Can An iPad Get Infected With a Virus?

It's possible but there are no known viruses that target the iPad

By

Updated on August 18, 2022

Reviewed by

iOS and Viruses

In a technical sense, a virus is a piece of code that replicates itself by creating a copy within another piece of software on your computer. But, unlike Windows computers that have a very open file system, iOS doesn't allow one app direct access to the files of another app, preventing any would-be virus from replicating.

If you visit a website and see a message pop up informing you that your device is infected by a virus, you should immediately exit the website. The pop-up message is a scam hoping to scare you into installing malware on your device under the guise of helping it become more secure.

Furthermore, you don't need to install virus protection on your iPad. Unlike a Windows computer, where running real-time virus protection software is almost a requirement, the iPad doesn't need full-time protection from viruses.

Illustration of a "healthy" and a "sick" iPad — Lifewire / Tim Liedtke

An iPad Virus May Not Exist, But That Doesn't Mean You Are Out of the Danger Zone

While it's not possible to write a true virus for the iPad, malware can and does exist. Malware encompasses any piece of software with bad intent, such as tricking you into giving up your passwords or other sensitive information. Malware for the iPad is relatively rare, though, because of one major obstacle it must overcome in order to get installed on your device: the App Store.

One of the great benefits of owning an iPad is that Apple checks every app that's submitted to the App Store. In fact, it takes several days for an iPad to go from a submission to a published app. It's possible to sneak malware through the app store, but this condition is rare. In these cases, the app is usually caught within a few days or a few weeks and is quickly removed from the store.

But, you should still be vigilant, especially if an app asks for personal or financial information. It's one thing for the Amazon app to ask for this type of information and quite another when it comes from an app you've never heard of before and downloaded on a whim while browsing the App Store.

Even a well-known app should be treated with a certain amount of distrust. Never share your personal information, especially financial information like bank accounts and credit card numbers, unless there's a specific reason for the app to ask for it. While viruses cannot exist on an iPad, scammers have gotten around the iPad's ability to protect itself from viruses by infecting the developer's PC, injecting code before it even makes it to the App Store. While it may sound like something out of a movie, this has happened. It's rare and not something most of us should worry about, but it does demonstrate that even popular apps should never have our full trust.

Is There an Anti-Virus App for the iPad?

The iOS platform got its first official anti-virus program when VirusBarrier went on sale in the App Store, but this anti-virus program is for checking files that may be uploaded to your Mac or PC. McAfee Security runs on the iPad, but it simply locks your files in a secure "vault," it doesn't detect or clean "viruses."

Apps like VirusBarrier are preying on your fear of viruses in hopes that you'll install them without reading the fine print. And, in fact, Apple removed VirusBarrier for this very reason. Yes, even McAfee Security is hoping you're scared enough not to realize there are no known viruses for the iPad and that malware is actually much more difficult to acquire on the iPad than on the PC.

iPad Virus Scams

One of the most common scams for the iPad is the iOS Crash Report and variations of it. In this phishing scam, a website displays a pop-up page informing you that iOS has crashed or the iPad has a virus, then instructs you to call a number. However, the people on the other end aren't Apple employees and their main goal is to trick you out of either money or information that can be used to hack into your accounts.

The distinction between viruses and malware is important. A virus simply cannot replicate itself onto an iPad because it cannot access files to do so. But other forms of malware simply trick you, the user, into infecting the computer or giving up personal information.

When you receive a message like this, the best course of action is to quit the Safari browser and reboot the iPad. If you get this message often, clear the cookies and web data stored on your device.

Open Settings.
Scroll down the left-side menu, then tap Safari.
In the Safari settings, scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data. You will need to confirm this choice. You must re-enter previously saved website passwords, but this is a small price to pay to keep your Safari browser clean and secure.

The 'Congratulations Amazon User' Message

If you're constantly bombarded by pop-up advertisements in the iPad's web browser that lock you into the page and congratulate you for winning something, you've come across another common form of malware. The most common of these impersonates Amazon and hopes to lure you in with the promise of a free gift. Similar to the Crash Report scam, these pop-up adware scams trick you into giving up personal information.

To fight back against this, clear your web history and data. This malware exists in your web cache, which is data the Safari browser saves to help speed up a website by storing portions of it.

The Best Protection Is an Updated iPad

While constant iOS updates might seem annoying, the easiest way to compromise an iPad is through exploiting security holes in the operating system. These problems are fixed quickly by Apple, but you need to keep on top of operating system updates.

When you're prompted with a message about a new operating system update, simply tap Later, then plug your iPad in before going to bed. The iPad will schedule an update for that night, but it needs to be plugged into a power source (a computer or a wall outlet) to download and run the update.

Do Not Jailbreak Your iPad

There is one big hole that can lead to possible infections of malware: jailbreaking your device. Jailbreaking is the process of removing the protections Apple has in place that restrict you from installing apps anywhere but their App Store. Normally, an app needs a certificate to download, install, and run on your device. It gets this certificate from Apple. Jailbreaking gets around this protection and allows any app to be installed on your iPad.

If you jailbreak your device, be extra careful about what you install on it, because Apple hasn't tested and certified it as being free of malware.

Most people don't jailbreak our iPad. In fact, as the tablet has gained more features, it's become less popular to jailbreak. Most of what can be done through apps on Cydia and other non-Apple app stores can now be done with apps downloaded through the official App Store.

So Is My iPad Safe?

Just because it's difficult for malware to get on your iPad doesn't mean your iPad is completely safe from all intrusion. Hackers are great at finding ways to either disrupt devices or to find their way inside of devices.

Here are a few things everyone should do with their iPad:

Turn on Find My iPad. This tool lets you lock the iPad remotely or even erase it completely if it should ever become lost or stolen.
Lock Your iPad with a passcode. While it may seem like a waste of time to input a four-digit code every time you use your iPad, it's still the best way to keep it secure.
Disable Siri and notifications from your lock screen. Siri can still be accessed by default when your iPad is locked. And, with Siri, anyone can do anything, from checking your calendar to setting reminders. Disable Siri on the lock screen in your iPad's settings.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for letting us know!

Tell us why!