WiFiFoFum Returns - Rejected Apps Make Their Way to Jailbroken App Stores

[Nick Hesson]

Just last week we told you about Apple pulling WiFi stumbling apps from iTunes App Store. Many of us are disappointed at the move, as these apps can be quite a handy utility when on the road or travelling. Apps like WifiTrak, WiFiFoFum, yFy Network Finder, WiFi Get, eWifi, and WiFi Analyzer vanished from the App Store overnight. However, not all have vanished completely.

WiFiFoFum has just been released in Cydia for Jailbroken users. Developers, Aspecto Software, won't give up that easily Apple. I mean come on, they put a ton of work into the app and to have it removed after being available for so long just seems incredibly unprofessional. It seems yet again that Apple has forced developers to sell their apps underground, which really just ends up contributing to the Jailbreak community in the end. To top it all off, Aspecto Software has released WiFiFoFum to Jailbroken users for FREE!

If you've never heard of WiFiFoFum, it is a mobile WiFi scanner and wardriving tool comes to the iPhone. WiFiFoFum scans for 802.11 wireless (WiFi) networks and displays information about each network it detects; including: SSID, MAC, RSSI (signal strength), channel, AP mode, security mode and available transmission rates. It sold well in the app store, and to see it in Cydia & Rock for free is awesome!

Infomind, developer of "yFy Network Finder", have said that they will have a Cydia release very soon. I can only imagine more will follow suit.

[punjabi212]

Free?? That's awesome

[seungki]

I'm legitimately confused:

What's useful about a wifi stumbler?

Doesn't the iphone already have this in its own OS?

[lolcats1]

edit: come on, not come one.

as for seungki, some networks, like public school ones, are hidden. these apps find them anyways.

ever notice how sometime your settings app will show a spinning wheel next to wifi, but not list anyway? yeah.

[moon#pie]

Picked this one up last night. Happy that app store devs are looking more seriously at 3rd party means of distribution. Maybe a step closer to pushing apple into giving us what we want. A more open OS. Doubt it though.

[CZroe]

I picked it up last night too. It helped me track down a rogue access point at work.

[Maarten16]

Yeah!
Don't let apple get you that easy :P

[CaptainChaos]

Don't see it listed?

[MaxRabbit]

I mean come one,

Humbly pointing out a typo.

[ukoda]

Great news. Been looking for a free WiFi scanner. I've installed it and it looks promising.

[iLaw-One]

Free??? Awesome!!!!.....Insatlling now

[CaptainChaos]

What repo?

[CMOSlabs]

I have had it for 6 months or so. Nice pugam. Wonder if it's going to be there after my next sync with iTunes? If so I want a refund from Apple.

[Scoops98]

I'm legitimately confused:

What's useful about a wifi stumbler?

Doesn't the iphone already have this in its own OS?

As a network admin, a wireless stumbler is essentially. I mainly use it to set different wireless channels when configuring a new wireless network. Plus, stumblers will show you hidden networks, and show you more in-depth details on the wireless network.

I find that WiFiFoFum, installed through Cydia, doesn't list available networks. I'm going to stick to my iTunes app for the time being. Regardles, it's great to see a developer doing something like this. Especially after Apple makes another stupid decision.

[pyromcr]

wait, what do those apps do? can some one please explain to me what these apps do differently than the wifi searcher built into the settings?

[area51crypto]

I have had it for 6 months or so. Nice pugam. Wonder if it's going to be there after my next sync with iTunes? If so I want a refund from Apple.

If you install BossPrefs you can disable Apple Kill App

Area51

[Scoops98]

Wireless stumblers show you the signal strength as percentage, the data transfer rates, the encryption type, the wireless router/access point's MAC address, show hidden SSID (network name), show the wireless channel and specific frequency, etc. They're basically advanced wireless network browsers.

The built-in wireless network browser doesn't show all this info. It's valuable as a network admin.

Here are two Mac stumbler applications:
iStumbler: iStumbler 99
AirRadar: AirRadar

[tosbsas]

I do not see anything - what am I doing wrong?

Wifitrack shows 4 access points, wififofum not one, not even my own

[tjohns34]

WiFiFoFum does not work on my phone (iPhone 3G). I even rebooted after installing the app, but it picks nothing up. Ironically, I am on my Home network, as I get no cell signal at my house. The built in iPhone Wi-Fi settings is picking up 3 wireless networks near me, so I know my iPhone is ok. I will unfortunately have to give this app a thumbs-down for not working.

[Scoops98]

WiFiFoFum does not work on my phone (iPhone 3G). I even rebooted after installing the app, but it picks nothing up. Ironically, I am on my Home network, as I get no cell signal at my house. The built in iPhone Wi-Fi settings is picking up 3 wireless networks near me, so I know my iPhone is ok. I will unfortunately have to give this app a thumbs-down for not working.

The iTunes app works, but for some reason installing through Cydia doesn't...