Don't try this at home: Putting in the date – January 1st, 1970

Editor’s Note: This article is for informational purposes only.  We do not take any responsibility for a device if someone is that stupid enough to do the below.

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It seems that a little known bug has popped up on iOS devices.  If a user resets the devices date to January 1, 1970 and reboots the device, it will basically disable (often know as bricking) the device.

The reason for this is simple.  On that date, the Unix operating system was officially created on that date, and has been counting forward ever since.  Putting that date in will basically make the operating system have a melt down.

Many of today’s electronics use Linux as a main “brain”, so this isn’t only the iPhone that maybe effected.

Now, why would scrolling all the way back to January 1, 1970 (00:00:00 in Unix time) turn your iPhone into a brick? If your time zone isn’t GMT, your iPhone might think you’re in a time beforeJanuary 1, 1970 — or before zero. Though Unix time can be negative, it’s possible that something about that makes your iPhone go haywire.

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Dan Uff

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