Log4j Vulnerability – How to Keep Your iPad Safe

Are you looking for answers to the queries revolving around Log4j vulnerability? Well, then you’re just at the right place.

In the widely used internet, an evident cybersecurity threat known as Log4j Vulnerability has recently left many government officials and companies crawling. The recently discovered bug has reportedly started posing a serious threat on a national and international level. The cyberattack is devastating and has raised serious security concerns amongst different economic sectors.

The US department has issued an emergency directive, ordering several other federal agencies to mitigate the risk as soon as possible. Some hackers are trying to probe and exploit a vulnerability within the targeted computer systems and are linked to foreign governments and illegal ransomware groups (Criminal).

But to understand better, you’ll first have to first learn what Log4j is and what this susceptibility is all about?

What is Log4j vulnerability?

The Log4j framework is used amongst software developers to understand an application’s behavior and record the user activity for further review and analysis. The widely used tool, which is freely distributed software, has been downloaded millions of times to collect sensitive intel from computers networks, applications, and websites across the globe.

The software is maintained by a non-profit organization known as Apache Software Foundation, a group of five who work round the clock to release important security patches mitigating the risk in case of a breach. Experts disclosed the flaw in the Log4j recently by Apache (Non-profit Organization). The potential threat has allowed attackers to access the unprotected servers and install malicious code remotely. This further enables them to steal data and control it desirably.

Few cybercriminals are taking advantage of this vulnerability and are trying to mine cryptocurrencies with the help of installed software. Others are using developed malware, allowing attackers to hijack the entire computer system in course on a large scale. Security experts are concerned that this vulnerability would give hijackers enough room to foothold and install the ransomware within the system.

To put it in simple words, Log4j is a computer virus that can lock sensitive data and systems and may continue to pose a threat until the victims pay the attackers. The flaw in the software itself is the main gateway through which the virus could have seeped inside.

How does it affect my iPad?

Despite the broadly held belief that IOS devices are highly immune to any malware, that isn’t true, as mentioned always. Hackers always find new and innovative ways to infiltrate devices in the cybercriminal world. The most common way to infect devices is through social engineering, and it is something where the cybercriminals against their interests trick victims.

The recently occurred flaw in the name of Log4j caused by a major susceptibility in the software is posing a greater threat to millions of users, putting their sensitive data at risk. Similar to how more than 2500 apps inside the app store were infected with malware, known as XcodeGhost back in 2015.

So you can see the risk iPads and iPhones are for real, and it is important your device is ready to fight back.

How to keep an iPad Safe from Log4j Vulnerability?

In response to the incoming threat, one of the major companies of the U.S., Microsoft Incorporation, has recommended a series of steps to mitigate the risk, which includes contacting your software application provider and ensuring that the Java programming language being used is up-to-date and includes patches. But what about Apple?

According to credible reports, Apple has been able to patch up the vulnerability that was causing a threat to their system sheltering in iCloud. However, it is not enough to keep your iPads safe. Not just Log4j, there might be many such risks in the future, and sadly we can’t really regulate them. But what we can do is make sure our devices are readied.

Restart your device

Although restarting your iPad is not something that helps get rid of the Log4j vulnerability, it can significantly aid set up the fixes in a better way. Since the days when smartphones started making an appearance, restarting has been considered a great way to fight several temporary underlying bugs.

Restart your iPad in three simple steps:

For a few seconds, you need to press the power button until the slide to power off feature appears
Slide the power-off feature on the device
Press and hold to power on your device again. Just simple as that.

Clearing your browsing data

In case you’re unaware, browsing across the internet may act as a threat to various security-related measures, especially when you find yourself somewhere you were not supposed to be. Once you restart your iPad, the first thing that you’ll need to do is opt for clearing your browsing history alongside the cache. Clearing your browsing history and cache will profit erase and disable all the connectivity your device might have with the malware source.

To clear cache and cookies:

Navigate to the Settings menu from your home screen and look for Safari.
At the bottom of the page, you’ll find an option called Clear cookies and data, or it might be Clear Cookies and Clear Cache in some cases. Select it and continue.
Finally, confirm when prompted and wait for a few seconds.

To clear history:

Log in to your device and look for Safari.
Navigate to the bottom of the screen and tap the Bookmarks icon.
You’ll find something Clear; tap on it.
Once done, hit the Clear History button.

Please Note: Before, clearing your browsing history always makes to have your backup. With the iCloud backup feature, one can restore the entire backup (previous) to their iPad or iPhone device, and once you do so, your device will return to normal as before.

