iOS 5 Semi Tethered Jailbreak, How to do the easy way

Most of the iOS Jailbreakers are unaware about the terms often used by hackers – a tethered, untethered, and semi-tethered jailbreak. BigBoss recently released Semi tethered jailbreak solution for iOS 5. But what does that mean? Lets clarify what is the difference between them.

Untethered

This is the best option available to users but hard for hackers to achieve in every firmware update. It reboots your device without having to worry about it not booting up again. You can easily reboot your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch without any connection to a computer.

Tethered

A tethered jailbreak requires you to plug your jailbroken iPhone into computer and re-run the process to get your device up and running again, in case the battery drains out or you inadvertently shut-down your phone or you are forced to reboot it after having issues, or after installing a tweak that needs a reboot. Failing to do so will leave your device at the “connect to iTunes” screen.

You must be wondering why devices are tethered? This is because the device fails against some signature checks during the jailbreaking process. The device is able to boot up because there is a way to execute code via USB that allows you to bootstrap to a pwned iBSS, iBEC, or iBoot to finish the boot process without requiring any signature check.

Semi-Tethered

As the name suggests, semi-tethered jailbreak is an interim solution between the two listed above. When your device powers off after being jailbroken tethered, you will be unable to power it on. It will hang on the Apple logo indefinitely. It turns off fine, but it won’t turn on and you need to repeat the entire process again.

Big Boss has developed a new cydia tweak “semi tethered jailbreak” that lets you reboot your device and use stock apps on the iDevice but with some limitations. The tweak comes handy when you shut down the iPhone or iPod while travelling. With this little hack you are no longer stranded and you can reboot your device and use your phone, text, and many other features, which otherwise is not possible. Jailbreak tweaks and settings cannot be used until you boot tether your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, however.

Step 1 Jailbreak and boot your device tethered using redsn0w tool

Step 2 Launch Cydia from your Springboard.

Step 3 Tap to select Manage from the tabs at the bottom of the screen, as shown in screenshot below.

Step 4 Tap the large Sources button and then press the Edit button at the top right of the screen.

Step 5 You will be taken to the following screen. Now Press the Add button at the top left of the screen.

Step 6 Enter http://thebigboss.org/semitether into the field and tap the Add Source button. Then, press the large Return to Cydia button.

Step 7 Select thebigboss.org from the list of Sources

Step 8 Select SemiTether from the listed Packages and then press the “install” button at the top right of the screen.

Step 9 When prompted, press the Confirm button to start the installation process.

Step 10 Finally, Press the large Reboot Device button to reboot your iOS device without hanging at the Apple logo.

In order to get full functionality you “MUST” boot tether your iOS device. To do so, launch iPhone Dev Team’s RedSn0w tool and select Extras then Just boot from the menu (as shown in screenshot below).