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You are here: Home / BlackBerry / Will Someone Finally Figure Out How To Jailbreak A BlackBerry?

Will Someone Finally Figure Out How To Jailbreak A BlackBerry?

November 17, 2008 by Robb Dunewood 47 Comments

Ever since the first PDA was invented someone has tried to make it do something other than what it was originally intended to do.  We hear about Windows Mobile devices, Palm devices, iPhones, T-Mobile G1s, and even Sony PSPs being “Jailbroken” all the time.  One glaring omission from this list, however, is the BlackBerry.

Some say that the BlackBerry simply cannot be hacked.  Others say that the the hardware capabilities haven’t been worth someone actually trying.  I believe that the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.  There is no question that the BlackBerry’s security model is something coveted by just about everyone else, however, it is also true that until the last round of BlackBerry devices, the hardware used them has been a bit long in the tooth.

My guess is that jailbreaking a BlackBerry would be significantly  difficult and even though BlackBerrys are very popular devices, other very popular devices are child’s play comparatively when it comes to rewriting their code.  The BlackBerry Storm, on the other hand, has some really cool hardware specifications that might make someone see what they can come up with.

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Filed Under: BlackBerry Tagged With: BlackBerry Storm, JailBreak

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Comments

  1. Megahack says

    November 17, 2008 at 8:09 am

    I don’t think that it will happen anytime soon. It isn’t that the hardware is hard to hack. Almost all data on a BlackBerry runs through RIM so unless you have some way to get code onto RIM’s backend servers there just isn’t going to be that much you can do.

    I think that it is going to take a lot of Blackberries to start coming with wi-fi beacuse i am thinking that an entire OS and new firmware will have to be written and once you do that, you won’t be able to pull data through RIMs servers.

    Like you said, it is not really worth it because that is a heck of a lot of work when you very easily hack an iPhone or a WinMo device and probably do more cool stuff with it anyway.

    Reply
  2. ditto says

    November 17, 2008 at 8:13 am

    Trying to hack a BlackBerry is a fracking waste of time. It has mostly business users anyway who wouuld never do it for fear of losing their jobs.

    Reply
  3. Robb Dunewood says

    November 17, 2008 at 8:23 am

    I don’t know that it can’t be done. I know that a couple of years ago, Alex King put up a bounty for someone to come up with a way that the BlackBerry could be tethered to a Mac.

    Maybe hackers just need an incentive…

    Reply
  4. Norman R. says

    November 17, 2008 at 8:43 am

    Robb, you should hold a BlackBerry Storm Jailbreak bounty here on RIMarkable. I am sure that a lot of people, myself included, would contribute.

    Reply
  5. Brian says

    November 17, 2008 at 9:48 am

    I don’t get the meaning of the term “Jailbreak” in the context of Blackberry. In the iPhone world that means to install 3rd party applications without needing to go through App Store. Blackberry and the Storm will not have that restriction (unless your corporation turns that switch on their BES server).

    Also the GPS will be working on the Verizon Storm for 3rd party apps…

    What is there left on the Storm that people can’t do on it’s hardware? I guess the only thing left is proprietary API’s that require a special signature from RIM. But that would be only interesting if you were creating something like ActiveBerry (Active Sync for BlackBerry) because you might want to integrate your protocol with the Blackberry native mail app… That’s just one example.

    But for non-developers I do not see the alure of “Jailbreaking” a BlackBerry as I don’t know what that term means in this context.

    Other than that I am really confused… Someone please enlighten me!

    Reply
  6. Richard Ward says

    November 17, 2008 at 9:50 am

    It won’t be a “BlackBerry” even if it’s hacked. There’s no way anyone can figure out how to re-write the communication between the handset and RIM’s servers.

    This is part of the whole package and what a lot of iPhanatics and other smartphone holders don’t realize — there’s a lot more to the phone than what you can play with.

    Reply
  7. Krellen says

    November 17, 2008 at 10:02 am

    I am going to assume that he is loosely using the term Jailbreak and what he really means is to hack or put some type of homebrew OS on the BlackBerry that would allow you to do things that you couldn’t otherwise do.

    Richard Ward and Megahack both point out that there is more to hacking a BlackBerry than on the handset itself because of the server backend through which all of it’s communications run.

    I will say this however, I would contribute to a bounty, if someone could figure out how to use GPS on the Verizon BlackBerry Storm without having to go through VZNavigator.
    I would assume that this could be unlocked without having to worry about RIM’s server side backend.

    Reply
  8. Brian says

    November 17, 2008 at 10:11 am

    The GPS on the Storm will not need VZNavigator to use a 3rd party app like Google Maps. That’s the word anyway. I know what Verizon has done to the GPS on Blackberry’s in the past. But everyone on the forums seem to say that this will not be the case on the Storm! That’s why I said I don’t see what

    “to hack or put some type of homebrew OS on the BlackBerry that would allow you to do things that you couldn’t otherwise do.”

    the “things that you couldn’t otherwise do”… What would that be if GPS was unlocked?

