Recently, I was browsing a site that itself doesn't have viruses, but the ads that are on it do. I clicked on these ads several times, they were different. I don't think I clicked anything on those pages, but maybe I accidentally clicked something. What should I do?
No.
And you're greatly overthinking this. It is almost impossible to infect an iOS device. And trying to do so via a download even less so. It takes someone with direct control of your phone (or yourself) to jailbreak the device so it can be comprised.
And no, that doesn't mean someone simply having your phone in their hands. They would first have to get past the 6 digit passcode. And you only get a handful of tries to get it right before the phone goes into lockdown mode.
No.
And you're greatly overthinking this. It is almost impossible to infect an iOS device. And trying to do so via a download even less so. It takes someone with direct control of your phone (or yourself) to jailbreak the device so it can be comprised.
And no, that doesn't mean someone simply having your phone in their hands. They would first have to get past the 6 digit passcode. And you only get a handful of tries to get it right before the phone goes into lockdown mode.
As has been said. Clicking is just clicking. Being sent to another site is just a redirect. Nothing can happen unless you willingly enter your personal information on any site you're sent to.
Or better yet, install an ad blocker so you don't see anywhere near as many of these. I use Ka-Block! It's free and works well. You can get it from the App Store.
On an iPhone or other iOS device, no. On a Mac, probably no. On Windows, possibly, but only if you download a file and then open it. And even then, if you have a good, up-to-date antivirus the risk is low.
CJSAS wrote:
I doubt seriously that an iPhone can’t be hit! That’s ridiculous! Scan your phone for malware-NOTHING AND I MEAN NOTHING IS SAFE!
And a completely secure device is a useless device too, yes.
Security is a continuum. Too little is bad, and too much is also bad. Somewhat like insurance, in that regard.
With a full zero-click iPhone exploit with persistence currently worth a couple million USD, and with exploits such as the since-patched JBIG2 exploit being exceedingly clever and very valuable and expensive to create, actual malware is fairly rarely deployed and targeted, based on available evidence. This is not at all like what Microsoft Windows was getting hit with in bulk back closer to Y2K, nor are the environments and current app distribution models similar with Windows.
Posting benign screenshots and analytics and Apple bugs (AccessibilityUIServer being one of the more recent cases), and “your iPhone is infected with (3) viruses” advertisements been normal fare around here.
Immune to malware? No. Of course not. As you quite correctly state, nothing is, and nothing can be. The difficulty for folks around here then becomes one of sorting through the various and benign postings of mundane app and logging activities, and of Apple and app changes or confusions, and of Apple and app bugs, and of hardware bugs, from actual malware.
Your phone cannot get a virus from displaying or clicking on an ad. How do you know the ads have a virus?
Bob Timmons wrote:
If you have a PC, It can be easily infected. But, that won't affect an iPhone.
To be fair to Microsoft, if you keep your Windows updated and install a good antivirus (or use Microsoft’s built in antivirus) your chances of being infected are very low.
votae wrote:
And by connecting to an infected computer?
hello votae,
You know your situation and environment and security concerns best. So far, you’ve asked or been involved in some previous existing malware discussions and have been expressing variations of similar concerns, including these:
This is normal? whether a virus or a hack… - Apple Community
Moatads tracker iphone. - Apple Community
Reset the iPhone - Apple Community
As such, I’m not sure that any responses here in ASC or elsewhere might assuage your malware-related concerns, particularly given these previous and this current discussion (above), and with your previously-reported device resets, and related steps.
Here is the Apple documentation most directly related to this topic:
Personal Safety User Guide - Apple Support
If you are a dissident, political activist, investigative journalist, or otherwise a target for more expensive tooling, you will want to acquire security assistance more tailored for your particular situation.
votae wrote:
I am asking all this because I am afraid that I will be attacked again by a virus like before, because of it I had to buy a new phone
That makes no sense at all. First, an iPhone cannot be infected. Period. There has never been an iPhone virus. So if you had a phone that was infected it wasn’t an iPhone. I can’t imagine what it was, because Android phones can’t be infected with a virus either. And even if you had a phone that was infected you would not have to buy a new phone; you would just have to reset it to factory settings.
In the real world devices are not hacked from websites; the overwhelming majority of breaches are the result of users falling for phishing email, texts and phone calls, where the user is tricked into entering their account information and passwords, or allowing telephone “tech support” to log in to their device remotely. That’s how most large corporations are hacked; an employee gets an email from their “IT” department or an executive telling them to log in to update their password using “this link”. Frequently these are “spear phishing” emails addressed to someone the hacker knows has privileged access to the company’s systems and data.
Here’s a common one for anyone who has lost their iPhone (or Android phone):
You may get a text or email from “Apple” or “Apple Security” (or sometimes “Police”) saying your phone has been found and to click on a link to see its location. This is NEVER from Apple or from law enforcement; it is from the thief or fence to steal your Apple ID and identity. But it looks legitimate and official. Delete any such message without responding to it. Apple never gets involved in lost or stolen devices→Avoid phishing emails, fake ‘virus‘ alerts, phony support calls, and other scams
There is a company based in Shenzhen, China that “manages” this phishing scam as “hacking as a service” that thieves pay to use. I’ve seen a 30 minute video that covers this as part of the overall black market in stolen phones, which is a billion dollar business. I believer Mr Hoffman has seen it also.
In most cases, that's what the ad is supposed to do. They want you to buy whatever they're hawking.
Solution? Stop clicking on the ads.
Not on an iOS device. If any site tries to push a file to you, iOS asks if you want to save it. All you have to do then is click Cancel.
I doubt seriously that an iPhone can’t be hit! That’s ridiculous! Scan your phone for malware-NOTHING AND I MEAN NOTHING IS SAFE!
An ad is just an ad. It has nothing to do with any kind of malware. None.
Sites allow ad companies to run ads on their site in return for money. They have little or no say over what ads the the ad server pushes.
Well, yes, that’s the way life is, especially if you visit sketchy sites. And any site that provides free content is going to have to make money somehow, so they do it by posting ads for you to click on that are probably as sketchy as the site the ads appear on - or worse.
Lawrence Finch wrote:
Bob Timmons wrote:
If you have a PC, It can be easily infected. But, that won't affect an iPhone.
To be fair to Microsoft, if you keep your Windows updated and install a good antivirus (or use Microsoft’s built in antivirus) your chances of being infected are very low.
Yeah; Microsoft has its share of mistakes—Apple just patched a mistake in 13.0.1 and 12.6.1 and down, too—but the built-in Defender does well, same as the built-in Apple anti-malware within macOS, iOS, and iPadOS.
The virus in ads
