Change Default OpenSSH Password on Jailbroken iPhone/iPod Touch
A recent report suggests that a worm affects jailbroken iPhone and iPod Touch users. The worm specifically affects devices with OpenSSH installed using Cydia with the default password “alpine”.
Here are some steps which will allow you to change your default password for OpenSSH on iPhone or iPod Touch and avoid getting affected by this worm.
Step 1: Go to Cydia and Install Terminal.
Step 2: Open the terminal app, you will now be shown a command line terminal, type “su” in it and hit enter.
Step 3: Enter the default OpenSSH password “alpine” to login as root.
Step 4: Type in “passwd” into the terminal window.
Step 5: Enter a new password and click enter.
Step 6: Re-enter the new password for confirmation.
That’s it, you are now safe from being affected by the rogue worm on your jailbroken iPhone or iPod touch devices.
Please note: We do not endorse users jailbreaking their iPhones or iPod touch. The above fix to avoid having the worm affect your iPod Touch or iPhone is just for informational purpose.
John Lee
November 9th, 2009 at 6:42 am #
Thanks for this but I could not find Terminal anywhere, but as luck would have it there is an entry on the bottom of the Cydia home page that tells you how to change the password. The application needed to download is MobileTerminal and terminal can then be run after that.
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