Apple products have a good reputation because of the safety measures they offer. IOS, the operating system on iPhones and iPads is a compartmentalized operating system. This means that the various apps installed on your device are isolated from each other, hence making the chance of your device getting a computer virus is extremely low. However, this does not make your iPad completely foolproof to malware and your device may still be susceptible to various other problems. Malicious software can reach your device through sources like suspicious attachments, fake advertisements, and spurious downloads. This article will take you through the steps to tackle such issues.
See also: How to add an email account on iPad
Is your iPad infected?
The moment you notice your device acting unusual is when you suspect malware. Check to see if you are receiving messages on your iPad stating “Your device has a virus”. This could be an incident of adware infection. Also, notice if usual applications are not functioning properly. Apple products are made to be resilient to malware. So, you shouldn’t be worried as the platform offers troubleshooting methods to tackle the issue.
History Check on your device
Prevention is better than cure. For your device too, it is extremely important to ensure that you stay away from sources of software viruses. These viruses are just a piece of code have been programmed to carry out illicit actions. Their spread is typically incited through bad software. Firstly, ensure that your device is not jailbroken. Jailbreaking of a device is the best way to tamper with your iPad’s security system. A device that is tampered is much more susceptible to a malware attack.
Next, review your app download history to check if any software has been downloaded from an unauthorized app-developer. If you have installed apps from unknown unverified sources, it is advisable to uninstall them at the earliest. Also check browser history for spurious downloads, phishing sites, and adware. Closely monitor the URL for all websites you access from your device for the authenticity of the source. Fraudulent websites have a web address that looks like the original website but with a small difference that is usually not noticed – eg. A spelling mistake or an additional letter. Eg. www.googlle.com may be overlooked to be www.google.com. Always ensure that you only access secure websites.
A good practice is to check the link header as https:// in your address bar on your browser. Typically, the headers are http:// or https://. The S denotes that the website is secured. If you feel that your iPad is under a malware attack, follow the prescribed troubleshooting methods to counter the attack.
Troubleshooting tips
Check your system’s OS version. OS updates usually have the security built in to fight the latest viruses that exist out there. Hence ensure that your system is updated with the latest version of your iOS. If you are unsure, a reinstallation of the latest software version will reset the security level to the most optimum available level.
Next, clear cache from your browser memory. This will remove all unnecessary information that has been stored through the various websites that were visited – thus removing redundant data. This will however also remove passwords and usernames that have been saved for convenience on various websites. It is advisable to use a password protector app for this purpose rather than relying on the cache memory.
Additionally, a simple restart of your device usually helps to flush out any temporary glitches in your software. A factory reset will help in advanced cases. This will mean that all data stored on your device will be erased. A good practice is to periodically backup all your device data to sync and retrieve as and when required.
If you require any more assistance for your device, please contact the authorized service center for a detailed investigation and resolution.
