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Apple Patent Could Kill Jailbroken iPhones

For your own good, though!

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 23, 2010 7:35 AM CDT

(Newser) – The US government is a-OK with you jailbreaking your iPhone but, not surprisingly, Apple is not. To that end, the company applied for a patent to disable jailbroken devices, the Register reports. Ostensibly, Apple just wants to protect you from an unauthorized user breaking into your phone: The patent application describes systems that would automatically detect “hacking programs” that would indicate “an unauthorized user may be using the electronic device” (emphasis ours).

Of course, since Apple has no way of knowing who actually “hacked” the phone, it will just assume thieves now have access to all your sensitive information … and can then erase said information from the phone and alert AT&T to shut down service. You know, in order to protect you! Obviously! “In other words,” writes Lauren Indvik on Mashable, “the system described in the patent allows Apple to effectively kill jailbroken devices under the guise of protecting customers from theft.”

Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds up iPhone 4 as he talks about the Apple iPhone 4 at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Friday, July 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 29 comments

SteveLee

Aug 24, 2010 9:33 AM CDT

Steve Jobs is looking for more revenue for Apple, which has a 60% profit margin and is holding billions in cash that it does not distribute to it's shareholders. Steve Jobs has more in mind for the Internet than merely selling another few million more i-Pads and i-Phones: http://www.flixya.com/post/brightlights/1989192/Apples_Plan_To_End_The_Free_Internet

Shawn_The_Bohn

Aug 24, 2010 12:12 AM CDT

I've never purchased an Apple product! HA! And I never will. This is a theme across ALL Apple products. Anyone that buys an Apple product is a tool, bar none.

JoeQ

Aug 23, 2010 12:57 PM CDT

Apple has always controlled access to their technology with an iron fist. Then somebody else comes along with open architecture technology that does the same things much cheaper, faster, and better. Their market share then dwindles. There will always be people who will pay a premium for the security of a benevolent dictatorship where all your major decisions are made for you, but more people always want lower cost.

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Apple Patent Could Kill Jailbroken iPhones

For your own good, though!

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For your own good, though!

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

iPhone • Apple • unlock iPhone • AT&T • jailbreaking

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More Newser Stories

iPad, iPhone Ban Overturned

Motorola's patent infringement ruling in Germany doesn't last long

Apple Earnings Soar on Huge iPhone Sales

Company sells 37M as earnings double

Beijing Apple Store Egged After Botched iPhone Launch

Angry crowd is told 4S sale canceled

iPhone's Siri Learning Chinese

4s to be launched in China, 21 other countries

Apple's Siri Tells Boy to 'Shut the F*** Up'

iPhone voice system insults 12-year-old shopper

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