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Sn0wBreeze

How to create an customized signed IPSW firmware using Sn0wbreeze

The cat-and-mouse game between jailbreakers and Apple is getting tough for hackers with every new release of Apple iOS, as it plugs existing loopholes which they exploit. Anyone trying to restore Apple iOS 5.1.1 on iPhone 4 and 4S will face iTunes errors like 3194 and 1600 while trying to flash an sn0wbreeze customized IPSW file, even when having saved SHSH blobs and using TinyUmbrella TSS server. The solution to this problem is to have the custom .IPSW firmware file stitched with previously saved SHSH digital signatures, follow the detailed instructions ahead to get this done using sn0wbreeze.

Snowbreeze

Downloading and using TinyUmbrella to save Apple Device SHSH Blobs

TinyUmbrella

What is TinyUmbrella ?

TinyUmbrella is an utility for Windows and MAC which allows users to save SHSH Blobs or Digital Signatures for Apple Devices (iPhone, iPad and Apple TV) locally, this allows restores to older firmware's which are no longer officially supported by Apple. TinyUmbrella works the magic by running locally as a proxy to iTunes, intercepting and faking the communication while iTunes thinks it is communicating with Apple servers for authenticating the firmware restore as permitted irrespective of what Apple Servers allow and disallow. This feature becomes indispensable for users relying on "Software unlocks" which are supported on older firmwares and basebands, as Apple restricts restores to these exploited versions forcing users to newer versions of iOS.

What is SHSH Blobs ?

These are backup files of firmware digital signatures which are needed to restore an Apple device, Apple generates these based on hardware keys of the device and the hash of the firmware - which makes them unique for every device. It is to be noted that Apple only issues signatures for the currently-available, current iOS version. What TinyUmbrella does is to save these digital signatures locally for later use, when Apple does not allow them.

How to save SHSH Blobs using TinyUmbrella ?

Simply download the TinyUmbrella utility (links provided at the end of this blog post), and connect your device. Once detected click the "Save SHSH button" and it's done, if having errors look at our TinyUnmbrella troubleshooting guide.

TinyUmbrella interface

Fixing TinyUmbrella "Cannot Start TSS Service" Error

TinyUmbrella is an indispensable tool in the war between jailbreaking community and Apple, the software allows users to save their iDevice SHSH files making it possible to later downgrade or restore a firmware (.IPSW) even when Apple has blocked that forcing users to upgrade to a newer version.

If you are having issues trying to use TinyUmbrella and error shown is "Cannot Start TSS Service" and the status shows "TinyUmbrella's TSS server is not running" with option to start the server disabled, here is a quick and easy solution to the problem.

TinyUmbrella Error
TinyUmbrella's TSS server is not running

Sn0wbreeze 2.2 RC3 Fixes Apple's iBooks Jailbreak Detection

Few days ago Apple started detecting jail-broken devices via iBooks denying access to books if found positive, to counter this sn0wbreeze v2.2R3 is now available for download patching the gap Apple used to detect sn0wbreeze jailbroken phones.

sn0wbreeze 2.2 RC3

Sn0wbreeze 2.2 To Feature ‘Baseband Preservation Mode’ Allowing Users To Upgrade To Newer Firmware With Baseband Preserved But No Jailbreak

sn0wbreezeRecently Apple imposed minimum baseband restrictions on iOS restores, popular Windows jail-breaking utility Sn0wbreeze will soon be featuring a new option ‘Baseband Preservation Mode’ in the upcoming v 2.2 release - which basically allows users to upgrade to newer iOS versions preserving their basebands but not jail-breaking as in the usual case.

Apple Forces Baseband Requirement For iOS 4.2.1 Update

Developer of popular TinyUmbrella application has confirmed an interesting development on Apple's strategy to block carrier-unlockers, starting from recently released iOS 4.2.1 Apple seem to be enforcing a minimum baseband (bootrom) version requirement for users trying to upgrade their firmware. Users have resorted on tools like TinyUmbrella and Sn0wbreeze to update their device firmware to latest version keeping an older unlockable baseband version letting them enjoy the newest Apple iOS version while retaining a carrier-unlocked phone, this has changed for now until someone hacks their way-in finding a new way to get around this. The worst part is that if you try to use an older baseband updating to stock iOS 4.2.1 you will be stuck in recovery mode with no option but to restore back to iOS 4.1 or iOS 4.2.1 which means no carrier-unlock.

Download Sn0wBreeze v 1.7 Now With Support For Jailbreaking iPod Touch 3G Running iOS 4.0

Sn0wBreeze v 1.7 is now available for download (use links at the end of the post) allowing jailbreaking of iPod Touch 3G - the only condition being that either the device has iPhone OS 3.1.2 or have saved 3.1.2 SHSH blobs for restore.

Sn0wBreeze v 1.7

iPhone 3GS With New Bootrom Running iOS 4 Jailbreaked Using Sn0wBreeze

If you are stuck with an iPhone 3GS having newer bootrom (iBoot v 359.3.2) and want it to be jailbreaked here is some great news for you - iH8sn0w Sn0wBreeze utility will soon be upgraded to support tethered jailbreak (meaning you will have to re-jailbreak if your iPhone reboots) of iPhone 3GS having iBoot v 359.3.2. The only catch is that you must have your iOS 3.1.2 ECID saved as you will need to downgrade for this to work.

iDetector - A Simple Utility To Tell Whether Your iPhone 3GS Has Old Or New Bootrom

If you are owner of an iPhone 3GS and still scratching your head whether your device is jail-breakable or not because of the old bootrom requirement by both redsn0w and Sn0wBreeze here is a simple tool which will tell you whether your iPhone 3GS has the newer bootrom (which is sadly not jailbreakable yet) or the older which can be exploited by redsn0w or sn0wbreeze.

iDetector is a simple and small utility by iH8sn0w which will provide you the answer telling whether your iPhone 3GS has an old bootrom or the new bootrom, to get it working all you need to do is to put your device in DFU mode and click the button 'Is my Bootrom Old or New ?' and you will have the straightforward answer.

iPhone 3GS Bootrom Checker

Download Sn0wBreeze 1.6.1 For Jail-breaking iOS4 Keeping Older Bootrom

Sn0wBreezeAnother popular jailbreaking utility for Windows Sn0wbreeze got updated to v 1.6.1 supporting the latest iOS4 release, if you are thinking why Sn0wbreeze is needed when we already have redsn0w to jailbreak the newest Apple mobile OS - the answer is Sn0wbreeze lets you create custom firmware IPSW files on Windows (similar to iPhone Dev Team's - PwnageTool utility For Mac) letting you upgrade your devices keeping the older bootrom.

Sn0wbreeze 1.6.1
This is just one of the many helpful tips we have posted, You can find more stories here,
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