I clicked on a link in a phishing email and am concerned that I may have malware installed. If I factory reset and then download my backup I might reinstall the malware, depending upon when it last backed up?
iPad, iPadOS 18
Due to the sandboxed system architecture of iOS/iPadOS, unless jailbroken (don’t go there!), your iPad is not susceptible to traditional malware infection per-se.
While your iPad is unlikely to be directly infected by malware, it is still possible to easily download an “infected” file to the iPad - which if transferred elsewhere still has the capacity to infect other computer systems with malware.
Restoring a backup to your iPad that (a) pre-existed the suspected malware event - and (b) has not been updated since - will ensure that all traces are removed from the iPad. Assuming that you refer to an iCloud backup, you can verify the time/date of the last backup cycle from iPad settings:
Settings > [Your Name / Apple Account] > iCloud > iCloud Backup
You must, or course, ensure that you have deleted the source email of concern from your mailbox.
Providing that your iPad has been kept up-to-date with system software updates, you should not be overly concerned for your iPad being directly compromised by malware. Due to the system architecture of iOS/iPadOS, unless jailbroken, your iPad is not susceptible to traditional malware infection per-se. However, as with all computer systems, there are still vulnerabilities and exploits to which you remain vulnerable.
For older devices, no longer benefiting from regular security updates, the risk of an unpatched vulnerability being exploited increases. Regardless of the installed version of iPadOS, there are useful mitigations that can be used to significantly reduce your exposure to risk.
Threat Mitigation
Other than malicious websites that will attempt to capture information that you willingly enter, the majority of threats to which you will be invariably exposed will surface via web pages or embedded links within email or other messaging platforms. Browser-based attacks can be largely and successfully mitigated by installing a good Content and Ad-blocking product. One of the most respected within the Apple App Store - designed for iPad, iPhone and Mac - is 1Blocker for Safari.
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/1blocker-for-safari/id1365531024
1Blocker is highly configurable - and crucially does not rely upon an external proxy-service of dubious provenance, often utilised by so-called AntiVirus products intended for iOS/iPadOS. Instead, all processing by 1Blocker takes place on your device - and contrary to expectations, Safari will run faster and more efficiently.
Unwanted content is not simply filtered after download (a technique used by basic/inferior products), but instead undesirable embedded content is blocked from download. The 1Blocker product has also recently introduced its new “Firewall” functions - that are explicitly designed to block “trackers”. Being implemented at the network-layer, this additional protection works across all Apps. Recent updates to 1Blocker has introduced additional network extensions, extending protection to other Apps.
A further to improve protection from exploits is to use a security focussed DNS Service in preference to automatic DNS settings. This can either be set on a per-device basis in Settings, or can be set-up on your home Router - and in so doing extends the benefit of this specific protection to other devices on your local network. I suggest using one of the following DNS services - for which IPv4 and IPv6 server addresses are listed:
Quad9 (recommended)
9.9.9.9
149.112.112.112
2620:fe::fe
2620:fe::9
OpenDNS
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
2620:119:35::35
2620:119:53::53
Cloudflare
1.1.1.1
1.0.0.1
2606:4700:4700::1111
2606:4700:4700::1001
Security focused DNS providers intentionally "sink hole" known bad or malicious websites and resources - this providing an additional layer of protection beyond that provided by your device and its Operating System. These DNS services will, when used alongside 1Blocker or other reputable Content Blocker, provide defence in depth.
Due to the sandboxed system architecture of iOS/iPadOS, unless jailbroken (don’t go there!), your iPad is not susceptible to traditional malware infection per-se.
While your iPad is unlikely to be directly infected by malware, it is still possible to easily download an “infected” file to the iPad - which if transferred elsewhere still has the capacity to infect other computer systems with malware.
Restoring a backup to your iPad that (a) pre-existed the suspected malware event - and (b) has not been updated since - will ensure that all traces are removed from the iPad. Assuming that you refer to an iCloud backup, you can verify the time/date of the last backup cycle from iPad settings:
Settings > [Your Name / Apple Account] > iCloud > iCloud Backup
You must, or course, ensure that you have deleted the source email of concern from your mailbox.
Providing that your iPad has been kept up-to-date with system software updates, you should not be overly concerned for your iPad being directly compromised by malware. Due to the system architecture of iOS/iPadOS, unless jailbroken, your iPad is not susceptible to traditional malware infection per-se. However, as with all computer systems, there are still vulnerabilities and exploits to which you remain vulnerable.
For older devices, no longer benefiting from regular security updates, the risk of an unpatched vulnerability being exploited increases. Regardless of the installed version of iPadOS, there are useful mitigations that can be used to significantly reduce your exposure to risk.
Threat Mitigation
Other than malicious websites that will attempt to capture information that you willingly enter, the majority of threats to which you will be invariably exposed will surface via web pages or embedded links within email or other messaging platforms. Browser-based attacks can be largely and successfully mitigated by installing a good Content and Ad-blocking product. One of the most respected within the Apple App Store - designed for iPad, iPhone and Mac - is 1Blocker for Safari.
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/1blocker-for-safari/id1365531024
1Blocker is highly configurable - and crucially does not rely upon an external proxy-service of dubious provenance, often utilised by so-called AntiVirus products intended for iOS/iPadOS. Instead, all processing by 1Blocker takes place on your device - and contrary to expectations, Safari will run faster and more efficiently.
Unwanted content is not simply filtered after download (a technique used by basic/inferior products), but instead undesirable embedded content is blocked from download. The 1Blocker product has also recently introduced its new “Firewall” functions - that are explicitly designed to block “trackers”. Being implemented at the network-layer, this additional protection works across all Apps. Recent updates to 1Blocker has introduced additional network extensions, extending protection to other Apps.
A further to improve protection from exploits is to use a security focussed DNS Service in preference to automatic DNS settings. This can either be set on a per-device basis in Settings, or can be set-up on your home Router - and in so doing extends the benefit of this specific protection to other devices on your local network. I suggest using one of the following DNS services - for which IPv4 and IPv6 server addresses are listed:
Quad9 (recommended)
9.9.9.9
149.112.112.112
2620:fe::fe
2620:fe::9
OpenDNS
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
2620:119:35::35
2620:119:53::53
Cloudflare
1.1.1.1
1.0.0.1
2606:4700:4700::1111
2606:4700:4700::1001
Security focused DNS providers intentionally "sink hole" known bad or malicious websites and resources - this providing an additional layer of protection beyond that provided by your device and its Operating System. These DNS services will, when used alongside 1Blocker or other reputable Content Blocker, provide defence in depth.
TheAppleBro wrote:
No, the malware won’t be on.
Because there is no malware...
You cannot get malware simply by clicking a link. The only information the thieves could have acquired is if you entered any Account login credentials, but even so this does not grant them access to your device. The only way someone can get access to your device is physically. If you did give them information, you would want to secure your accounts by changing your password and checking for any new Trusted Devices and Numbers. Note that none of this requires erasing and restoring. For your information, iPad backs up when it is turned off, connected to power and on a strong Wi-Fi connection, which if you charge every night it will always perform then. Otherwise it would be less often of that.
Hello~ Click on below and review…
If you think your Apple Account has been compromised - Apple Support
How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support
Also *Zachyy* has offered you some good advice.
~Katana-San~
Your iPad backs up every night, because of new data. No, the malware won’t be on.
How frequently does my iPad back up