    Reply
  9. muerl says

    November 17, 2008 at 10:18 am

    So jailbreaking a blackberry would involve running native code on it rather than via the JVM?

    Also, the Storm’s Autonomous GPS mode is unlocked for everyone. gotten the word on that from on high.

    Reply
  10. Krellen says

    November 17, 2008 at 11:00 am

    Does anyone have any confirmation that the BlackBerry Storms GPS won’t be locked down? I just went to one of those BlackBerry Storm first look business events and one of the people there told me that third party GPS applications would work just fine on the device but that you you had pay the additionaly monthly fee for VZNavigator.

    Reply
  11. Ty Moss says

    November 17, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    HEY! LOOK! ITS MY VIDEO! lol

    Reply
  12. DaFD says

    November 17, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    Come up with a definitive meaning of “jailbreaking” in the context of a Blackberry and I’ll “jailbreak” it.

    Reply
    • jkrew says

      January 15, 2010 at 9:40 pm

      how can I use my storm through tmobile?

      Reply
      • jess says

        December 22, 2010 at 8:17 pm

        you go to google, type in unlock a blackberry storm. find a website that sells unlock codes, buy one ( they range from 10 to 20 $) none r free. then go to youtube and look up how to unlock a blackberry storm and follow the directions in the video.
        btw, the code will be sent to you in an email.

        Reply
  13. Richard Ward says

    November 17, 2008 at 7:14 pm

    You’re controlled by the red leaf and if you’re on Whorizon, also controlled by the other “Big Red.” Not a good combo if you’re looking to hack anything other than your head off when you get the bill. VZN + BB = $$$

    Reply
  14. afterdigital says

    November 30, 2008 at 7:35 pm

    how about tethering – (did i say that out loud?)

    Reply
  15. anonymous says

    December 5, 2008 at 11:31 pm

    of course a blackberry can be hacked! like with anything else it ultimately just comes down to code and protocols so the notion that is ‘impossible’ is wholly nonsensical.

    Reply
  16. anonymous says

    December 5, 2008 at 11:35 pm

    i should add that it has been tried and it has been done. but people that go to the trouble usually have a personal vendetta against the person’s phone into which they are ‘hacking’. otherwise, to hack into a random person’s blackberry, yes what exactly is the point?

    Reply
  17. DaFD says

    December 6, 2008 at 1:02 am

    *drops hint*
    If you can figure out how to hack OpenBSD, you can hack a BlackBerry.

    Reply
  18. wayne says

    January 14, 2009 at 4:56 am

    Does any one know how to download flash player to a blackberry curve 8310 I need it to get stuff of web sites can’t figure out how can anyone help me please. Email me at smoketire1@yahoo.com

    Reply
  19. omsoft says

    August 9, 2009 at 8:57 am

    Jailbreaking BB Bold so BB maps can be used. ATT has disabled BB maps. The app is there but can not be run standalone since ATT wants $$$ for attNavigator.

    Reply
  20. DaFD says

    August 9, 2009 at 11:05 am

    That’s not really a jailbreak, more like just a hack.

    Reply
    • omsoft says

      August 9, 2009 at 11:08 am

      You are right. But that’s my goal.

      Reply
  21. the VIZZ maestro says

    August 12, 2009 at 9:09 am

    I dont know if its a jailbreak or a hack im looking for – Basically, can I unlock my network locked blackberry 8520 so that i can use with other telecom operators? Will doing an OS upgrade do the trick?

    Reply
  22. omsodt says

    August 12, 2009 at 9:27 am

    It works temporarily. But when service books are resent, it gets disabled again.

    Reply
  23. thanks says

    August 25, 2009 at 2:31 pm

    Thanks!

    Reply
  24. Shockitout says

    October 1, 2009 at 1:37 am

    The blackberry can be unlocked. You need to go to options, find your status IME number, call your provider to get your MEP number, then you will want to go to “advanced” options under the “Options” menu, select the “SIMM Card” feature. You will want to type in MEPD after you have opened up the “SIMM Card” feature. You will then see some basic information about your Blackberry. Now you will type in MEP, then hold the “alt” and your number 2 button at the same time. The MEP menu will apper. You will only have TEN attemps to get it right, so you must have your MEP code from the service provider! Go ahead and enter the MEP code. Now your Blackberry is unlocked! Have fun!!!

    Reply
    • omsoft says

      October 1, 2009 at 7:11 am

      That unlocks the phone to use non-ATT SIM card. I do not think it has anything to do with BB Maps. If the phone is worked with another provider’s SIM card, that may put the Maps back, but then it would hide them again when ATT SIM card is inserted.

      Reply
  25. TBIRD says

    October 5, 2009 at 12:57 pm

    Why hack a dog turd? The best app for it is a simulated battery pull-that says it all. Junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk junk

    Reply
  26. TBIRD says

    October 5, 2009 at 1:11 pm

    How do I start task manager on this turd? It locked up again-LOL!

