I still remember how awesome it was when talented hacker comex released the JailbreakMe website from which iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads running iOS 4.3-4.3.3 could jailbreak their device with the swipe of a slider. Since then, there haven’t been many jailbreaks like it, which is why a newly released jailbreak called Lyncis for 32-bit devices running iOS 7.1.x by iOS developer @staturnzdev is somewhat special.
Albeit designed for what we now consider to be legacy devices, Lyncis operates with a WebKit-based exploit that users can access from the device’s built-in Safari web browser without having to connect to a computer. Moreover, it’s an untethered jailbreak, which means the jailbreak and all relevant jailbreak software installed by the end user persists after a full reboot without the need to re-jailbreak.
Upon visiting the Lyncis website on a supported device, users can simply tap on the Jailbreak button to install the jailbreak. While multiple attempts may be required, the Cydia package manager app finds itself comfortably installed on your Home Screen after a successful jailbreak attempt, which you can then use to install jailbreak tweaks and themes.
As noted in the Lyncis GitHub page, a Safari crash after tapping on jailbreak means that the jailbreak has likely failed. Reasons for the failed jailbreak can be found in the Safari crash logs.
For those in disbelief, believe it. @Staturnzdev provided a demonstration video of the jailbreak on a CDMA-based iPhone 4 running iOS 7.1.2 (model N92AP) in a post shared to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) at the end of last year, but it wasn’t until just this week that it reached the stage of completion and public release.
While Lyncis isn’t a jailbreak for modern devices or modern firmware versions, it remains a powerful reminder that jailbreak developers are still working to fill gaps and niches in the community for those using legacy devices. In fact, Lyncis is one of several major jailbreak releases for legacy devices in recent weeks, with the other being EverPwnage for 32-bit iOS 8.0-9.0.2 devices.
Lyncis is fully open source, and you can learn more about it via the project’s GitHub page. You can also visit the jailbreak’s website to try it out on a compatible device via the URL below:
https://lyncisjb.com/
Do you have a compatible device that you plan to use Lyncis on? Let us know in the comments section down below.