Please help iPad problem. Google requires captcha before search. Malware problem?

redmandarin

Hi folks, I searched but can't find a solution relating to iPad. I only use 3G (on a 3 ipad sim) with Safari. I'm using a desktop to post here.

Whenever I enter a search term into google a captcha box says:
"To continue, please type the characters below.
About this page:Our systems have detected unusual traffic from your computer network. This page checks to see if it's really you sending the requests and not a robot.

IP address: xx.xx.xxx.xx
Time 2012-01-21T15:11:15Z
URL: [states address]"

I found this on eHow:
"Why does my computer keep asking to confirm that I'm human?
Google searches do not require a CAPTCHA by default, but the search engine will begin requesting them from users with unusual traffic patterns. When Google detects what it believes to be automated queries, which are against Google's terms of service, it will display a warning and ask for a CAPTCHA to confirm manual use of the site. If you haven't used an automated searching program, Google recommends scanning for malicious software which may be causing the problem."

Please can you tell me why this is happening?

How do I stop it? Clearing cookies/cache/history and power down didn't help.

Is it definitely a message from google? (I'm wary of completing the captcha.)

Is it a malware problem? And if so how do I get it off an iPad?

Thanks in advance,
red

Humphrey10

redmandarin wrote: »

How do I stop it? Clearing cookies/cache/history and power down didn't help.

Did you close all the apps you have running in the background?
Does Google do this both when you go to the website and when you use the search bar?

redmandarin

Thanks for your reply.

I didn't have any apps running. Every time I open a Safari page I enter a search term into google and the Captcha request comes up. If I type "google" as a search term, then the old style google page comes up. If I then enter a search term as normal, the usual list of website hits comes on at last.

Its a convoluted (and irritating) way to get to a web page though and I'm still worried about malware.

Darksun

gaming_guy wrote: »

I'd guess that 3 are routing traffic through a proxy and google is flagging 3's proxy server IP as a bot (due to loads of searches being performed by you and other users sharing the proxy) requiring you to enter the captcha code to complete the search.

I don't think there is much you can do at your end though (if you are getting routed though a proxy server).

This is probably it. One possible option, can you alter the APN settings on your iPad? If so, try changing it from 'three.co.uk' to '3internet'. I do this on my mobile because using the default APN means certain websites are blocked and get redirected to 3's own mobile portal

redmandarin

Darksun wrote: »

This is probably it. One possible option, can you alter the APN settings on your iPad? If so, try changing it from 'three.co.uk' to '3internet'. I do this on my mobile because using the default APN means certain websites are blocked and get redirected to 3's own mobile portal

Thanks guys. Just to say I've had the iPad for over a year and it's been fine with the current settings, until now.

I looked at: General; About; Network = 3

There is no option to change this (when I press on it the onscreen keyboard doesn't appear).

And: Settings; General, Network; VPN. It says: Not connected.

I borrowed another iPad overnight (which is also on 3G, not using wifi) to check its internet connection & settings and it's running fine with no Google captcha required! That's worrying (I'm thinking virus again). VPN says Not connected, the same as mine.

Humphrey10

I don't think there have been any viruses for non-jailbroken iPads yet. Is yours jailbroken?
How are you using Google? Are you typing 'www.google.co.uk' into the address bar, or are you using the search bar?
Does it do the same when you are using wifi rather than 3G?
If you complete the captcha, does it then stop asking you to complete it for further searches? Maybe it will remember that you are 'real' in future?

redmandarin

Thanks Humphrey10,

It's not jailbroken. So, it's good to hear you know of no known viruses on non-jailbroken iPads :-) I'm using the search bar each time and not using wifi until I can get a home connection sorted.

As I prob mentioned in my op I was wary of completing the captcha in case it wasn't really a google page! This may sound over-cautious, but I've had desktop malware problems in the past (even though I'm quite a street-wise surfer)! And I've read web info which suggests that even un-broken iPads aren't as safe as Apple may imply!

Thanks again, I'll complete the captcha(s) and see if Google manages to detect that I'm not a robot!

I'll report back shortly,
red

redmandarin

Hi, sorry for the delay - life's myriad of other (mostly techie) stuff got in the way!;)

Well, I have to report that despite my refusal to enter any of the captcha codes, over a few days the requests stopped, returned at random, then eventually stopped completely! :T Weird!

Thanks a lot for your help,
red

redmandarin

Oh no! It's doing it again - but worse this time!

To re-cap, Google on Ipad (Safari) is requiring Captcha again, but now it won't let me get round the problem by entering "google" as a search term.

Worst of all it won't allow access even with correctly typed Captcha, so the internet is unusable!

Please help - it's doing my head in!

Thank you,
red

jayme1

can you not use the search box of Safari? (next to the URL box) or is it that what gives you the captcha?
signing in to use google could fix it

or personally I would just switch to Bing.

redmandarin

Thanks, sorry I hate bing (and yahoo)!

It was sold with Safari (I'm not rich - it was a present) and it worked fine before - and I want it to work now!

I tried to update it to Ipad software 5.0.1 but iTunes won't do it and I've updated to Safari 5, but it's still the same. My friend's Ipad running the same versions still works fine, even when its right next to mine (it's on 3g, I don't have wifi)!