How to Use the New unc0ver iPhone Jailbreak for Any iOS Version, Including iOS 13.5
A group of hackers has once again found a way to jailbreak iOS. This time they've managed to hack the newest Apple update, iOS 13.5, within a week of its release.
Jailbreaking an iPhone just means using the device without the restrictions Apple has placed upon it. Those restrictions exist for (mostly) good reasons, as companies like Apple take what's referred to as a "walled garden" approach to operating systems. They want control over what can be installed on the device and which programs can use the phone's components because that reduces the likelihood of certain security risks and helps ensure compatibility. For most users, the restrictions Apple typically imposes aren't a problem, but for people who want access to all the tech they've paid for, jailbreaking can be a necessity.
This particular hack comes from a group called unc0ver. The team announced its finding via Twitter, linking to their website where the necessary software can be downloaded for free. Getting it up and running will take a bit of technical ability as it is literally hacking, but for the people this sort of thing usually benefits, it won't be too much of a problem.
unc0ver v5.0 will jailbreak any device running iOS 11-13.5, which is most iPhones since the iPhone 5s and most iPads since the iPad Mini 2: basically any Apple mobile device released in the last six years. The installation process requires downloading the unc0ver system itself, in addition to a number of programs that prepare the target device(s) to be manipulated. Details about how unc0ver works are intentionally scarce but the general idea behind most major jailbreaks is that they take advantage of an overlooked security vulnerability. Often times, it comes from iOS leaving room for some kind of third party app or feature to gain access to the device's settings. Hackers find ways to convince the software to grant that same access to a different program. Proceeding in this way is considered a positive route because it means no security assets are damaged in the process.
Those details about unc0ver are also secretive because Apple represents an antagonistic entity to jailbreakers. Hardware manufacturers always stand to lose out if a homebrew program goes awry, especially since there's the potential that those can lead to other security vulnerabilities. Companies like Apple are constantly looking to plug the kinds of holes jailbreaks take advantage of and the constant updates we deal with on the consumer end are a result of those efforts. If you plan to try unc0ver to get more customization on your iOS device, just keep in mind that Apple will likely be shutting it down in the near future, forcing you to either revert to the official software or get into the lifestyle of tracking down previous versions of mobile operating systems.
Source: unc0ver