14 DAY TRIAL // Hours into the release of iOS 5.1.1, new jailbreak scams started to emerge claiming to provide an easy solution to hacking an Apple device. The practice has become ubiquitous.
You know you’re dealing with a scam when 90 percent of the links on the site take you to the payment page.
Interestingly, not only are these scams not stopping, they’re becoming more and more widespread, and they’ve upped the price from $24.99 to $27.99 (around 20 EUR). In other words, it’s working!
“We've designed a system that absolutely any iPhone owner can use - regardless of technical background,” reads the enticing offer at iphonejailbreakunlock.org. “You need absolutely no previous knowledge of these products to perform a Jailbreak and Unlock thanks to our signature ‘How to unlock the iPhone’ tutorial series.”
In fact, that’s the problem. Your lack of knowledge regarding these fake products is the key requirement to get sucked into buying them.
For everyone reading this type of warning for the first time, there’s a couple of hacking groups called the iPhone Dev Team and the Chronic Dev Team, respectively, who will gladly jailbreak and unlock your iPhone for free.
All they ask is a bit of patience on your side while they work out the flaws inside Apple’s iOS so you can get cracking with those neat jailbreak tweaks on Cydia. And, like anyone else in this world, they don't mind a pat on the shoulder on Twitter, or even a small donation. Thing is, these guys aren't asking for anything before handing you the goods.
For instance, Chronic Dev’s infamous hacker Pod2g has an untethered jailbreak on the launch pad, while MuscleNerd (head of the iPhone Dev Team) has announced tethered support for iOS 5.1.1 in Redsn0w. You’ll be hearing on their progress in the next few days.
“Click below for INSTANT access to our tutorial page,” the ads continue.
Click and you’ll be taken to the “registration” page, with no tutorial in sight. What’s the biggest giveaway that a service is fishy if not some misleading ads?
“We unlock and jailbreak all iphones, including iPhone 3G, 3Gs, 4, and 4S running any baseband and firmware including 4.11.08 and the latest 5.0.1 iOS. Sign up for immediate access to these tools. In less than five minutes you will have a fully functioning, and unlocked, iPhone,” says iphonejailbreakunlock.org.
The company’s data isn’t even accurate. 5.0.1 is not the latest iOS version, iOS 5.1.1 is. And, once you do pay, they’ll probably just send you a download link to an old version of some existing jailbreak tool that you’d otherwise get for free with a little googling.
To be clear, there are existing tools on the web that will provide a jailbreak for iOS 5.0.1 completely free of charge.
“Save HUNDREDS in roaming charges when you are out of country. Save THOUSANDS over the life of your phone by using the tips and tricks taught in this tutorial,” it continues.
Actually, you should be happy to save $27.99 as you wait for the real hackers to do their thing. As any iOS veteran will tell you, jailbreaking and unlocking has never been a charged practice.
Which is why we’re issuing this warning for the gazillionth time - stay away from jailbreak scams!