Getting your 3.1.3 SHSH on File is More Important than Ever!
With the recent announcement of two new exploits that can be used to create an untethered jailbreak on a 3GS running 3.1.3, it has become very important for iPhone 3GS owners to get their 3.1.3 SHSH on file in Cydia. Even those whose new-bootrom phones are not currently capable of jailbreak need to have their SHSH on file so that they can ensure they will always be able to jailbreak with the tools that are expected in the next month or so. Apple could release a firmware upgrade at any time to patch these exploits, and those without their 3.1.3 SHSH on file might then be unable to restore to the 3.1.3 firmware they will need to jailbreak. It is also an important hedge against "accidental" upgrades.
Anyone Can Get His 3.1.3 SHSH On-file in Cydia!
I have created this guide to dispel a widespread misconception: that it is only possible to get your SHSH on file if you have a currently jailbroken phone. This is simply not true. There are no fewer than three ways of getting your SHSH on file, two of which can be used even if your phone is not jailbroken! By following one of these three methods, it should be possible for anyone -- regardless of current firmware version, bootrom version, or current jailbreak status -- to get his 3.1.3 SHSH on file with Saurik.
1) Using Cydia
Benefits: Easy
Creates Local Backup: No
Requires Jailbreak: Yes
The easiest method is available only for users with currently-jailbroken phones. When you open Cydia for the first time, you should be presented with an option to "Make My Life Easier" on the Cydia home page. Simply click "Make My Life Easier" and Saurik's server will store your ECID and use it to request your 3.1.3 SHSH from Apple and store it for your future use.
Unfortunately, if you decline this option when it first appears, there is no way to go back and change your decision. Fortunately, there are two workarounds...
2) Using The Firmware Umbrella
Benefits: Stores your SHSH locally as a backup to Cydia
Creates Local Backup: Yes
Requires Jailbreak: No
Fortunately, there is an alternative method that works for those who (either because they unwittingly declined the "Make My Life Easier" option in Cydia or because they cannot jailbreak their phones) are unable to use Cydia to get their SHSH on file. This method has the added advantage of creating a local backup of your SHSH in addition to getting your SHSH on file in Cydia. This is done using free software called The Firmware Umbrella. The steps are as follows:
For Windows:
1) Download and unzip the latest version of The Firmware Umbrella from http://thefirmwareumbrella.blogspot.com/.
2) Double click Umbrella.exe to run it.
3) Enter your phone's ECID into the first box (follow steps 1-6 in this tutorial to find your ECID).
4) Choose iPhone 3GS - 3.1.3 in the Device Version dropdown menu.
5) Choose Saurik - Cydia in the SHSH Repository dropdown.
6) Click Submit.
For Mac:
1) Download and unzip the latest version of The Firmware Umbrella from http://thefirmwareumbrella.blogspot.com/.
2) Open Umbrella.dmg and copy the file Umbrella.app to your hard drive.
3) Run Umbrella.app
4) Enter your phone's ECID into the first box (follow steps 1-4 in this tutorial to find your ECID).
5) Choose iPhone 3GS - 3.1.3 in the Device Version dropdown menu.
6) Choose Saurik - Cydia in the SHSH Repository dropdown.
7) Click Submit.
This will accomplish two things in once step: Saurik's server will download and save your 3.1.3 SHSH (along with the information it will need to request any future version's SHSH) and Umbrella will download a copy of the SHSH from Saurik's server and save it to your computer.
3) Using iTunes and a Hacked hosts File
Benefits: Fewer steps than Umbrella; doesn't require you to know ECID.
Creates Local Backup: No
Requires Jailbreak: No
There is one other way that you can get your 3.1.3 SHSH on file with Saurik. This method does not require you to download any software or to jailbreak your phone, but it does require that you edit the hosts file on your computer and have a copy of the 3.1.2 firmware file (you can download it here.
1) Open the file C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts (Windows) or /etc/hosts (Mac OS X) and edit it by adding the following entry to the bottom of the file:
2) Plug in your iPhone and open iTunes.
3) Hold down shift (Win) or option (Mac) and click restore.
4) Browse to your copy of the 3.1.2 firmware (not the 3.1.3 firmware).
5) Click OK.
Please note: you will get an error message. This is expected. Because Apple is no longer signing 3.1.2, you will not be able to restore, and Saurik's server will return an "device ineligible" error. Your phone will not be restored to 3.1.2. This unsuccessful request will, however, have placed your ECID on file with Saurik's server and will place you in the queue for 3.1.3 SHSH. You should have your 3.1.3 SHSH on file within a day or so. If you need to restore to 3.1.3 in the meantime, simply do so using iTunes. iTunes will send the 3.1.3 SHSH request to Saurik's server, which will request it immediately and pass it back to you so that you can restore.
