Apple systematically stops signing older firmware for its mobile devices a couple of weeks after a new firmware release to prevent downgrades. Although they’re slightly late this time around, they’ve closed the signing window for iOS 10.3.2 three weeksfollowing the release of iOS 10.3.3.
It’s not too significant for most iPhone and iPad users considering there isn’t a publicjailbreakfor any iOS firmware newer thanYalu for iOS 10.0-10.2, but it illustrates how Apple isn’t letting up on their efforts to put everyone on the latest firmware possible and to keep them there.
When Apple stops signing a particular firmware, this essentially meansiTuneswon’t allow you to restore to it anymore. Instead, you’re prompted to upgrade to the latest available firmware. In this case, that’s iOS 10.3.3.
Some workarounds, such asfuturerestore, have previouslyfound ways around this, however.
Users who have iOS 10.3.2 or an earlierfirmwareinstalled won’t be forced to upgrade to iOS 10.3.3 unless they try to restore with iTunes, which means anyone who’s currently jailbroken just needs to avoid restoring their device and downloading the update via the OTA mechanism in Settings.
Not only does keeping users up to date give Apple bragging rights every time they host a Keynote to say, “we have X amount of people on the latest firmware compared toAndroid,” but the company also benefits in other ways.
From a jailbreaking perspective, the cat-and-mouse game makes it harder for hackers to keep jailbreaks current and to support them over time. On the other hand, Apple is obligated to closesecurityholes when brought to their attention given just how much of a person’s life is stored on mobile handsets today.
Apple’s choice to stop signing older firmware versions is without a doubt fueled by a desire to keep jailbreaking at bay in addition to keeping its devices as safe from malware and other threats as possible.
Are you currently on an earlier version of iOS, or have you already upgraded to iOS 10.3.3? Share in the comments section below.
