iPadOS malware infection

[HelloAgain16]

Hello together.
I have an iPad with iPadOS 14.3 on it and clicked on a dubious link in an SMS some days ago! That led to a website where it said "not found". It turned out that this SMS was a cyberattack that should download a malware to my device. It then would send more SMS to other people secretly to get them to click on this link as well. As far as I see though that didn't happen. I also have read that on iOS devices this malware shouldn't work because iOS doesn't download anything without asking but since this occurred I am very insecure on what to do. I reset the iPad immediately to a backup that was done earlier but now I am not sure whether this has erased this malware or if this goes deeper. Has anyone got any advice on how to be sure that my iPad isn't hacked or anything?
Would be very glad for any advice.

Greetings
Andreas

 

[LFC2020]

Hello together.
I have an iPad with iPadOS 14.3 on it and clicked on a dubious link in an SMS some days ago! That led to a website where it said "not found". It turned out that this SMS was a cyberattack that should download a malware to my device. It then would send more SMS to other people secretly to get them to click on this link as well. As far as I see though that didn't happen. I also have read that on iOS devices this malware shouldn't work because iOS doesn't download anything without asking but since this occurred I am very insecure on what to do. I reset the iPad immediately to a backup that was done earlier but now I am not sure whether this has erased this malware or if this goes deeper. Has anyone got any advice on how to be sure that my iPad isn't hacked or anything?
Would be very glad for any advice.

Greetings
Andreas

Stop going on shady porn sites. 😂

Doubt your iPad has malware, it ain’t android.

You have nothing to worry about either way since you restored it.

 

[teeshot44]

First rule is "Don't click on anything dubious". Plain stupid to say it's dubious, click on it and then complain about what it did or might have done.

 

[gwhizkids]

First rule is "Don't click on anything dubious". Plain stupid to say it's dubious, click on it and then complain about what it did or might have done.

I think the OP is aware that what he/she did was unwise. Nor do I think they are complaining about what it might have done. They are asking for guidance.

I agree with the post 2 above that it’s not likely that there are any residual issues. iOS is set up in such a way as to actively prevent that. Apps are “sandboxed “, meaning one app is not allowed to influence another app (for want of a better way to describe it). They each play in their own little universe, unaware of each other (theoretically).

That said, you might want to take it to an Apple store and have it looked at.

 

[Td1970]

Deleted

 

[Isamilis]

Just curious. You mean SMS or iMessage? afaik, iPad could not send sms even though it is cellular version. How do you know ”it” sends sms to many people? Are they in your contacts only, which “it” has to have permission (manually approve by you as user) first to access the contact before it can pass through to Apple‘s Message app. Tbh I am not sure this possible to happen. If it does, it looks pretty naive and basic for secured environment like iOS / iPadOS.

 

[chrfr]

Hello together.
I have an iPad with iPadOS 14.3 on it and clicked on a dubious link in an SMS some days ago! That led to a website where it said "not found". It turned out that this SMS was a cyberattack that should download a malware to my device. It then would send more SMS to other people secretly to get them to click on this link as well. As far as I see though that didn't happen. I also have read that on iOS devices this malware shouldn't work because iOS doesn't download anything without asking but since this occurred I am very insecure on what to do. I reset the iPad immediately to a backup that was done earlier but now I am not sure whether this has erased this malware or if this goes deeper. Has anyone got any advice on how to be sure that my iPad isn't hacked or anything?
Would be very glad for any advice.

Greetings
Andreas

If you restored your iPad from a backup that predates the download you have nothing to worry about. It's also very unlikely that whatever you downloaded would even work on an iPad.

 

[bransoj]

Just curious. You mean SMS or iMessage? afaik, iPad could not send sms even though it is cellular version.

You can have it connected to Messages on your iPhone to send\receive SMS as well as iMessage.

 

[StumpyBloke]

First rule is "Don't click on anything dubious". Plain stupid to say it's dubious, click on it and then complain about what it did or might have done.

Please, don’t be that guy. We’ve all clicked on things that we shouldn’t have and he knows he’s made a mistake and is asking for help.

OP: as most others have said, it’s very unlikely you have anything to worry about as you reset your iPad.

 

[Brian1230]

I’m sure I clicked on many sketchy apps when I was looking to date a guy, With my iPad Air 2 , actually met my current boyfriend on Craigslist.... nicest guy ever, and fortunately because of iOS never had any issues with my ipad air 2. I think it will be fine.

 

[gwhizkids]

To add: I think it is theoretically possible to click on malware that would NOT be wiped by a restore. That would be malware that would be able to infect the root level /kernel level of the system. This would not be fixed by a firmware restore.

I’ve never heard of such an occurrence on iOS (and this is the Golden goose for hackers). Does happen to PCs, though.

 

[chrfr]

To add: I think it is theoretically possible to click on malware that would NOT be wiped by a restore. That would be malware that would be able to infect the root level /kernel level of the system. This would not be fixed by a firmware restore.

The kernel absolutely is replaced when the device is restored. Malware installed into the OS would not be persistent after a full wipe/restore.