App from AppStore Detects Jailbreak, Refuse to Work

[Vincz]

The app in question: Golden Screen Cinemas for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store

It's an app to purchase movie ticket from a local cinema in Malaysia. Upon launching the following message is displayed:

It looks like your iPhone has been jailbroken. GSC iPhone app does not support jailbroken devices due to possible sensitive information leaked to malicious parties.

After dismissing the message, the app worked as intended (movies showtime etc), up to the purchasing page. When I'm done with selecting dates, movies and seats, the message above pops up again and the PayPal button is disabled.

Any idea how the app detect my phone's jailbreak status and is there a way to circumvent it?

[Goof]

Can you post a screenshot?

[Vincz]

1. First warning message upon launching app.
2. Second warning message on payment page.
3. PayPal button disabled.

[benjayman2]

Wow never seen that happen before. Hope you get it fixed.

[Orby]

Hmm. That's annoying.

You can try Comex's iBooks DRM fix (at cydia.pushfix.info if it's not on the public repos), but considering it's probably a one-off app-specific detection method (e.g., referencing MobileSubstrate, trying to access the System partition, asking for information on Cydia, using Cydia's custom URL schema, etc.), odds aren't good that that'll work.

I got nothing... Complain to the theater company? That seems really heavy-handed (the only apps I've ever seen note it are Skype and the Battle.net authenticator--and both will just nag you, they won't remove functionality).

[quidam_brujah]

Had the same problem with an M-learning app from Cisco Systems: it detects jailbreak and refuses to run. And this was back before the 4.x iOS came out.

[Vincz]

Another user reported that the said app detects Cydia to determine the device's jailbreak status. He's still able to use that app after jailbreaking but without Cydia. After he installs Cydia, the app refuse to work.

I have tried changing Cydia's icon name and it doesn't work, just as expected. Shouldn't apps work in independent sandboxes? How can it detect Cydia's existence? Any idea how I can hide Cydia from it?