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How to check if your iPad has malware
One of the great things about owning an iPad, unless you’ve jailbroken it, is the chance of it becoming infected with a virus is almost zero. There is currently no malware that targets iPads exclusively, so you’re safe from some major issues; however, there are still things to watch out for.
Even if a virus can’t be downloaded to your iPad, threats like malware are still very real. Phishing scams that trick you into providing information can be sent to your iPad as easily as they’re sent to your computer. Tap or click here to learn about banking apps that were targeted in a phishing scam.
There are a few ways to verify you’re not looking at adware or a phishing scam, and they don’t necessitate buying anything. There are also ways to protect your iPad so you avoid these issues altogether and avoid getting malware — even if you’ve jailbroken your tablet.
How to check your iPad for malware and other issues
To check if you’re looking at adware or a phishing scam on your iPad when you’re browsing the internet, check the URL in your web browser. If the URL has misspellings, or a lot of numbers and letters, it’s very likely a scam and you should exit the page.
If you keep encountering a page that says you have malware or a virus on your device, or if a persistent pop-up ad won’t disappear, clear your iPad’s cache. This eliminates most saved passwords from your browser, so store your passwords elsewhere, such as a password manager, before you follow the next steps.
Once you have your passwords saved, open Settings, then tap Safari in the left menu. Tap the Clear History and Website Data link on the lower part of the page and tap Clear to confirm your choice. That malware/virus warning should now go away, as should any pop-ups.
If you’ve received an odd notification in your email, check the email address. Again, if the address has misspellings or isn’t officially from somewhere you have an account or subscription, it’s very likely a scam and you should report it as spam, then delete it from your inbox.
If you’re concerned about your iPad’s behavior after you’ve jailbroken the device (which is not recommended), think back to any recent downloads you’ve made. Were any of them apps from outside the app store, or from a company whose identity you have trouble verifying? If only one app is acting up, the problem might be that app.
Check the developer’s social media pages for any news of issues, and make sure you have the most up-to-date version of the app. If things are updated and there aren’t issues reported, uninstall the app and see if problems continue elsewhere on your iPad. If they don’t, you found the culprit!
Try to find an alternate app for that function in the future. If the problem persists, continue checking recent app downloads, or file downloads, and see if uninstalling these fix your problem.
Let’s see how to protect an iPad so this doesn’t happen again.
How to protect your iPad
It’s incredibly important to keep your iPad and your apps up to date. Updates from Apple and app developers come with new security features and direct responses to hacks or bad codes. If you want to keep adware, malware and even some phishing scams off of your iPad, you need to stay on top of updates.
Again, it’s best not to jailbreak your iPad to keep it 100% safe and to keep it repairable, as most Apple Genius bars won’t work to help a jailbroken device. If you devide to do it anyway, make sure you take a few safety precautions.
Try using a VPN (such as ExpressVPN) while browsing the internet so it’s harder for your device to be targeted or seen by outsiders. VPNs keep your identity and browsing history anonymous, among other things. Tap or click here to learn more about ExpressVPN.
Download apps only from reputable developers. Consider getting an anti-virus app like Bitdefender Mobile Security, which can provide a bit more security to your device in the form of remote locks, added web protection and device wipe features.
Restarting your device can sometimes help. Reset it if bad software has gotten in. That’ll help kick people accessing your device remotely off your iPad. Also consider clearing your cache periodically so adware gets flushed out before it tricks you, or becomes an annoyance when you use your tablet.
The last way to protect your iPad is to back it up regularly. Backup to cloud storage or your computer. If malware gets in, that necessitates you restoring your iPad to factory settings and you’ll be less impeded if you have clean backups available.
Try backing up your information with IDrive. Tap or click here for 3 reasons why you should use IDrive for your cloud backup.
iPads are some of the safest devices when it comes to malware and viruses, but they’re still vulnerable to some attacks. Keep your iPad safe by knowing what to watch out for, and protecting it in advance with the advice we’ve provided.
Tags: Apple, malware, security, web browser
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