Ask HN: Why has the meta portal never been jailbroken?

2 pointsharrylepotter6mo ago2 comments

Every day i look across at a gorgeous device on the corner of my desk gathering dust that "could be" if there were the ability to run any android app on it (...namely the Homeassistant app).

Given the device's age, abandonment, and lack of recent updates, I'm curious as to why someone hasn't been able to figure out an exploit chain for this particular line of devices using the old chrome 121 browser that most of them have installed during its useful life. Is it simply because these devices were never owned by the more technically inclined crowd and there was a general lack of adoption? Fear of repercussion? Lack of public CVEs that would be able to attain root from 2024?

I know the device survived Pwn2Own 2019.. What generally incentivizes someone to do this on a device?

Genuinely curious.

2 comments

JohnFen6mo ago

Who knows? I have never actually seen one of these things in person. I suppose that if I were to come across one for free or nearly free somewhere and were otherwise bored, it might be an interesting project.

the_hoser6mo ago

It's probably that nobody with the ability to pull it off really cares enough to try. Lots of obscure devices never get jailbroken.

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