    Reply
  27. TBIRD says

    October 5, 2009 at 1:15 pm

    I want a ctr/alt/del app for mine lol!

    Reply
  28. TBIRD says

    October 5, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    I want a ctr/alt/del app for mine lol! Junk junk junk

    Reply
  29. PeriSoft says

    October 9, 2009 at 10:01 am

    You’re a real brain trust there, tbird. As a parent, my worst fear is failing in my job so completely that my son ends up behaving like you do – and, to be honest, I’m not even sure how that’s possible. Too much sugar? Drops on the head? Psychological abuse? Trepanation? The mind boggles.

    lol!

    Reply
  30. PeriSoft says

    October 9, 2009 at 10:02 am

    You’re a real brain trust there, tbird. As a parent, my worst fear is failing in my job so completely that my son ends up behaving like you do – and, to be honest, I’m not even sure how that’s possible. Too much sugar? Drops on the head? Psychological abuse? Trepanation? The mind boggles.

    lol!

    PS: For what it’s worth, I’d like to see a way to run native code on the bb. Having a 624mhz processor behave like a 286 is kind of idiotic – as much as I feel nostalgia for the days when I coded with qbasic, I don’t particularly want to be dealing with the same limitations -now-…

    Reply
  31. bob says

    October 21, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    if i want to buy blackberry smartphone from u.s, will i use it in malaysia.. i mean how the connection will be?? did it suite for sim card from malaysia?? thank you..

    Reply
  32. mathew says

    October 28, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    IS it possible to JailBreak blackberry curve 8520??? i see jailbreaks for the storm and the other curves . but not for the 8520??

    or what site can i use to downlaod apps for free . i am not triny to pay for them.
    i have t-mobile and the phone is not unlockedi just want free apps. and not the wones from blackberry world apps * lame apps on that**

    how can i get other free apps? please let me know .

    Reply
  33. tinus says

    December 30, 2009 at 5:05 am

    Heey, i’m wondering if someone could tell me if there is some kind of hack, or whatever its callt, that allows you to download all the apps from app world for free? Because i heard that there is such a thing for the iphone

    Reply
    • Robb Dunewood says

      December 30, 2009 at 7:49 am

      There are plenty of free apps on App World that you can download for free, and, if those aren’t enough for you, try the RIMarkable App Store. There are plenty of free apps that you can download for free there as well…

      Reply
  34. chris says

    January 6, 2010 at 3:46 am

    I am kuwait for a year working.. And I brought my blackberry bold from home with me.. I unlocked it when I got here and now have a kuwait local internet sims card.. But I’m not able 2 get on and use ANY of apps on the phone.. I am able 2 just use the browser n that’s it.. Can someone tell me the reason I can’t use my apps and what I can do 2 fix it to where I can use them please?? I’m in dire need of some help here!!!! Thank you!!

    Reply
    • dalton says

      October 14, 2010 at 3:12 am

      were these apps already installed on ur phone before getting the phone to kuwait ??? or u trying to reinstall the apps again n trying to make them work . Im from india n jus got ma bold 9700 to my shock i realised that the app world doesnt work in kuwait !! so i thought id install all the apps on my phone here in india n then take the phone to kuwait to use them , but will it work ??

      Reply
  35. rob says

    January 19, 2010 at 3:41 pm

    Ok I have read every post.. Is there any confirmation on a hack to tether? I tell ya this my 3rd storm 1 device .. VZW just keeps replacing my hardware. After 6 months .. Ill be going back because now I can’t stream nor can I repeat a video. I get one thing working and something else breaks.
    Anyways I really want to tether my storm like my buddies do on the iphone!
    Thanks for all the hard work… Hacking openBSD sounds like a 6 figure a year job to me.

    Reply
  36. arielg says

    January 26, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    Hey there,

    is there anyone can help me with downloading applications and using them in countries outside the US or other places that have blocks on the apps store??? I bought my blackberry in tel-aviv and can’t seem to get any applications, and furthermore my bb browses the internet from some random UK IP address.. Please help me!!!

    Reply
  37. urethane man says

    March 23, 2010 at 11:39 am

    i will not buy another ATT product or use their service after my contract for 10 years is up
    i bought and paid thru the nose for this blackberry bold when it first came out to get the gps thinking i would have 1 device to do two things. I will not pay for the service
    what a rip off! Linux open system phone will be my next 🙂

    Reply
  38. tom says

    January 19, 2011 at 10:54 pm

    Jail break my blackberry

    Reply
  39. Bruno says

    January 26, 2011 at 9:22 am

    Where can I get a Blackberry Jailbreak tool?

    Reply
  40. LtDan says

    May 9, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    Free blackberry unlock codes
    http://www.freemyblackberry.com
    there is alot of bs saying you cant unlock a a BB Storm but you can go to link up top
    can use it as many times as you need my bb was a storm from telus and i put rogers sim in it

    Reply
  41. Sasori_177 says

    December 25, 2011 at 10:42 am

    The Vlex team is working on it!

    Reply

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