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Is my iPad hacked?

Hello, in safari appears this pop up. It my iPad hacked?


iPad Pro, iPadOS 14

Posted on Apr 23, 2021 9:12 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 23, 2021 10:01 AM

No, it’s a scam; your iPad has not been hacked - but you are being manipulated by a classic pop-up phishing attack.


Do not interact with the page. Just close the tab.


Providing that you have not attempted to jailbreak your device - or have bypassed protections by side-loading third-Apps (if you don’t know what this is, then don’t worry about it) - then it is highly unlikely that your device will have been infected with a virus, other malware, of will have been hacked. However, as with all computer systems, there are still vulnerabilities and exploits to which you remain which you remain at risk...


Browser-based attacks, such as the one that you illustrate, involve pop-up messages that are designed to scare the unwary into giving away sensitive information - or to fool you into doing something that you shouldn’t.


Browser-based attacks can largely be mitigated by installing a good, trusted, Content and Ad-blocking product. One of the very best and most respected within the Apple App Store - designed for iPad, iPhone and Mac - is 1Blocker for Safari.

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/1blocker-for-safari/id1365531024


1Blocker is highly configurable - and crucially does not rely upon an external proxy-service of dubious provenance. All processing takes place on your device - and contrary to expectations, Safari will run faster and more efficiently. 


Unwanted content is not simply filtered after download (a technique used by basic/inferior products), but instead undesirable embedded content blocked form download. A further benefit on metered services, such as cellular connections where you data may be capped or chargeable, this not only improves speed but also saves you money.


When using a good quality Content blocker, a high proportion of otherwise inescapable risk when using your Safari browser, or linking to external sources from email, is effectively mitigated before it even reaches you.


There are additional protections that can enhance protection further, such as using one of the better Recursive DNS Services in preference to automatic settings. This can either be set on a per-device basis in Settings, or can be set-up on your home Router. I recommend using one of the following services, for which IPv4 ad IPv6 server address are included here:


Quad9 (recommended)

9.9.9.9

149.112.112.112

2620:fe::fe

2620:fe::9


OpenDNS

208.67.222.222

208.67.220.220

2620:0:ccc::2

2620:0:ccd::2


Cloudflare+APNIC

1.1.1.1

1.0.0.1

2606:4700:4700::1111

2606:4700:4700::1001


Use of the above DNS services will help to shield you from “known bad” websites and URLs - and when used alongside 1Blocker, provides defense in depth.


If you need help changing your DNS settings on your iPad, this guide provides most of the information that you’ll need:

https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/04/22/how-to-change-the-dns-server-used-by-your-iphone-and-ipad


I hope this reassurance and guidance proves to be helpful in resolving any issues with malicious websites.


1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 23, 2021 10:01 AM in response to gamin1

No, it’s a scam; your iPad has not been hacked - but you are being manipulated by a classic pop-up phishing attack.


Do not interact with the page. Just close the tab.


Providing that you have not attempted to jailbreak your device - or have bypassed protections by side-loading third-Apps (if you don’t know what this is, then don’t worry about it) - then it is highly unlikely that your device will have been infected with a virus, other malware, of will have been hacked. However, as with all computer systems, there are still vulnerabilities and exploits to which you remain which you remain at risk...


Browser-based attacks, such as the one that you illustrate, involve pop-up messages that are designed to scare the unwary into giving away sensitive information - or to fool you into doing something that you shouldn’t.


Browser-based attacks can largely be mitigated by installing a good, trusted, Content and Ad-blocking product. One of the very best and most respected within the Apple App Store - designed for iPad, iPhone and Mac - is 1Blocker for Safari.

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/1blocker-for-safari/id1365531024


1Blocker is highly configurable - and crucially does not rely upon an external proxy-service of dubious provenance. All processing takes place on your device - and contrary to expectations, Safari will run faster and more efficiently. 


Unwanted content is not simply filtered after download (a technique used by basic/inferior products), but instead undesirable embedded content blocked form download. A further benefit on metered services, such as cellular connections where you data may be capped or chargeable, this not only improves speed but also saves you money.


When using a good quality Content blocker, a high proportion of otherwise inescapable risk when using your Safari browser, or linking to external sources from email, is effectively mitigated before it even reaches you.


There are additional protections that can enhance protection further, such as using one of the better Recursive DNS Services in preference to automatic settings. This can either be set on a per-device basis in Settings, or can be set-up on your home Router. I recommend using one of the following services, for which IPv4 ad IPv6 server address are included here:


Quad9 (recommended)

9.9.9.9

149.112.112.112

2620:fe::fe

2620:fe::9


OpenDNS

208.67.222.222

208.67.220.220

2620:0:ccc::2

2620:0:ccd::2


Cloudflare+APNIC

1.1.1.1

1.0.0.1

2606:4700:4700::1111

2606:4700:4700::1001


Use of the above DNS services will help to shield you from “known bad” websites and URLs - and when used alongside 1Blocker, provides defense in depth.


If you need help changing your DNS settings on your iPad, this guide provides most of the information that you’ll need:

https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/04/22/how-to-change-the-dns-server-used-by-your-iphone-and-ipad


I hope this reassurance and guidance proves to be helpful in resolving any issues with malicious websites.


Is my iPad hacked?

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