With the recent announcement of two new exploits that can be used to create an untethered jailbreak on a 3GS running 3.1.3, it has become very important for iPhone 3GS owners to get their 3.1.3 SHSH on file in Cydia. Even those whose new-bootrom phones are not currently capable of jailbreak need to have their SHSH on file so that they can ensure they will always be able to jailbreak with the tools that are expected in the next month or so. Apple could release a firmware upgrade at any time to patch these exploits, and those without their 3.1.3 SHSH on file might then be unable to restore to the 3.1.3 firmware they will need to jailbreak. It is also an important hedge against "accidental" upgrades.
Anyone Can Get His 3.1.3 SHSH On-file in Cydia!
I have created this guide to dispel a widespread misconception: that it is only possible to get your SHSH on file if you have a currently jailbroken phone. This is simply not true. There are no fewer than three ways of getting your SHSH on file, two of which can be used even if your phone is not jailbroken! By following one of these three methods, it should be possible for anyone -- regardless of current firmware version, bootrom version, or current jailbreak status -- to get his 3.1.3 SHSH on file with Saurik.
1) Using Cydia
Benefits: Easy
Creates Local Backup: No
Requires Jailbreak: Yes
The easiest method is available only for users with currently-jailbroken phones. When you open Cydia for the first time, you should be presented with an option to "Make My Life Easier" on the Cydia home page. Simply click "Make My Life Easier" and Saurik's server will store your ECID and use it to request your 3.1.3 SHSH from Apple and store it for your future use.
Unfortunately, if you decline this option when it first appears, there is no way to go back and change your decision. Fortunately, there are two workarounds...
2) Using The Firmware Umbrella
Benefits: Stores your SHSH locally as a backup to Cydia
Creates Local Backup: Yes
Requires Jailbreak: No
Fortunately, there is an alternative method that works for those who (either because they unwittingly declined the "Make My Life Easier" option in Cydia or because they cannot jailbreak their phones) are unable to use Cydia to get their SHSH on file. This method has the added advantage of creating a local backup of your SHSH in addition to getting your SHSH on file in Cydia. This is done using free software called The Firmware Umbrella. The steps are as follows:
For Windows:
1) Download and unzip the latest version of The Firmware Umbrella from http://thefirmwareumbrella.blogspot.com/.
2) Double click Umbrella.exe to run it.
3) Enter your phone's ECID into the first box (follow steps 1-6 in this tutorial to find your ECID).
4) Choose iPhone 3GS - 3.1.3 in the Device Version dropdown menu.
5) Choose Saurik - Cydia in the SHSH Repository dropdown.
6) Click Submit.
For Mac:
1) Download and unzip the latest version of The Firmware Umbrella from http://thefirmwareumbrella.blogspot.com/.
2) Open Umbrella.dmg and copy the file Umbrella.app to your hard drive.
3) Run Umbrella.app
4) Enter your phone's ECID into the first box (follow steps 1-4 in this tutorial to find your ECID).
5) Choose iPhone 3GS - 3.1.3 in the Device Version dropdown menu.
6) Choose Saurik - Cydia in the SHSH Repository dropdown.
7) Click Submit.
This will accomplish two things in once step: Saurik's server will download and save your 3.1.3 SHSH (along with the information it will need to request any future version's SHSH) and Umbrella will download a copy of the SHSH from Saurik's server and save it to your computer.
3) Using iTunes and a Hacked hosts File
Benefits: Fewer steps than Umbrella; doesn't require you to know ECID.
Creates Local Backup: No
Requires Jailbreak: No
There is one other way that you can get your 3.1.3 SHSH on file with Saurik. This method does not require you to download any software or to jailbreak your phone, but it does require that you edit the hosts file on your computer and have a copy of the 3.1.2 firmware file (you can download it here.
1) Open the file C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts (Windows) or /etc/hosts (Mac OS X) and edit it by adding the following entry to the bottom of the file:
Code:
74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com
3) Hold down shift (Win) or option (Mac) and click restore.
4) Browse to your copy of the 3.1.2 firmware (not the 3.1.3 firmware).
5) Click OK.
Please note: you will get an error message. This is expected. Because Apple is no longer signing 3.1.2, you will not be able to restore, and Saurik's server will return an "device ineligible" error. Your phone will not be restored to 3.1.2. This unsuccessful request will, however, have placed your ECID on file with Saurik's server and will place you in the queue for 3.1.3 SHSH. You should have your 3.1.3 SHSH on file within a day or so. If you need to restore to 3.1.3 in the meantime, simply do so using iTunes. iTunes will send the 3.1.3 SHSH request to Saurik's server, which will request it immediately and pass it back to you so that you can restore.