IPSW Files Signed by Apple

If you feel an unauthorized person/app is remotely using, controlling or monitoring your device, then that is possible only if you have done one or more of the following Don'ts...

1. Don't hand over an iPhone to kids or to a stranger without Enabling Guided Access
2. Don't share Apple IDs
3. Don't Jailbreak
4. Don't share sensitive information pertaining to your device
5. Don't give in to Phishing
6. Don't plug in your device in Airports and Public places through third-party cables and trust the device. Beware of Juice Jacking. (Especially in India)
7. Don't leave your iPhone unlocked and unattended in public places like offices, schools, malls, etc.

If one of the above is true then quickly change the Apple ID Password and Return iPhone settings to their defaults.

Keep the iPhone updated to the latest iOS always and never Jailbreak. That's it.

iOS / iPadOS devices cannot be hacked or infected with Virus / Malware / Spyware unless you have intentionally downloaded spurious software or unauthorized apps directly from the internet and installed them on your device or/and have Jailbroken. 

It (Hacking) also depends on how careful you are in sharing sensitive and valuable information pertaining to your iPhone such as Passcode, Password, etc with your friends and family members.

Be judicious when sharing the device's sensitive and valuable information with friends and family members.

If you don't reckon what is said above is true then you have two options...

1. Report the hacking incident that you are facing to the local law enforcement authorities and follow it up
2. Believe it, it can't be hacked. There are people who still believe that the earth is flat and also some believe no one has ever landed on the moon. What can anyone do about that? This is a free world you can believe in anything, the choice is yours.

No, IPSW files that are signed by Apple do not remain signed forever once downloaded to your personal computer. The signing process is a part of Apple's security mechanism that ensures only authorized and verified software can be installed on iOS devices like iPhones.

When Apple releases a new version of iOS, they typically sign the IPSW files for that version for a limited period of time. This allows users to upgrade or restore their devices to that specific version of iOS. However, Apple does not keep these files signed indefinitely. After a certain period, Apple stops signing the older versions of iOS, making it impossible to use those signed IPSW files for restoring or updating devices.

I would aways recommend you to use the following process.

Know how to...

• Update Over-the-Air (OTA) —> Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support (IN)
• Update using iTunes/Finder —> Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support (IN)

WayneAll wrote:

Apple is no longer “signing” any iOS version before 17.1.1 so you can’t downgrade.

As I noted above, it has never been recommend or supported by Apple.

Hopefully, they will release 17.2 soon and fix the video controls issue in 17.1.1. Thanks Apple

You should tell Apple your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

No, if the IPSW you are trying to install is no longer signed it will not work. Evan if you download it when it was supported it will still not work, as before it restores/updates it checks Apples servers to see if the IPSW is currently valid.

BlakelyKusak wrote:

it is, you just have to factory reset the device and use a still-signed .ipsw file

While that may be possible for a limited amount of time, it's not supported or recommended by Apple.

Downgrading is not and has never been supported.

it is, you just have to factory reset the device and use a still-signed .ipsw file

Apple is no longer “signing” any iOS version before 17.1.1 so you can’t downgrade…period !! Hopefully, they will release 17.2 soon and fix the video controls issue in 17.1.1. Thanks Apple