There was a disturbance again in the iOS sphere, at least for users fond of TweakBox and TutuApp, both of which have been plagued by intermittent downtimes since February. The apps, which are the unauthorized replacements for the App Store and function too as jailbreak alternatives, ran into trouble anew this that left users grappling for solutions and substitutes.
The latest report on TweakBox indicated that developers have been scrambling to restore the service, which since February has become problematic. Apps downloaded from the tool, which installs on an iPhone and iPad through sideloading, either stop working and can't be downloaded. Fixes have been offered by the developer, but issues keep on resurfacing.
Users have been advised to delete and reinstall downloaded apps, then to reboot their devices to make sure the workaround will work. For a time, the fix will work, but due to revocation of certificate problems will again arise. In the last update from the creator of TweakBox, instruction was provided for users to connect their devices on a PC or a Mac, and from there, they were told to install their applications.
Still, the problems persist, but in the latest advisory issued by the developer, it was hinted that solution on the matter would be released soon.
In the case of TutuApp, users also encountered revocation of certificates that left many apps on the hub not working though the tool developer seemed to have solved the puzzle. As of writing, TutuApp seems working fine for many users and is now the chief alternative for jailbreak fans and regular users alike.
As of July 18, TutuApp is ready to use and even has a Lite version, and any of the builds boast of nearly 500,000 free app and game titles.
Now it bears explaining that Apple disapproves using both TweakBox and TutuApp or any similar services. In a report by The Verge, developers of these tools, described as "illicit iOS app stores," are deemed in violation of enterprise program agreement required of each developer engaged in the iOS ecosystem. So it's unsurprising that apps from these tools will have their certificates terminated.
"We are continuously evaluating the cases of misuse and are prepared to take immediate action," Apple was reported as saying on the matter, which also states that apps that were not installed through the App Store will most likely malfunction as a direct result of initiatives coming from the company.
It's important to remember as well that using TweakBox, TutuApp, and any other applications outside of the App Store is like playing with fire. There will be risks involved as users will need to give authorization to the tools that otherwise is not required by Apple-approved apps.
Per the same report from The Verge, TutuApp normally peppers users with pop-up ads and notifications that offer subscriptions that it seemed automatic to expect that eventually, the service will want to get a user's credit card details.
The report's observation was based on the test run with TutuApp, which is a sideloaded app store that contains tons of pirated and illegal contents. The service is said to be operating from Hong Kong.
