Apple has released an updated version of its jailbreak Knowledge Base article concerning problems that can occur when jailbreaking your device. With the popularity of the iOS 6.1 jailbreak, Apple probably wants to make sure you know what could happen if you decide to jailbreak your device, and that the company can deny service on any device that has installed any unauthorized software.
It’s important to note that they “could” deny you service, but it’s pretty unlikely that anything terrible would happen if you jailbreak your phone. It could happen, but it’s unlikely. Our own editor-in-chief just jailbroke his iPhone 5 with no drama.
The article lists the kinds of problems you can see when you jailbreak your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. They include:
Instability: Frequent and unexpected crashes of the device, crashes and freezes of built-in apps and third-party apps, and loss of data.
Security vulnerabilities: Security compromises have been introduced by these modifications that could allow hackers to steal personal information, damage the device, attack the wireless network, or introduce malware or viruses.
Shortened battery life: The hacked software has caused an accelerated battery drain that shortens the operation of an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch on a single battery charge.Unreliable voice and data: Dropped calls, slow or unreliable data connections, and delayed or inaccurate location data.
Disruption of services: Services such as Visual Voicemail, Weather, and Stocks have been disrupted or no longer work on the device. Additionally, third-party apps that use the Apple Push Notification Service have had difficulty receiving notifications or received notifications that were intended for a different hacked device. Other push-based services such as iCloud and Exchange have experienced problems synchronizing data with their respective servers.
Inability to apply future software updates: Some unauthorized modifications have caused damage to iOS that is not repairable. This can result in the hacked iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iOS update is installed.
Obviously, Apple warning against “installing any software that hacks iOS” isn’t a new thing. The company also notes that jailbreaking is a violation of the iOS end-user license agreement and, as a result, Apple can deny service for any device that has been jailbroken.
It’s hard to take the knowledge base article as much more than fear mongering from Apple.
Image Credit: Skatter Tech
