PDFs downloading safe?

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pdf viruses

Revealed to my surprise that a pdf file can contain a virus 😟. One such article,

https://www.sans.org/security-resources/malwarefaq/pdf-overview.php

Anyway, Apple has done a good job of designing ios to protect against malware. Apple will introduce a fix if there is a problem.

R

ps. as far as frequent crashes.

Re-boot ipad.

Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until a red slider appears, then drag the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears. page 128 iPad user manual.

force power down if the above give you trouble.

Hold down both the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button. Ten seconds or more. Hold until the Apple logo appears.

more details on re-booting:

http://ipad.about.com/od/iPad_Guide/ss/How-To-Reboot-Your-iPad-Power-Off.htm

Restore to factory settings by loading the latest version of ios that your machine will support:

Do a full backup of your device. Twice is best -- cloud and computer.

"You can use iTunes to restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to factory settings and the latest version of iOS."

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

"You can put your iOS device into recovery mode, then restore it using iTunes.:

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201263

At last resort you could consider DFU (Device Firmware Update). This could void your warranty.

http://www.imore.com/tip-put-iphone-ipad-dfu-mode

nsdjoey explains how to force a reload of ios

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7067914

No, it DOES download it in Safari. Just as a web page will download to the device. It is just that the PDF cannot install anything on an iOS device as it would a Windows or potentially an Android device.

iOS is a very sandboxes operating system with very specific mechanisms and connections needed to install anything on it (basically you can only install apps from the app store and in some instances profiles, but for most users that is rare). Consequently, a PDF viewed in Safari cannot install anything.

Boudicca1 wrote:

IS it true that an iPad that hasn't been jail broken can't get nasties installed? I keep reading that too...also is there a way to clear web pages or reset safari as an extra measure? Thanks.

Settings - Safari - Clear history and website data

DOes that link apply to iPads?

iPad, iPhone, & iPhone all run ios, so unless an iDevice doesn't have the referenced hardware the information one device applies to all.

So crashing isn't a sign of a virus in iPads?

True. A virus is very unlikely on an iPad.

Also is jail breaking done manually

Apple does not support jb. It would void your warranty. The most referenced viruses on an iDevice occur on jb devices.

and what is an enterprise profile?

At the enterprise level, the ipad supports remote administration. An enterprise profile provides restrictions and wifi configuration of an ipad.

R

rccharles wrote:

Also is jail breaking done manually

Apple does not support jb. It would void your warranty. The most referenced viruses on an iDevice occur on jb devices.

To clarify: the ONLY viruses seen in the wild on iOS devices are on jailbroken devices.

I am well aware of the fact that some really, really stupid developers created apps using a hacked version of the XCODE development software, and about 30 apps made it to the app store for a few days until Apple caught it. But even then those apps still needed the user to acknowledge that the app could have access to their contacts or other content. And none of those apps were viruses.

Don't jailbreak your iPad. But, even if you don't, don't do foolish things. Don't download things from dubious sites. Don't click on links in email that ask you for personal information and then give that information. It's not the clicking on the links that's the problem. It's when you then give these scammers information.

I've had iPhones since the iPhone 4 and iPads since the first one. I've used Facebook, clicked on links in email, downloaded pdfs and never had a problem. Right now, I use my old iPad for my piano music. I download lots of free pdfs (and purchased lots). But I pay attention to the kind of site I'm downloading from, not because I'm afraid of a virus but because I want genuine piano music not something else.

You should be fine.

Boudicca1 wrote:

So is the general consensus that iPads cannot gets viruses or download malware and other nasties from PDFs, videos, links via email and Facebook?! I'm getting confused!!!

Suppose you get a PDF in email on your iPhone. Suppose it is infected with some sort of malware. Opening it on your iPhone can't do any harm because iOS security features protect against it. BUT that same message also was received on your computer, where it COULD do harm if opened. Interestingly, if you have a Mac and open it with the built-in Preview app it still can't do any harm. But if you open it with Adobe Reader, the application that was specifically designed to open PDFs created with Adobe Acrobat, it can. Appreciate the irony?

The other reason not to open suspicious documents or links is they can display what appears to be a legitimate site, where you might be tempted to enter sensitive information. If you are capable of always being able to tell a legitimate site from a spoof site you still won't be at risk. Do you think you CAN always tell a spoof of, say, Apple's iCloud sign in and the real thing? Having seen both, they look EXACTLY the same. Except for the URL in the address bar. How often do you look at that?

Macs don't run iOS. They run OSX. They are different operating systems. with different security mechanisms.

Viruses are OS specific. viruses written for Mac OSx would not be able to affect iOS anymore than viruses written fro Windows can affect OSx.

If you, by any chance remotely, were to get a PDF that contained a virus for Mac. It would not be able to affect iOS anyway. And a virus that could affect iOS (if such a thing were to exist, which they don't) would not be able to affect OSx.

Boudicca1 wrote:

SO iOS is different on iPads and iphones compared to macs?

Yes. iPads and iPhones use an operating system called "iOS". Macs use one called "Mac OS". They are different. They cannot use the same apps.

A PDF will not install anything on your iPad. However, as a general rule, you should never download anything if it is not from a source you trust or from one you would have reason to suspect.

I would never say never, but basically yes. There are no known viruses in the wild for iOS devices that haven't been jailbroken, or are not running enterprise profiles.