iClarified reports that Apple has apparently recently made a slight update to its shipping iPhone 3GS models, deploying an updated boot ROM that does not allow the exploit typically used to jailbreak the devices to be employed.
The iBoot-359.3.2 started to ship last week. A screenshot posted by Mathieulh shows the new version number.
MuscleNerd from the iPhone Dev-Team has confirmed that the loss of the 24kpwn exploit would mean a normal jailbreak would be impossible for the time being.
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While previous iPhone hardware and software updates have temporarily squashed jailbreaking tools, this apparently marks the first time that Apple has quietly changed the boot ROM on devices in production to address the issue.
Jailbreaking iPhones and iPod touches allows them to run applications and access features that have not been authorized by Apple, and has also allowed users to pirate iPhone applications. Recent data from mobile advertising firm Pinch Media reveals that it has seen nearly four million jailbroken devices on its ad network, with 38% of those using at least one pirated application. Among iPhone applications that have been cracked and made available for pirating, Pinch Media notes that about a third of the total installations of those applications are pirated copies.
