Ipad Hacked - I watched somebody go into my contacts and browse around

There may be some iOS app that would allow you to remotely access the screen of that app, while that app was open. It's possible, but may or may not actually exist. However, iOS apps are not allowed much runtime in the background, and cannot install any kind of hooks to allow this sort of thing. So there's no way for someone to remotely control the screen like this in general.

Did you ever find out anything about your remote indruder or any way to prevent it. I have a friend with an ipad and she aparently has had this exact problem several times now.... in fact the other day a notepad file full of important passwords was deleted..... she had gone off and left the ipad online and when she came back the file was gone. Also she had had passwords changed aparently done remotely.....

thanks

As has already been pointed out, it's not possible at this time to hack an (un-jailbroken) iPad remotely and control it over the network. That's not what the problem is.

These symptoms could potentially be explained easily by someone hacking her accounts, specifically her iCloud account. Hacking an iCloud account would allow the attacker to access any Notes files that were synced with iCloud. So, once the attacker got access to her iCloud account, that Notes entry full of passwords would give the attacker access to everything else. Putting passwords on a Notes page is a VERY bad idea!

She should change the passwords on her iCloud account immediately, as well as the passwords on all accounts described in that Notes page. And then should delete that Notes page. She should use something like 1Password to manage passwords securely.

Hey. This happened to me too - about 4 times - fourth today..

I don't store any private data on my ipad as I use it only for game/ watching tv on it so when it first happened to me, I was shocked. As soon as I saw it moving and typing things on the internet (For me they typed netframework 4 on google search) I exited safari and went to settings and turned the wifi off (during this process the hacker disturbed me to the point of me freaking out). My ipad does not have the 3G support however my ipad was still being controlled - entering gallery / camera ect. My first instinct was to cover the camera and then I recovered from the shock and force turned it off. It seems that once I turn it off the hacker cannot access it. I was annoyed - and after few hours I turned my ipad on again - it was fine for 30 minutes or so then the hacker returned. Since remote control should not work once internet has been disconnected - but it still moved - it seems it is some sort of zombie file installed in the ipad.

So this happened to me about 4 times including today... I didn't really mind if it got hacked since nothing is stored on my ipad except a few photos I took. Since I couldn't be bothered to clean up this mess I just left the ipad on my shelf for a few months... then I returned to it. Everytime I returned to it the same thing happened and ipad got abandoned again... I don't think it is to do with the internet security - I think it'a virus zombie file that was installed onto the ipad - so unless you swipe/format your ipad it won't be solved.

Now I can't be bothered to proof read what I've written so..

Just wanted to say it happened to me too

oh by the way - everytime it happened I was on safari - watching tv series (Safe sites with no adverts, virus etc)

So I think it is to do with safari? some sort of virus running while on safari..

Again, not possible. You are not being remote controlled. There is no malware of any kind currently able to infect an iPad that hasn't been jailbroken, and there's no way to remote control it either. Either you have a very dirty screen that's reading sporadic touches, you have a very serious software issue and need to either reset or restore the iPad or you have a hardware issue that needs to be addressed. I would make an appointment at the Genius Bar at your nearest Apple Store if you need assistance with this.

It obviously exists, you say there currently is no such malware but look - there are people who have become victims.

A dirty screen would not result in automatic searching on the web - 'Netframework 4'

or continuously accessing other apps

Do you want me to chat with this hacker if he is willing ? I can try going to Note and chat or if he goes on camera again, I will try talk to him should I ?

This is obviously an issue Apple needs to check into. I have seen multiple forums, not just Apple's, where people are experiencing this. I know you guys are proud of your products and stand by their un-hackability but let's face it. People can do anything they want to these days. My iPad 2 has a VERY clean screen and got hacked. Today. Typing in legible things with the on screen keyboard is random? I think not. Don't get me wrong, I will continue to use and purchase Apple products. Lets face it, if the NSA can do what they do, why couldn't someone find a way to control an iPad?

I have a Gen4 iPad 16GB Running iOS 7.0.4

My Wi-Fi Network has a 63-character WPA2 PSK.

It happened to me as soon as I turned my iPad on: Web Browser, then the App Store [selected the app on the top banner and looked through the screenshots], then Settings, then Notes, then Google Docs (which luckily wasn't logged-in). I kept hitting the home button to try and keep "whoever" out of things.

I turned the iPad off and back on, and it stopped.

I still feel pretty insecure about the whole incident.

I believe that Apple uses software that can analyze the code and identify potentially dangerous or unwanted behaviors. That's the only way that they could possibly screen so many apps. That catches most stuff, but obviously it's not possible to entirely prevent bad apps from entering the App Store.

However, the security features of iOS mean that there are some serious limitations on what a bad app would be able to do. There's no way that a bad app from the App Store, on an iPad that is not jailbroken, could remotely control the iPad. That's simply not something that an app has privileges to do. Apps are only allowed to do certain things within a very carefully controlled sandbox.

Now, if someone malicious and very tech-savvy has had access to the iPad, it's conceivable that they could have installed something malicious. With physical access, much is possible. The iPad could have been jailbroken and the evidence of that jailbreaking removed, for example. However, it's very unlikely that anyone who had the know-how to do this would spoil the effort with such a flamboyant display of hacking as remote controlling your iPad. (Assuming there's even software for jailbroken iPads that would do that.)

In all, it's far more likely that this is something like a dirty screen, damaged hardware or system glitch.

Is there away to mark this post/thread urgent!!!!

I have the same problem! My ipad has not been jailbroken either. I've noticed it happening on several occassions. It appears as if someone has remotely taken control over my ipad. They're able to open and close apps, click links, open emails. I first thought that it was a bluetooth problem, but I turned off bluetooth and disconected all of my blue tooth devices. I've also seen this occur on other wifi networks/routers besides my own. It's extremely disturbing. I think apple needs to be made aware that this is happening. I first noticed the problem while I was reading and using the Kindle app. But it's funny you should mentioned Subway Surfer because my kids use that app all of the time and I recall the problem occuring with that app opened. What should I do? I need my ipad but I'm affraid to use it now. I ony hope that whoever is controling my ipad has not been able to hack into other sensitive accounts. Common apple, you guys need to look into this.

So I ask.. 1) When people day "Dirty Screen".. What does that mean? Do you mean an actual dirty screen?

Yes. A dirty screen can cause all manner of spurious input from the touch screen. I've personally seen it happen myself... not with an iPad, but with another brand of tablet that a little kid was using. The thing was filthy, and after it was wiped off, it worked fine.

4) Check my hardware by Apple.. Do you think that hardware could have a bug in it where it looks like the machine is doing things a human would do?

Absolutely. You'd be surprised how often people ascribe a purpose to completely random actions. I've seen it many times, where a random issue caused by a dirty screen or a bad mouse (in the case of a computer) was blamed on a hacker.

1) Okay, I admit it, My screen is "dirty". You can see everywhere I have poked my finger and the places where I swipe to unlock/power off. I should use one of those alcohol wipes. And this should top my priority list. *wink*

4) I'll raise you one. I would love to be able to look at my own operating system logs. I would at least like peek at a copy of what comes out when they make you go through iOS Diagnostics. But, I did buy an Apple product, and I mostly bought into their model. If there is a debug tool for iOS, made by Apple or otherwise, would someone post it?