Jailbreaking is the process of removing software restrictions imposed by the manufacturer on Apple devices running iOS and iOS-based operating systems. It involves exploiting the flaws in the devices firmware or operating system to gain root access to it, which allows users to download unapproved apps, remove pre-installed software, access third-party app stores, and unlock carrier restrictions without waiting for approval from the carrier.
However, jailbreaking an iPhone can expose the device to malware and other security vulnerabilities, as it stops receiving iOS updates, including security updates that Apple releases. Cybercriminals may jailbreak an iPhone to install malware or target jailbroken iPhones on which malware can be installed more easily. Moreover, users of a jailbroken device are often forced to stay on an inferior iOS version that is no longer supported by Apple because newer versions usually cannot be jailbroken right away, which can introduce security issues because for these older versions there are known security vulnerabilities, exploits, and exploit proof of concepts published.
In summary, jailbreaking an iPhone means gaining unauthorized root access to the operating system by modifying the iOS, which allows users to customize the device more deeply. However, it can expose the device to malware and other security vulnerabilities and stop receiving iOS updates, including security updates that Apple releases.
