On Feb. 7, someone anonymously posted what they claim to be source code for one of the iPhone’s core components on GitHub. This is a huge security breach, and could possibly expose the iPhone to malicious actors as well as make jailbreaking the device easier.
“The GitHub code is labeled ‘iBoot,’ which is the part of iOS that is responsible for ensuring a trusted boot of the operating system, Motherboard writes. “In other words, it’s the program that loads iOS, the very first process that runs when you turn on your iPhone. It loads and verifies the kernel is properly signed by Apple and then executes it—it’s like the iPhone’s BIOS.”
According to Motherboard, the code is for iOS 9, though its likely significant portions of it are still used for iOS 11. Jonathan Levin, the author of a book series on iOS and Max OS, told Motherboard that “this is the biggest leak in history.” This may seem like a pretty big statement, especially considering the leaks that occupied 2017, but considering that more than a billion iPhones have been sold since the device was unveiled, the potential for damage is immeasurable.