Can You Get A Virus On An Ipad? What Should You Do?

Introduction

An iPad, along with other Apple products, works on iOS, which is one of the safest platforms of today. However, with recent additions in malware, it is proven that even the highly reliable platforms are not entirely safe from viruses or the threat of viruses.

So in case you suspect that your iPhone or your iPad may have a virus, you should not panic and find out precisely what the problem is. Sometimes, many issues are solved by just rebooting your system.

Can You Get a Virus on an iPad?

Even though there are no known viruses that specifically target the iPad and in fact, a virus may never even exist for an iPad. A virus is a piece of code, which replicates by making a copy of itself with another piece of software on the computer.

So, while the personal computers have an open file system, the iOS does not have the same system and does not let one app have access to the files of another app, this way preventing the possibility of the virus from spreading.

How Does iPad Get a Virus?

It is possible for the iPad to get a virus if you visit a website and there is a message that pops up and informs that the device may have a virus, you should close the website immediately. The message that has popped up is most probably a scam to scare you to install malware on your device, while you think it would make it more secure.

Moreover, there is no need to install any form of virus protection on the iPad. While a PC requires running a real-time virus protection software, which is a must-have requirement for all users, there is no such need for full-time protection from viruses in iPads.

Signs That Your iPad is Infected with a Virus

If you notice that something is off and does not seem right, you should pay attention, even though it is probably not a virus, and most likely, it is malware. Malware tricks you into giving up your sensitive information, such as your passwords.

Also though malware in iPads is quite rare, it does exist.  So If you notice that advertisements keep on popping up on your screen and Safari ends up redirecting you to the App Store, this can mean that a hacker could have infected an app that you are using.

This is not bad news since getting rid of an app is quite easy! You should notice whether any of the specific problems happen only when you open an app. An app developer could have used a virus-infected development kit to make the app.

Steps on How to Remove the Virus

You may get a message on your iPad that it has a virus and may instruct you to call a number. This is possibly phishing, for the hackers to get your personal information or money.

In case you do get a message where it says there is a virus, the best course of action is to quit Safari and reboot your iPad. If you keep on getting the message again and again, then you would need to clear the cookies and the web data which are stored on your device.

1. Open setting
2. Go down on the left-hand side menu
3. Click on Safari
4. In the setting on Safari, go down to the option of “Clear History and Website Data” and click on this choice. This means you would probably need to enter any previously saved passwords for the websites, but it is a price you would have to pay for keeping your iPad safe!

The above is one of the ways of removing the malware from your iPad. However, if you keep on getting another message where it says “Congratulations Amazon User,” this means, this is yet another form of malware on your iPad. This is a scam to trick you into giving up your personal information.

To get rid of this, you would need to clear your web history and data, as mentioned above. Furthermore, if an app is giving you problems, delete the app. Once you have done the steps, restart your iPad.

Tips to Prevent Reoccurrence

The best form of protection for your iPad is to have an updated iPad. Even though constant iOS update may get annoying, one of the easiest ways of compromising an iPad is by the security loopholes, which may be present in the operating system. Apple fixes these issues quickly, which is why you should always have the updated operating system on your iPad.

Moreover, another significant mistake that a lot of people make is that they jailbreak their iPad, which shouldn’t be done. This can lead to infections of malware in the system. Jailbreaking is the process where you remove the protections which are in place by Apple and which restricts you from installing apps anywhere but from the Apple store. Usually, all apps require a certification from Apple to download, install, and run on the device. Jailbreaking allows you to use any app and install it on your phone. 

Final Thoughts

The iPad is generally safe from viruses and malware, but this does not mean it is entirely safe from all intrusion. Hackers are geniuses and have a means of finding ways inside the devices. There are a few things that everyone should do to keep their iPads safe.

• Turn on the Find My iPad. Through this tool, you can either erase or lock the iPad in case of theft.
• Always keep the iPad locked with a Passcode. Even though it may sound like too much work to put in the four-digit code every time you use it, it is better to be safe than sorry!
• It’s best if you disable Siri. Siri can be used even when your iPad is locked, and you can do anything with Siri, such as check your calendar for reminders and get other information.

If you are updated with your settings and follow the steps that are mentioned above, your iPad will undoubtedly be safe from all threats of viruses and malware