Q: I clicked ok to a "You Won" pop up from my safari on my Iphone..
I clicked ok to a "You Won" pop up from my safari. I immediately realized my mistake and closed the page. I woke up the next morning to find an email from my yahoo email’s username but a different domain address. I then found my Facebook app redirected me to the same “You won” ad. I wiped my brower history and then changed my password for my emails and Facebook. Then I found out my contacts in my yahoo address book got emails too. I’ve since done a factory reset on my phone and started a new email address. Is this enough? Could there be a virus on my Iphone 6? Do I need to worry about my apple account and bank accounts?
iPhone 6, iOS 9.2.1
Posted on Mar 21, 2016 9:40 AM
The only way a virus can infect an iPhone is if it has been jailbroken and I doubt you have done that. Otherwise no viruses. You have taken the correct measures by deleting your browser history and data and changing passwords. I would change the password for your Apple account and if your bank accounts use the same PW or you had bank details in your emails I would change the bank PWs also. There is nothing to lose in doing so.
Regarding the incident, two things come to mind. First the pop up. If all you did is click on it and entered no information, then they got nothing. They simply planted a cookie in your browser which you wiped by deleting the history and data. Secondly, your email account. Your email could have been compromised (I don't see how by just the pop up if you did not enter any data, it could be coincidental) OR a person you know and has you in their computer email address book got hacked. It is easy to spoof email addresses and send emails to your contacts that appear to come from you.
After changing PWs I would just keep an eye on your bank accounts. Junk emails or pop ups are not a concern at this point, just don't click on links or enter any info.... Sorry for the hassle.
Posted on Mar 22, 2016 5:43 AM