iPad Virus?

mioliere

I hope someone can help me, please.

I have an iPad 2. A friend has been using it and was reading a newspaper via the Google app. He clicked into a particular article and a message came up on the screen (in French because I am in France!) which said ***ATTENTION*** Votre Apple iPad a (4) virus! Under that it says to follow the instructions given to 'repair it now' click OK.

I have tried logging out, and also turning the iPad on and off, but the message still comes up. Should I click the OK button on the message, or is there something else I can do? I can access all my other apps; it's only on Google that this happens.

Many thanks in anticipation!

Anne_Marie_2

Do not click on the OK button on the message, no matter what!

Sounds as if you have a hijack browser pop up, try following the steps on this link.

https://sites.google.com/site/appleclubfhs/support/advice-and-articles/browser-popup-hijack-safari#ios

mioliere

Hi, Anne_Marie and thanks for your reply. I've tried that - I have the Safari icon on the bottom part of the screen, not where all my apps are, so when I hold the icon down, I don't get a minus sign to press. I have tried going into settings to clear Safari's history and website data, and that makes no difference. I only get the problem on my Google app, so I'm wondering if I should delete the Google app and reinstall it?

DoaM

Double-click the Home button so the running apps drawer appears. Scroll the list left-right until you find the Safari icon then long-press it until the red minus sign appears; press the minus to close Safari. (While you're at it, close the dozens of other apps that you probably have running in the background too). Click the Home button again to close the running apps drawer.

mioliere

Thank you so much, Anne_Marie, and DoaM for taking the time and trouble to reply. Everything is back to normal, and I am very grateful to you!

Have a fantastic Sunday!

Anne_Marie_2

So pleased that you're all sorted.

buglawton

Unless it's a jailbroken iPad there can be no virus.
Maybe a fake newspaper web link?
Or using a WiFi network that's been hijacked.

paddyrg

buglawton wrote: »

Unless it's a jailbroken iPad there can be no virus.

That's not strictly correct, it is however extremely unlikely. People used to say that about all macs, Linux, etc and all are demonstrably wrong. No point encouraging beliefs leading to poor browsing hygiene.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

mioliere wrote: »

Thank you so much, Anne_Marie, and DoaM for taking the time and trouble to reply. Everything is back to normal, and I am very grateful to you!

Have a fantastic Sunday!

Clicking the button would be a nice gesture too, as people have done for you in the past.

gazter

paddyrg wrote: »

That's not strictly correct, it is however extremely unlikely. People used to say that about all macs, Linux, etc and all are demonstrably wrong. No point encouraging beliefs leading to poor browsing hygiene.

Maybe the best way to say is there *are* no viruses on the ipad. This could change of course at any moment, but it is an accurate assessment.

There does seem to be a lot of anti-virus vendors hyping the need for their products though. Total snake oil, and if a virus did manage to infect IOS devices, I am pretty sure their apps installed wont make the slightest bit of difference.

The equivelent of convincing a nissan leaf owner he should carry round a can of petrol in case he runs out of fuel. Running out of fuel will probably at some point happen, but the can of petrol wont be of any help.

Cycrow

gazter wrote: »

Maybe the best way to say is there *are* no viruses on the ipad. This could change of course at any moment, but it is an accurate assessment.

Thats not entirely accurate either, there are no "known" viruses, but that doesn't mean there arn't any at all.

Theres been apps that have been released that contain viruses and other hacks, and they were only found out because the devs publicised about them. So how many others are around where they havn't been made public