Hack attempt on my iPad?

No, your iPad hasn’t been hacked.

Ensure that the beta profile has been fully removed from the iPad - as, otherwise, installation of production software updates may be inhibited. This support page provides the necessary information to remove the beta from your iPad:

How to uninstall iOS beta software - Apple Support

If the iPadOS 16.1 update still appears, perform the update as indicated. After the update completes, a further forced update is recommended:

• On an iPad with a Home button: Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.
• On an iPad with Face ID: Press and quickly release the volume up button, press and quickly release the volume down button, then press and hold the top button. When the Apple logo appears, release the button.

If you were a former iOS/TVos app develpoer then you should be very aware that iOS/iPadOS cannot be easily hacked due to the sandboxed, “walled garden” nature of iOS/TVos and to some extents, macOS.

Backup your device to iCloud, instead of your Mac, completely erase the iPad, set it up as a new device, then restore your data from an iCloud backup, instead.

The Poster stated the they were running a Beta OS version, but had already removed/uninstalled it.

Poster also tried the forced restart/hard reset with no change

That is why I am advising a complete backup, erase and restore of their iPad.

You might check the iPadOS build number. The current production build is iPadOS 16.1 (20B82).

Settings > General > About > iPadOS Version

You may need to backup the data on this iPad and do a complete erase and restore of this iPad using a Mac or Windows PC.

If you have access to a full computer, like a Mac or Windows PC, try either using the Finder on a Mac that has the newest macOS Catalina, or later macOS, installed OR with an older Mac with an older Mac OS, download and install the latest iTunes version ( or latest iTunes for Windows PC ), make sure the Mac or Windows PC is connected to the Internet, connect your iPad by the USB charge cable to the computer and let the iTunes application to do the back up and restore process.

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Erase iPad - Apple Support

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

Make sure your iPad is, at least, charged to 50% or greater to attempt this.

Make sure your desktop/laptop computer has plenty of internal drive storage space, also.

If NO access to a Mac or Windows computer, you will have to seek help from a good friend or family member, with a full Mac or Windows PC, to help you out

OR

Search online to locate and call contact your nearest, “local” Apple Store location to try/attempt to make an appointment to get your Apple iPad upgraded/updated to its latest iPadOS 15 version.

OR, alternatively, use the “Get Support” link, at the upper right hand corner of every Apple Support Community Webpage to attempt to schedule an appointment with your nearest Apple Store location.

Apple Store employees will be glad to help/assist you.

Best of Luck to You!

I do not think your iPad is hacked or being hacked, but I have no other explanation for this occurance, either.

After ANY iOS/iPadOS upgrade/update, you should ALWAYS perform a simple hard reset/forced restart of your Apple mobile device.

For iPad models with a Home button, do a simple hard reset/forced restart of your iPad by holding down both the Home and sleep/wake/power button simultaneously until your iPad goes to black and restarts with Apple logo, then release the buttons.

OR

For much newer design iPad models, without a Home button, try the new simple hard reset/forced restart procedure for the new 2018-2022 iPad Pros, 2020/21 iPad Air 4 and 5 and 2021 iPad Mini 6 models.

1. Press and release the volume button closest to the top Power button

2. Then immediately press and release the volume button farthest from the top Power button.

3. Then, press and hold the top single sleep/wake/power button You will see the Slide to Power off button, but keep on holding down the power button until you see the Apple logo, then let it go.

Once you have performed all the steps, wait for a few seconds and your 2018-2022 iPad will boot up completely to the iPad’s Lock screen.

Best of Luck to You!

Terrific! Great news to learn!

I’m relieved that you’re relieved.

Really had no real clue what was going on with your iPad other than I knew it was not an outside interference from any hacking attempts.

Great the you were able to find the issue and solve it!

Be Well...Stay Well!

Michel

You are very welcome. Problem identified and corrected without drama.

As someone actually running current production software, what was going on is perhaps more obvious 🙂