iPhone Hacking Led to a Permanent Job at Apple, But a Typical Mistake Caused His Dismissal

[Article initialement publié en mars 2025]

“Jailbreak”, Kézako?

In the ruthless world of the smartphone, two camps oppose: open systems and closed systems.

The first allows the user of his smartphone to be over his operating system to be able to install applications which would not be available directly on the preinstalled blind on the device for example. This is the case of smartphones running Android.

The second, conversely, does not allow the user to think outside the box and therefore forces him to stay within the limits of his operating system. This is what we find in particular in the iPhone.

And the “jailbreak” in all of this? Well, for users, iOS, the operating system of an iPhone can be seen as a “prison” (jail). So some hackers, like “Comex”, had fun giving the user an escape plan so that he is no longer forced to go through Apple's ecosystem to feed his iPhone.

Here, the “jailbreak” is therefore the release of the user of the “prison” of his operating system on an iPhone. Something that is not very well seen by Apple who encourages its users not to use them at the risk of seeing them presenting their safety flaws, but also to avoid seeing the smartphone warranty be simply revoked. So, if you have any problems with your iPhone under warranty and you have “jailbreaké”, the warranty does not apply.

“Comex” hacke an iPhone and is spotted by Apple…

Well, now that the bases are laid, let's enter our history. Nicholas “Comex” Allegra is therefore 18 years old in 2010 when he made the very first “jailbreak” for the iPhone 4 by exploiting a flaw on Safari, the Apple browser.

Seeing that his small invention is successful, he reiterates the experience a year later with “Jailbreak 3.0” which can work on an iPhone as well as on the second version of the iPad. A version that is just as successful, if not anymore and that will hit the eye of the same firm that he is hack: Apple.

Indeed, in 2011, the Cupertino firm, perhaps aware that you have to keep your friends close to yourself and its even closer enemies, simply decides to hire the young hacker, then 19 years old, as a distance. A high-cost that will even earn him to be registered in the forbes list of the 30 people under the age of 30 in the technology sector in 2012.

Impressive for someone who, as we recall, is known to exploit the safety flaws on the iPhone.

… but forget to answer your emails

The conclusion of this story is a bit ironic. Indeed, the little computer engineer who had fun challenging one of the most powerful companies in the world so that an iPhone user can install any application on his smartphone and was hired by this same company has lost his job … because he did not respond to an email.

After a year to work as a distance from Apple, Nicholas “Comex” Allegra makes an announcement on Twitter. He teaches his community that he no longer works at Apple and the reason is … laughable?

While he is an expert in flaws on an iPhone, “Comex” explains that if he no longer has his job, it is simply because he forgot to respond to an email in which Apple asked him for a signature to extend his contract for an additional year.

Without an answer from the person concerned, “Comex” was therefore released from his obligations by Apple.

Source: Xataka