Jailbreak Extraordinaire Comex Featured in Forbes

**Michael Essany** · 08-01-2011, 12:33 PM

The new issue of Forbes is out. And joining the likes of prominent billionaire investors profiled in the new issue is a man who, while not a billionaire, has proven an invaluable resource to the jailbreak community. I'm referring, of course, to Comex - the 19-year old jailbreak extraordinaire with whom we are all familiar.

Much like Bruce Wayne being revealed as Batman, some may be surprised to see the real man behind the myth and legend that is Comex. Meet Nicholas Allegra, a "tall, shaggy-haired and bespectacled" student on leave from Brown University who resides with his parents in the beautiful geographic realm of Chappaqua, New York.

As we all know too well, Comex spends his days "seeking out cracks in the source code of Apple’s iPhone, a device with more software restrictions than practically any computer on the market, and exploiting them to utterly obliterate its defenses against hackers."

In the profile, Comex reveals what it's like to infiltrate Apple software. “It feels like editing an English paper,” he admits. “You just go through and look for errors. I don’t know why I seem to be so effective at it.”

“I didn’t think anyone would be able to do what he’s done for years,” Charlie Miller, a former network exploitation analyst for the National Security Agency, admitted to Forbes when asked for his take on Comex being able to so readily hack the iPhone. “Now it’s been done by some kid we had never even heard of. He’s totally blown me away.”

He's blown us away too. And it's cool to see this veritable genius grab a chunk of the spotlight in the new issue of Forbes, which is now available online and will be available in print later this week.

Source: Forbes

**Mysterion** · 08-01-2011, 12:49 PM

Comex work your magic and untether jailbreak iPhone 4s on 4.2.9/4.2.10/4.3.4/4.3.5

**DontBeJealous** · 08-01-2011, 12:56 PM

Ahh, to be young and super smart. Good for him. He doesnt look do dorky either. He might even get laid!

**jeffhesser** · 08-01-2011, 01:09 PM

you'd think with ol Geohotz starting at such a young age that these people would be a bit less surprised at his age. Kids have the kind of free time and developing minds to really dig into this stuff and in the process train themselves to think in a different way then most 'adults' today.

**confucious** · 08-01-2011, 01:20 PM

I was reading this earlier and wondered why he said it was difficult to find out comex' real name?

comex is a genuinely nice guy, he deserves all the praise and doesn't seem to let it go to his head.

**Kil0111** · 08-01-2011, 01:32 PM

What a hippie....then again, so was jobs.

**thetoothfairy** · 08-01-2011, 01:42 PM

It's nice to have people like this in the world!

**AKCHRIS** · 08-01-2011, 01:53 PM

Comex is awesome...i give kudo's to HIm for taking time out of his Personal life to Exploit & Jailbreak iDevices& allowing my to do pretty much what EVER i want to Do to trick out my iPhone&iPad.

**mmaboi21** · 08-01-2011, 01:59 PM

Awesome. Comes is the man!
Nice to see our hackers getting the attention they deserve

**AUZambo** · 08-01-2011, 02:03 PM

He's only 19? I feel like such an underachiever.

**chewy1283x** · 08-01-2011, 02:34 PM

Just be ready for IOS5 be ready to hack it dont give a thing of 4.3.4 and 4.3.5 its the fault of those who upgraded

**Mrteacup** · 08-01-2011, 03:58 PM

Haha I've always respected comex so much! But i'm afraid a great story like this was poorly written. The article has multiple run-on sentences. It was also very confusing! And before you all get mad at me for trolling about a writer's writing! But I still like the article

**mmaboi21** · 08-01-2011, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by AUZambo

He's only 19? I feel like such an underachiever.

Seriously bro!
Lol
I'm 20

**DevouredDreams** · 08-01-2011, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by chewy1283x

Just be ready for IOS5 be ready to hack it dont give a thing of 4.3.4 and 4.3.5 its the fault of those who upgraded

not completly as some will buy idevices with ios 4.3.4/.5 on them.

Originally Posted by mmaboi21

Seriously bro!
Lol
I'm 20

im 20 as well and wish i had his knowledge.

**R.Mortera** · 08-01-2011, 04:34 PM

I'm 15 and I know a lot of PC languages including VB as well o.O learned it like when I was 12 when I was really into forums, coding, designing and yeah but im nothing compared to Comex. This guy is Hella genius.

**Mysterion** · 08-01-2011, 05:02 PM

Isn't his dad the founder of Allegra, the allegry relief medicine?

**trevorrawson** · 08-01-2011, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by chewy1283x

Just be ready for IOS5 be ready to hack it dont give a thing of 4.3.4 and 4.3.5 its the fault of those who upgraded

Easy to tell you're not quite up to the same caliber person as Comex. Just take and take and forget those who didn't upgrade but got stuck with an OTB iPhone with 4.3.4 or 4.3.5. Apparently it's your world man...we're all here for you.

**smuj29** · 08-01-2011, 05:58 PM

God?

**EskimoRuler** · 08-01-2011, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by AUZambo

He's only 19? I feel like such an underachiever.

For sure right, makes me feel stupid

Keep up the good work man

**snowdweller** · 08-01-2011, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by EskimoRuler

For sure right, makes me feel stupid

Keep up the good work man

+1 I feel like I know NOTHING compared to this guy but good on him for getting good at something he likes, I don't get why schools haven't seen this yet

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