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Battlestar

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 9, 2010
407
0
Boston
Can't find any anti virus software for the iPad. Does Apple feel that just because they control the App store that there is no other way for a virus to get on the iPad?
 
Curious - why do you think you need Anti-Virus software?

Forget about the app store for the moment, as it's not actually germane here.

What use would you have for such software?
 
It is not impossible for a virus to get into the iPad through a common port such as 80 or for it to even get an email virus.

Sure, all of the evil ones write viruses for Windows because they can do the most damage but what if an iPhone OS virus popped up?

We would be screwed.
 
If your iPad isn't jailbroken, it's highly unlikely you will get a virus. It's within a very closed system and all applications are reviewed by Apple. It is possible that one could get by them--but Apple has the capability to remotely remove such an application once discovered.
 
How long have any of us owned a mac, iphone or anything made by apple and caught a virus? I mean I have been using macs all my life and never encountered a virus.
 
If your iPad isn't jailbroken, it's highly unlikely you will get a virus. It's within a very closed system and all applications are reviewed by Apple. It is possible that one could get by them--but Apple has the capability to remotely remove such an application once discovered.

How? What if the virus took out your ip connection and the only thing that you could do to fix it would be to restore?

Sure your iPad would be functional again just like if you reformatted your PC, but why would you have to go through all of that trouble?
 
If you like I can make an app called 'Antivirus' and distribute it via Cydia.

It will be very basic and I will only charge you a small monthly subscription.
 
How? What if the virus took out your ip connection and the only thing that you could do to fix it would be to restore?

Sure your iPad would be functional again just like if you reformatted your PC, but why would you have to go through all of that trouble?

:apple:The only way this could happen is if your jailbroken and then you still have a better chance of winning the lottery twice in the same day. Its nearly impossible for any program to execute without coming through the App Store and then Apple has a killswitch in the very very unlikely chance one gets through. On top of that Anti Virus only protects against KNOWN viruses so if theres a new unheard one we are ALL in the same boat.:apple:
 
@OP. I do not want to sound arrogant but the crux of the issue here is that you do not understand what a virus is nor do you understand the first thing about networking.

To make things simple. A virus is a piece of software that behaves in a malicious manner. They aren't special magical things, they are just evil pieces of software.

For a virus to "infect" any machine it must be executed, just like any other piece of software.

So knowing these two things we can proceed. For a virus to infect an iPad (not jailbroken) it needs two things: it must be compiled from a high level language into ARM machine code (or written directly in ARM asm and assembled into ARM machine code). The second thing it needs is a method to get onto tha target machine and a method to execute. To be able to execute on the iPad it must be downloaded via the Appstore and "installed" via itunes and then the user must execute it with a tap, the OS simply doesn't allow any other method of executing code. As Apple checks and approves every entry into the Appstore this becomes effectively impossible. So does all that supposed evil empire ******** on Apple's "closed" system start to make sense now?
 
Can't find any anti virus software for the iPad. Does Apple feel that just because they control the App store that there is no other way for a virus to get on the iPad?



So grimly predictable. The iPad hasn't been out long, but already a bunch of nefarious malware purveyors (better known as "****s") are preying upon unsuspecting (better known as "stupid") iPad users, offering better performance in exchange for all their personal details.*

The malware masquerades as an iTunes update that offers improved performance, more features and (ironically) better security. Of course, once the update is clicked, it steals sensitive information and delivers it to the ne'er-do-wells. The software works through Windows as opposed to the iPad itself, meaning Mac users are unaffected.*

This should go without saying as usual, but please don't go trusting any old email you get. We wouldn't want our readers losing all their cash when they could be buying T-shirt's with Mr. Destructoid's face on it instead.*

http://www.destructoid.com/warning-ipad-users-falling-prey-to-virus-attacks-172050.phtml
 
It's perfectly for Macs to be susceptible to viruses/worms/trojan horses.

It's not technically feasible on a non-jailbroken iDevice due to the fact all binaries are digitally signed.

If the code is tampered after the signature has been written then this is detectable. It uses clever public/private key cryptography.

Read here if you want more info to put your mind at ease.

It's not a neat coincidence of “Apple's controlling nature” like you make it out to be. It's a design feature which everyone is adopting now. For all the criticism Apple gets they do think about this stuff. iPhone OS wasn't going to be another Windows XP (jungle).
 
Not only are all Apps (programs) signed, they all run in a tightly controlled environment called a "sandbox". Each program has its own sandbox. The program can't effect anything outside of that sandbox. This limit makes the types of viruses you see on Windows impossible on the iPad.

There can certainly be malicious apps that trick users, asking them for passwords or peersonal information. Given Apple's screening process, it is unlikely such a program will make it into the the AppStore.
 
Can't find any anti virus software for the iPad. Does Apple feel that just because they control the App store that there is no other way for a virus to get on the iPad?

Welcome to Apple land, there are no viruses, there never have been any viruses (since 2001 when OS X was introduced), and there probably never will be any viruses.

Hard to believe, but you'll get used to it.
 
Not only are all Apps (programs) signed, they all run in a tightly controlled environment called a "sandbox". Each program has its own sandbox. The program can't effect anything outside of that sandbox. This limit makes the types of viruses you see on Windows impossible on the iPad.

There can certainly be malicious apps that trick users, asking them for passwords or peersonal information. Given Apple's screening process, it is unlikely such a program will make it into the the AppStore.

But, but, but.... What about port 80??!?!!?!?

Welcome to Apple land, there are no viruses, there never have been any viruses (since 2001 when OS X was introduced), and there probably never will be any viruses.

Hard to believe, but you'll get used to it.

I really really hope you're being sarcastic.
 
1. It's impossible for anybody other than Apple to write anti-virus software for the iPad, unless you were to jailbreak.

2. If you DO jailbreak, I don't think anti-virus software is going to save you.

3. While it's not impossible for iPad to catch a virus, it's very unlikely, unless you jailbreak. Each app is limited to it's own "sandbox". An author would have to first identify an exploit and write and upload an attractive app to the app store. Apple is pretty good at making sure they know the identity of app authors, so any virus author would likely have some 'splanin to do.

4. There is, of course, some possibility of an exploit through external attack. Buffer overflow, etc. Much less likely than on PC/Mac, because the application software all runs sandboxed. Any practical exploit would have to be against the OS, not individual apps.
 
You have nothing to fear but fear itself!! haha
Another reason why this OS is awesome compared to desktop OS's.
 
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