Comex, the JailbreakMe developer hired by Apple.

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Comex, the teenage hacker who developed JailbreakMe, an iPhone tool for users to download applications that have not been approved by Apple has been hired, of course, by Apple.

Nicholas Allegra or Comex, as the hacker is better known among iPhone users, has launched JailbreakMe 2.0 last year, the tool that made a lot of problem to Apple.

Comex, now 19, claimed he has been hired by the technology giant as an intern.

Comex wrote on his Twitter page:

“It’s been really, really fun, but it’s also been a while and I’ve been getting bored.

“So, the week after next I will be starting an internship with Apple.”

Apple made no comment on whether or not Nicholas Allegra has become its employee.

Jailbreakme 2.0, which has been developed by Comex, works on all iPhone’s types which are running Apple’s iOS4 operating system.

The download tool, launched in 2010, was the first that can be accessed through the iPhone’s own system rather than via an external computer.

Users can simply visit JailbreakMe.com on their iPhone and download the application and its instructions of use. It can be also easily removed, as the jailbreak’s developer claim.

Comex explained at that time:

“A jailbreak is simply the ability to run apps and use themes and tweaks not approved by Apple.”

“Jail-breaking doesn’t slow down your device or use any extra battery, and is fully reversible (just restore in iTunes). A jailbreak lets your device be how you want it.”

Jailbreakme 2.0 allows iPhone owners to legally unlock their devices, so they can run software applications that are not approved by Apple.

If they don’t unlock their devices, they could only download applications from Apple’s iTunes store.

Software developers must get such applications pre-approved by Apple, which sometimes demands changes or rejects programs for what the developers say are vague reasons.

In 2010, the practice known as “jail-breaking” has been allowed through a legal decision. It was one of a few exemptions from a 1998 US law that prohibits users from bypassing technical measures that companies put on their products to prevent unauthorized uses.

The Library of Congress, which oversees the Copyright Office, reviews and authorizes exemptions every 3 years to ensure that the law does not prevent certain non-infringing uses of copyright-protected material.

However, the new government rules will not stop Apple from continuing its practice of disabling jail-broken phones with software upgrades.

Subsequently, owners of such devices might not be able to take advantage of software improvements and they are still under the risk of voiding their warranty.