iPhone/iPod software file which is loaded onto the device and contains the OS and applications, thus allowing it to run. (It could also be called a type of firmware file.) You are allowed to change boot logos and add pre-installed packages to the ipsw. After an ipsw is created you must restore in iTunes.
Contents
Exploits Used
Version 2.0
Version 1.0
Models Supported
Model | Since |
---|---|
iPhone 1st Gen | April 3, 2008 |
iPod Touch 1st Generation | April 3, 2008 |
iPhone 3G | Jul 19, 2008 |
iPod Touch 2nd Generation | Oct 2, 2009 |
iPhone 3G S | Oct 2, 2009 |
The iPod Touch 3rd Generation is currently not supported. With the iPod Touch 2nd Generation and iPhone 3G[S] you have to be already jailbroken, for the [S5L8900] device's you can go into DFU mode and restore with iTunes without being jailbroken.
Versions
PwnageTool was released April 3, 2008 but largely unused until version 2.0 was released July 19, 2008. The following versions that are shown here are not beta, alpha, or in development.
1.x: First release of PwnageTool
Version | Release date | Features | |
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1.1.4 |
April 3, 2008 |
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2.x: Second major release of Pwnagetool
Version | Release date | Features |
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2.0 |
Jul 19, 2008 |
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2.0.1 |
Aug 4, 2008 |
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2.0.2 |
Aug 21, 2008 |
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2.0.3 |
Aug 25, 2008 |
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2.1 |
Sep 13, 2008 |
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2.2 |
Nov 21, 2008 |
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2.2.5 |
Jan 30, 2009 |
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3.x: Third Major Release of PwnageTool
Version | Release date | Features | |
---|---|---|---|
3.0 |
Jun 19, 2009 |
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3.1 |
Sep 15, 2009 |
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3.1.4 |
Oct 13, 2009 |
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3.1.5 (current version) |
Feb 7, 2010 |
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Creating the Firmware
PwnageTool takes the IPSW file and patches it, creating a custom version. This enables a lot more features such as pre-installed packages, boot neuter (unlock for iPhone 2nd Generation), custom packages and boot logos. This method is usually less secure than the quick exploits such (redsn0w, quickpwn, purplera1n, blackra1n, etc.).
Problems
This method does have negative aspects. The most common errors are the 1600 errors, a group of errors saying that the either the firmware file is corrupt or you didn't put it in the right mode (recovery, DFU Mode). Sometimes the problems could just be a computer problem such as the memory is full or the USB port is broken. The most common computer error is a 1604 error which means that the firmware file is corrupt.
Windows
Although PwnageTool is only for Mac OS X, as of October 2009, the iH8sn0w Team (an iPhone Hacking/Development team) has announced that they're going to make a project project that will bring Pwnage Tool to Windows. This project is named sn0wbreeze, and has been released.
License
PwnageTool is Freeware but not Free Software.