Virus scanner for probable infected iPad/Phone

SharingIsCaring

Hi,

Can anyone suggest a good virus scanner on iTunes?

Virgin media have written to me as they suspect a 3rd party is using my email address to send spam/junk emails. It's probable the person sending the emails obtained my username and password from a computer or device I've used which has potentially been infected by a virus or malware.

I have a MacBook, iPad and iPhone at home, and access my email from all 3. None have Internet security . I can't recall using any other computers or devices so one or all 3 must be infected.

virgin have suggested an online scanner I can use on the MacBook but suggest I find a virus scanner from iTunes for my iPad & phone. Does anyone have any suggestions of good & easy to use virus scanners?

Once I know they're all virus/malware free, I can change my passwords.

Many thanks.

20aday

Hello there,

Unless you've jailbroken your iPhone/iPad you don't need a virus scanner for them; I assume you're running the latest version of iOS (currently 9.2.1) on both devices.

It's probable your MacBook may have been infected by a virus/malware.

If you launch the App Store from your dock and type in antivirus there's a couple of free options there. I use Bitdefender myself.

forgotmyname

20aday wrote: »

Hello there,
Unless you've jailbroken your iPhone/iPad you don't need a virus scanner for them; I assume you're running the latest version of iOS (currently 9.2.1) on both devices.

Deluded...

Safer maybe, but infallible no. There are nasties out there for non jail broken devices.

Why do you thin IOS gets updates? Its not just adding features and breaking stuff.

Sisters phone no longer connects to the cars bluetooth to auto answer calls since an update.

poppellerant

But Apple devices can't get viruses. Oh wait...!

wongataa

poppellerant wrote: »

But Apple devices can't get viruses. Oh wait...!

Actually non jailbroken iPhones/iPads can't get them. Due to they way they work there aren't any ways to infect them with viruses. There may be other security holes though.

Just because some spammer is using your email address doesn't mean you have been infected with something. They may have come across a valid email address to use for their spam. They may have social engineered their way to the details. The email server itself may have been compromised.

Are the dodgy emails actually being sent from the OP's account? If not then the account itself probably isn't compromised. If it is just a spoof email address on the dodgy emails (which is the OP's) then you can't do much about it. The email addresses on the to/from parts of emails don't have to be in any way related to the actual address they were sent from.

eddddy

SharingIsCaring wrote: »

Virgin media have written to me as they suspect a 3rd party is using my email address to send spam/junk emails. It's probable the person sending the emails obtained my username and password from a computer or device I've used which has potentially been infected by a virus or malware.

You need to be a little clearer about what Virgin Media are saying.

Are they saying...

1. somebody is using your VM email address as the sender's address / return address? There's nothing you can really do about it, and I doubt VM would contact you about it.

2. somebody is using your VM email account for sending spam? It's very possible that they got your username and password by phishing or tricking you. So just changing your password (and being more careful) should solve the problem. (Although it could also be virus related.)

3. somebody is using your VM internet connection for sending spam? See: http://help.virginmedia.com/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1001&PARTITION_ID=1&TIMEZONE_OFFSET=&USERTYPE=1&VM_CUSTOMER_TYPE=Cable&CMD=VIEW_ARTICLE&ARTICLE_ID=150707
In that case, check for devices for viruses - and check that your wifi router is secure (it's a possibility that somebody else is connecting to your wifi, in order to send spam). It's probably unrelated to your VM email account.

SharingIsCaring

Thanks for the replies guys.

Virgin Media have written to say someone is using my VM email account to send spam.

I'll change my email, bank account passwords etc, just to be on the safe side. I'll also change the VM wifi password I case that's how they're accessing my account. Lastly, I will run a virus scanner on my MacBook & start using protection on it.

SharingIsCaring

I've not changed any passwords yet, but tried to open a previously opened email on my iPhone and got the following message:

Cannot Get Mail

"Imap4.blueyonder.co.uk" is not responding. Verify that you have entered the correct account info on mail settings.

I can open the email ok on my iPad. I've not tried my MacBook.

Anyone have any idea what this means?

forgotmyname

wongataa wrote: »

Actually non jailbroken iPhones/iPads can't get them. Due to they way they work there aren't any ways to infect them with viruses. There may be other security holes though.

Except when they allow apps with malicuous code embedded.

wongataa

forgotmyname wrote: »

Except when they allow apps with malicuous code embedded.

So no viruses work as I stated but there could be other security holes as I stated.

Cycrow

wongataa wrote: »

Actually non jailbroken iPhones/iPads can't get them. Due to they way they work there aren't any ways to infect them with viruses. There may be other security holes though.

actually they can. Its certainly not as common as a windows pc, but its still possible.
Some apps in the past have contained various virus that initially got past apples inspection. Often taking advantage of other security flaws.