If you’re on 3UK, and want to use it on your iPhone with OS3.1.2, then from today (3rd of November), then it is safe to do so… thanks to blackra1n.

Known Limitations so far: YouTube doesn’t work correctly yet if you use the hacktivation. To get around this, insert the original sim card prior to running blackra1n and activate the iPhone.

I’d advise you do a backup first via iTunes (by right-clicking the iPhone icon in iTunes and choosing Backup).
Once you’ve done that, click the Restore button. It’ll wipe your iPhone and do it from scratch with OS 3.1.2 (as if you bought it new). At this moment in time, your iPhone is still locked to the carrier it was provided with, but that will change in a moment, you’ve got a few easy steps to go through. When iTunes starts up, it’ll complain about the Sim being incorrect – close iTunes. If iTunes opens at all and throws any errors, simply close it and let blackra1n do it’s work.

WARNING: You WILL need WiFi access if your iPhone doesn’t have an internet connection.

Mac Steps

  1. Step One
    Open your browser of choice and navigate to http://www.blackra1n.com. Click the Apple logo at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Step Two
    When prompted save the download to your desktop.
  3. Step Three
    Double click the downloaded blackra1n.zip file to extract the application, then double click the application icon to launch the blackra1n program.
  4. Step Four
    Make sure your iPhone or iPod is connected to the computer then click the large “make it ra1n” button.
  5. Step Five
    Your iPhone will now be placed in recovery mode, at this point you will see a picture of GeoHot that replaces the regular recovery mode screen on your iPhone.
    blackra1n will run and then your device will reboot, then a popup message will appear informing you that BlackRa1n is free software and if you appreciate it you can donate to GeoHot at geohot@gmail.com.
  6. Step Six
    Once your device reboots it will be jailbroken and you will notice a blackra1n icon on the Springboard. Make sure you have an internet connection (Wifi/3G) and press the blackra1n drop to launch the application.
  7. Step Seven
    Choose the installer application of your choice and then press to select “sn0w” (if you would like to unlock your iPhone). Press the Install button at the top right of the screen to begin. At this point, blackra1n will begin to download and install the packages that you have selected.
    If you chose to unlock your iPhone by using blacksn0w you will be presented with a Post Install-log for sn0w, stating that CommCenter will be restarted and there is no need to reboot (If your carrier doesn’t support 3G then make sure that you disable it within the Settings page of your iPhone). Press the Close button to continue.
  8. Step Eight
    Once complete BlackRa1n will respring your freshly jailbroken and unlocked iPhone and you will find the installer package of your choice on the Springboard.
  9. Step Nine
    If you are using 3UK, then download my updated 3_custom.ipcc file from my previous post (you may need to follow the instructions to use it), and it will install the 3G and MMS settings for you, as well as the 3UK logo.

Windows Steps

  1. Step One
    Open your browser of choice and navigate to http://www.blackra1n.com. Click the Windows logo at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Step Two
    When prompted save the download to your desktop.
  3. Step Three
    Double click the downloaded blackra1n.exe file to launch the blackra1n program.
  4. Step Four
    Make sure your iPhone or iPod is connected to the computer then click the large “make it ra1n” button.
  5. Step Five
    Your iPhone will now be placed in recovery mode, at this point you will see a picture of GeoHot that replaces the regular recovery mode screen on your iPhone.
    blackra1n will run and then your device will reboot, then a popup message will appear informing you that BlackRa1n is free software and if you appreciate it you can donate to GeoHot at geohot@gmail.com.
  6. Step Six
    Once your device reboots it will be jailbroken and you will notice a blackra1n icon on the Springboard. Make sure you have an internet connection (Wifi/3G) and press the blackra1n drop to launch the application.
  7. Step Seven
    Choose the installer application of your choice and then press to select “sn0w” (if you would like to unlock your iPhone). Press the Install button at the top right of the screen to begin. At this point, blackra1n will begin to download and install the packages that you have selected.
    If you chose to unlock your iPhone by using blacksn0w you will be presented with a Post Install-log for sn0w, stating that CommCenter will be restarted and there is no need to reboot (If your carrier doesn’t support 3G then make sure that you disable it within the Settings page of your iPhone). Press the Close button to continue.
  8. Step Eight
    Once complete BlackRa1n will respring your freshly jailbroken and unlocked iPhone and you will find the installer package of your choice on the Springboard.
  9. Step Nine
    If you are using 3UK, then download my updated 3_custom.ipcc file from my previous post (you may need to follow the instructions to use it), and it will install the 3G and MMS settings for you, as well as the 3UK logo.

If you have any problems, try e-Mailing the person that wrote the application, blackra1n.support@gmail.com.