I think my iPad has been infected and I don't know what to do.

I wonder if restoring your iPad to its original factory setting is the equal to reformatting a pc hard drive which is often the most drastic yet best way to get the nastiest malware off a computer.

You'll need to backup photos and music, etc or reformatting the iPad without doing so will cause you to lose whatever you presently have on the device.

Can you backup things that are already there when a computer gets a virus/malware? Isn't there a concern that various programs would carry the virus back in when you reloaded?

Aaarrrrggggghhhhhh.

Not even sure it can be done.

There's apparently an app around but I can't seem to find it.

Ah, then you are well and truly screwed. If you had a PC, you'd have lots of options.

Good luck!

You have to tread lightly when backing up and probable have to scan literally every file with the most up to date antivirus software. It would be very time consuming. Or use a program like Sandboxie and have sandboxie create an isolated/quarantine section on ones hard drive. I know someone around here (can't remember who is a devout sandboxie user and he'd might back or dispute my sandboxie claim).
http://www.sandboxie.com/

Of course its far easier (and more painful) just to admit defeat and accept the loss of whatever files exists on the hard drive or device and reformat the drive to simply destroy the malware/virus/etc....

Do you have Apple stores out there?

I'd hie mine in and say "heellllllppp!!"

They've been very helpful to me every time we've needed something.

Sorry you have to deal with this!

I blame the cats.

It's possible there is a script attack running everytime you open a certain website. Try clearing your Safari cache:

From the Home screen, choose Settings > Safari. Tap Clear Cache. The same with cookies.

The good news is that your really can't get a "virus" on the Ipad because outside programs can't change the operating system software. That doesn't mean you can't be messed with but the fix should be straightforward when you find it.

It's quite the opposite: My link pointed to the porn site and your iPad rerouted it to Salon.com. Obviously your iPad had detected that you aren't into such trash, and gave you an intellectually stimulating website to read instead.

Good luck with the Apple store. The employees in mine appear brainwashed to be gung-ho about the greatness of Apple, which seriously impairs them when it comes to troubleshooting. (Troubleshooting implies trouble, trouble would stain Apple's greatness, meaning trouble is impossible. QED.) But I guess it's the least bad option you have. I hope you will have sold your house for a good price by the time Apple sends you the bill.

(Sorry I can't be more uplifting.)

Thanks all....there really doesn't seem to be an anti malware/virus app, so I guess talking to Apple is the next step, if it recurs.

I do share Thomas's view of them, though.

Thanks for the reassurance re operating system Engineer!

Are you accusing my cats of an addiction to Internet pawn, SOZOBE?


God, I kill myself.

Deb’s, people around the world trying to access the Internet on Monday may be blocked from doing so if their computer is infected with hacker-created malicious software.

The viruses were designed to redirect Internet traffic through rogue DNS servers controlled by criminals, according to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

People around the world trying to access the Internet on Monday may be blocked from doing so if their computer is infected with hacker-created malicious software.

The viruses were designed to redirect Internet traffic through rogue DNS servers controlled by criminals, according to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

http://www.dcwg.org/
To check if you are infected and how to remove it.

Deb, you should stop visiting porn sites.

Seriously though, never heard of a virus/Trojan on iPad. Is it happening on one site only or across several sites?

I think you're on to something. According to your link, the DNS changer malware operates by changing user settings about DNS servers. This means it can work on Deb's iPad even though, as engineer points out, its operating system remains unaffected. On a hunch, I googled 'iPad "DNS changer malware"'. One of the first hits is an ABC news page, which confirmed that iPads, too, are vulnerable.

But this particular bug was "fixed" when the FBI took over the servers and set up their own uninfected servers. The issue with this virus is that the FBI is turning the servers off so if you have the bug you will no longer get Internet service. Those who have it aren't being redirected to other sites.

But Deb is in Australia. I'm aware that the DNS root servers are all in the US, but wouldn't some local Australian server handle the request from Deb's iPad? Can we assume that the FBI took over that server, too?

EDIT: Yes, because she was surfing to an American website, so her request would have reached an American DNS server sooner or later.

So if Deb can still talk to us with her iPad, I suppose she doesn't have this particular malware. Maybe she has some other one.

Don't I remember something about deb getting an American-version iPad when she was here because they hadn't been released in Oz yet, or something? Would that make a difference? I understand hers is also infected with fleas, which her cats avidly chase and kill. Does Apple offer flea spray?

I'm still here!

I got a kindle in the US...but it's the same as the one I would have got here.

iPads are generic, too.

And I got checked....seem to be ok.

The porn hasn't happened again...yet.

I have a 4 yr old Mac and wanted to update the OS to the current version. I ordered the disc and when it came, it was corrupted or something and shut down my laptop. I called Apple and they booked me into one of the two stores here in Calgary for the next morning. They got it going, but couldn't find any of my files - egad. Everything was wiped out. I'm supposed to get 15 minutes free but since it was their disk that corrupted my laptop, there was no time limit. They had it for 24 hours - they found my files, fixed everything, plus installed a lot of new stuff. I also bought an external hard drive for backups.

I have nothing but praise for them because even though I'm no longer under warranty, when I call, they always help me.

Bloody hell!

I find them pains in the arse....but I go to their shops to consider purchases, not ask for help....well, help with purchases which they are too snooty to give very well.