A fake iOS 5 untethered jailbreak has gone viral on the internet.

Apple has been quite successful with the recent release of iPhone 4S, iCloud and the new mobile operating system - the iOS 5. Sadly, there are people who are taking advantage of Apple's success and consumers' desire and vulnerability by offering an iOS 5 untethered jailbreak.

A tethered jailbreak was announced last week. Thus, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running iOS 5 aside from iPad 2 and iPhone 4S can be jailbroken. But the process must be performed every time the device is rebooted.

An untethered jailbreak only needs to be performed once, and fake Web site FastUnlockiPhone.com claims to offer this service.

The untethered jailbreak is the type where your device does not require you to reboot with a connection to an external device capable of executing commands on the device.

When the iPhone 4S was initially released, it was expected that hackers would get their hands on the new handset. There are groups of hackers that are working on jailbreaking Apple's newest mobile operating system.

Apple released Oct. 12 the free iOS 5 for the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4, the iPod touch (third and fourth generations) the iPad and the iPad 2. Massive demand for the software upgrade had some users complaining of Error 3200 interrupting the upgrading process. Many users have been able to get through after dozens of attempts.

With iOS 5 boasting 200 new features, Apple says it is taking "a mobile operating system that was already years ahead of anything else and moving it even further ahead." Among others, the new features for iOS 5 include a revamp on its notification system; integration with iCloud, the new storage service of Apple; a new messaging service for all i-gadgets; and full integration with Twitter.

Apple on Oct. 12 finally released the iPhone 4S, which sports a 3.5-inch screen; an 8-megapixel, 1080p high-definition camera; an A5 dual-core chip processor that is seven times faster than the graphics processor in the iPhone 4; 512 MB of RAM; two antennae to transmit and receive data; CDMA and GSM connectivity; 8 hours of 3G talk-time; and new applications like Siri and Find My Friends. Siri is a voice-recognition system that turns the device into a hands-free personal assistant. The iPhone 4S uses the iOS 5 platform.

However, there are people who reveal step-by-step and how-to guides on jailbreaking the new iOS 5.

If there is no confirmation yet from legitimate hackers, there is a greater likelihood that the untethered jailbreak is fake. It is probably used for popularity or it can be a scam or a virus.

Far worse is that there is a report of a paid jailbreak that is worth $24.99. The Web site FastUnlockiPhone.com claims to offer the service. The Web site charges an asking price for an untethered iOS 5 jailbreak, called 'FastRa1n v5.0'.

A good tip for iPhone users is that if a jailbreak comes with a tag price, then it is probably fake. Never pay for a jailbreak. If someone is trying to offer a jailbreak for money, it is probably a scam.

The Dev-Team Blog is a good and reliable place for jailbreaking and unlocking information and software for jailbreaking an iDevice. The site offers detailed advice and instruction on how to safely run jailbreaking software on iPhones, iPads and the iPod touch.

Since 2007, software needed to jailbreak and/or unlock iOS devices has always been for free. Although some companies charge for these services, users are recommended to exercise extreme caution.

A little patience is in order for iOS 5 users as there will be a free, reliable and sure alternative for untethered jailbreak available soon.