PhilMUGGer "Hacks" iPhone: Its Finally Out In The Mainstream

This Inquirer.Net reports how a PhilMUG member who calles himself dubeditions has managed to make the iPhone work using local cellphone networks.

His method of "unlocking" the iPhone involves cloning a specific type of SIM card and revising some data in the cloned SIM. What's good about this hack is that there is no need to modify the iPhone hardware. All that needs to be done is to "activate" the iPhone using DVD JON's method. Then it then requires a cloned SIM card with some values changed to make the phone "think" that it is connecting to an AT&T network (despite of it being used here in the Philippines).

As always, there is a question of legality but since a user will be cloning his own SIM card, the act of cloning the SIM card is akin to creating a backup of your own hard drive data -- there shouldn't be any legal implications at all.

IMHO, LET THE HACKING CONTINUE... and liberate the iPhone!

technorati tags:iphone, hack, openline

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iPhone Finally (and absolutely) Unlocked!

Less than 24 hours ago, a website called iPhoneSimFree.Com popped out of cyberspace claiming that they have a software unlocking solution for the iPhone! Here's what iPhoneSimFree.com claims:

* Chose the provider you want, use any SIM card from any network provider in any country

* No more outrageous roaming charges. When traveling simply pick the local provider of your choice and change your sim card.

* Poor network coverage no longer an issue, use the network provider best suited to your region

* Save money! A favorable exchange rate makes for excellent value for money when importing

Now, this is a really welcome news to non-US based people who are itching to get their grubby little hands on an iPhone. Its also quite timely because Apple has been offering heavily discounted (around 20% off) refurbished iPhone units!

technorati tags:iPhone, hack, openline

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iPhone: Let the Hacking Begin

Well, the now-famous "DVD Jon" (Jon Johansen) did it again! The guy who cracked the DRM of DVDs and iTunes is back and he has found a way to "activate" an iPhone without having to go through the iTunes Store route.

The hack involves editing some Hex codes on iTunes, editing the HOSTS file of the computer and running a program called "Phone Activation Server 1.0". Unfortunately, the iPhone that is hacked this way will *not* have phone functionalities so people who will try this hack will have a rather expensive multi-touch MP3/Music player. *bummer*

But who knows? Maybe the version 2 of the "Phone Activation Server" program may allow the iPhone to be used as what it is -- a cellphone!

technorati tags:iphone, apple, hack

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AT&T: Hackers accessed customers' cards

ABS-CBN Interactive:

SAN FRANCISCO - Hackers broke into one of AT&T Inc.'s computer networks and stole credit card data and other personal information from several thousand customers who shopped at the telecommunication giant's online store.

AT&T said it was notifying "fewer than 19,000" customers whose data was accessed during the weekend break-in, which it said was detected within hours.

Its incidents such as this one that prevents people from fully adopting online businesses. As for AT&T, it would take a lot of damage control to win back the confidence of their customer base. I'm sure heads rolled in the information security division of AT&T (if they have such a division). As a self-styled "Information Security Ninja" of my company, this is my worst nightmare.

Excuse me while I check my firewall and router logs...