PwnageTool is the revolutionary new software that allows custom-made firmware files (.ipsw) to be uploaded to iPod Touches and iPhones straight through iTunes. Recently distributed by the iPhone Dev Team, it’s going to revolutionize the jailbreaking scene. And I’ve taken an in-depth look at how it works, how to customize it for your own use, and a guide to using some of the basic features.
.:How It Works:.
Built into the iPhone OS is a system that checks firmwares to prevent things like the custom firmwares , to make sure the firmwares are from Apple. As opposed to jailbreaking a phone, which allows limited file writing access to the Apple-made firmware, Pwnage tells that low-level firmware system to ignore the check, and allows far freer customization.
The best part about this is, because the check is very low-level, it’s basically the same in all versions of iPhone OS. Right now only 1.1.4 is supported by PwnageTool (along with one of the 2.0 betas), but in the future the 2.0 firmwares will be just as easily hacked.
As of right now, the official version of Pwnage is only available for Mac (10.4.11 and above). However, a separate party has been working on a Windows version, Winpwn. It’s still in beta though, so be careful.
