Latest Apple iOS update fixes pass-code bypass

Apple today released a security update to its iOS operating system for iPhones and iPads that fixes a bug that allowed the bypass of the device pass-code entry screen through a complicated set of maneouvres.

Although Apple provided very little detail as to what the security patch contains beyond the pass-code bug fix and improved Maps for the Japanese market, users are reporting that the update also prevents the popular Evasi0n jailbreak from working.

MuscleNerd, who is one of the team members developing the Evasi0n tool, warned fellow jailbreakers to stay away from the security update this morning:

IOS 6.1.3 is out. Jailbreakers stay away! There's no coming back to 6.1.2 JB even if you saved blobs (except iPhone4 and ipt4g)

— MuscleNerd (@MuscleNerd) March 19, 2013

iTnews updated an iPhone 5 to version 6.1.3 and can confirm that the patches render jailbreaking with the Evasi0n kit impossible.

Jailbreaking takes advantage of software bugs in Apple's iOS allowing users to gain full control over their iDevices which in turn provides the ability to run free and paid software from other sources than Apple's iTunes App Store.

Those who update their jailbroken phones and iPads with Apple's latest security update will lose access to the apps installed through alternative marketplaces such as Cydia.

In February this year, Forbes spoke to Cydia administrator Jay Freeman who told the publication that nearly seven million owners of iPhones, iPads and iPods had cracked their devices with the Evasi0n jailbreak kit just four hours after it was released.

The team behind Evasi0n has not yet indicated if they will be able to update their kit to allow jailbreaking of devices running iOS 6.1.3. It is widely thought however that iOS contains further bugs that can be exploited to allow jailbreaking.