iPad tells me I MUST change my "unlock passcode at this time"

You could always put the iPad in airplane mode, change the passcode, then do a full reset of the iPad and restore from the last known good backup where you're certain there were no issues or "risks" of malware. I think that might be a full reset and set up as new, though. 🙂

Using the force restart methods causes the device to restart prior to performing a proper shutdown (like pulling the power plug out of a desktop PC). While the OS on the device will correct most issues as it restarts, you run the risk of corrupting files.

Actually Apple should tell themselves and all of their Geniuses since in other knowledgeable articles they recommend trying a forced restart that have nothing to do with the iPhone being locked up and if you call AppleCare or go to the Genius Bar the first thing they will suggest for a variety of symptoms is to try a forced restart (which used to be called a reset). That article says nothing about corrupting files or any harm and Apple will tell you if you ask that a Forced Restart is nondestructive.

ember1205 wrote:

Pressing the Home and Lock buttons at the same time.... will reset all of the network information and require adding things like WiFi passwords again.

You are not very experienced, are you? A forced restart never resets your network information and does not require adding Wi-Fi passwords again. Try it and see.

ember1205 wrote:

You could always put the iPad in airplane mode, change the passcode, 🙂

That (or switching off iPad WiFi) would work too but I was thinking that OP couldn't get anywhere (that includes pulling up control center) without responding (touching) the Continue button. That's why I suggested pulling the plug on the WiFi router.

have you found a solution to this? i have an iphone 6 and got the same message you did on the ipad not the other one that wants it done in 60 minutes, i turned it on and off normally and did the forced restart and it still there. i also took out the sim card and put it on a iphone 5s and it works fine, even without the sim card the iphone 6 still shows the pop up. any help would be appreciated.

Close Safari completely from the app switcher window by double clicking the Home button and swiping up the Safari preview pane until it disappears from the screen. You may have to look for the Safari pane by scrawling to the left. Then go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. Then do a forced restart. Hold down the Home and Wake/Sleep buttons at the same time for about 15-20 seconds until the Apple logo appears.

I had the same situation on my box-stock iPhone 6, but once I left my office and was out of wi-fi range, the problem disappeared on its own. I did, as a precaution, clear all of the offline data in Safari (once I was able to GET to Safari), but I won't know if the problem has actually resolved until I get back to work on Monday. I suspect that it's something to do with the network maintenance that was going on Friday, since I haven't ever had this happen before, and my phone was configured exactly the same way as it's always been on Thursday as it was on Friday. I have my phone set to ask before joining new networks, and I suspect that when the wi-fi came back up it discovered my phone in range -- or vice versa -- and the Exchange ping collided with the "ask before joining" and the result was ... this.

Better tell Apple, then.

From Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

"You should force restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch as a last resort, and only if it's not responding."

Hi

I had this 6 months ago just change passcode to a 6 digit code instead of 4 for better security .

No problems just go to settings passcode and enter new code just add 2 numbers on to your old code.

Cheers

Brian

A Forced Restart (which is what Apple calls it now) can be used for more things than the phone being "locked up". Why is is "not appropriate"?