You need to select the setting icon on the home screen.
Then select and General and then select reset.
Then select erase all content and settings.
Before you decide to erase your data, choose between “Backup Then erase” and Erase Now. Depending on your selected option, a pop will ask you to confirm your action and ask for a password).
Select the restore option on iCloud backup when the device displays the apps and data screen.
Once you follow the second last step, you need to sign in to iCloud and select the iCloud option to restore your data.

Safe browsing

After you’re done getting rid of all the previously saved data which can affect your device one way or the other, you need to set up everything in a manner that ensures future browsing is secured against threats.

Here are some tips that can help you achieve a safer web browsing experience.

Make sure that the browser you’re using is always up to date.
Everything should be operating at its latest versions, from the plugins to extensions.
Using ad blockers
Blocking pop-ups
Frequently clearing cached data and browser history
Using password manager
Turning On private browsing feature
Enabling Do Not Track (if possible)
Blocking Pop-ups

Apart from all these, employing VPNs is considered excellent for securing iPad and iPhone’s activity and personal information. It is one of the easiest and promising ways to protect your device against hackers, network monitoring tools, and other sources that can play around with your device’s security.

Patches and updates are essential

Whether your device is infected or not, keeping it updated is always a promising practice. The scenes are no different when we try to resolve or prevent Log4j vulnerability. In simple words, you should always install the updates and the security patches that are released by Apple as soon as they become available.

Checking for Updates on iPad

Login to your iPad and tap on the Settings icon.
Find and tap General.
Scroll a bit down and click on the option that says Software Update.

Resting your iPad

Another great option to remove any Malware is resetting your phone, and the Log4j vulnerability hopefully can’t run away either. The factory reset is something that will delete all of your data. So this method is usually kept as the last bullet in the resort.

Resetting an iPad

Log in to your iPad and open Settings.
Find and tap General.
Scroll your way down until you come across the Reset option.
Tap on the option that says, Erase All Content and Settings.
You’ll then need to input your passcode and authenticate the restoration process.
Wait for the process to conclude.

In factory settings, you’ll not get the benefit of using iCloud for backup because, in this feature, all the data needs to be deleted in order to make sure the smooth functioning of the device again, like new. But don’t worry, you have other ways to keep your data safe.

Backing Up your Data using iTunes/Finder

First, connect your iPad to a Mac computer. Make sure to use a USB cable, and both the devices should be connected to the same WiFi network.
Launch iTunes on your macOS (10.14 and earlier) or look for Finder on (macOS 10.15)
Next, you’ll need to follow the on-screen instructions and confirm that you trust the computer.
Click on the device name as it appears on the screen.
Choose the option that lets you encrypt your backup. This is considered useful when a user wants to make a copy of their Health and Activity data.
Finally, hit the Back Up Now option.

Do you know, you can backup an iPad to a computer even without iTunes? Here is how.

You may also like: How to transfer data from old to new iPad

Stay away from suspicious email attachments

Never try to open any email attachments from unreliable or unknown sources. It’s called a booby trap where hackers try to infiltrate your system or privacy using attached files in the email. Therefore, if you try to open such emails which are unknown or unreliable, you may end up getting your device infected by letting the malware into your system.

Avoid jailbreaking at any cost

Apple has a built-in security feature, and by evading this security getting jailbreak, you might end up being vulnerable to the possible online threats or malware, jeopardizing your personnel data. So never try to jailbreak your iPad or iPhone. The iOS security is the best and keeps all your data intact.

FAQs

If I have a virus on my iOS device, how would I know?

An infected iOS device can have a series of symptoms. Usually, the extremely slow-running nature indicates a device is under threat. Apart from that, encountering some strange-looking apps installed on your device, the default browser getting changing automatically, crossing paths with loads of pop-up ads, and overheating are among the other signs.

Can IOS devices get infected by any website?

Yes, it possibly can. Cybercriminals worldwide keep on studying and analyzing the characteristics of iOS devices. They do so to find any vulnerability and chances of infiltration. Researches from Google found out in 2019 about spyware attacking websites to gather users’ data such as private messages and passwords. After being discovered, Apple developers found a patch to this vulnerability with an IOS update. It’s unimaginable to think of the amount of malware out there online.

iOS or Apple devices are very less likely to get infected because of their security feature, but the truth is told, nobody is safe in the digital world; the hackers sitting hidden are using clever ways to infiltrate your privacy and is keep on increasing every day. So to be ahead, you need to be alert at all times.

Keep reading

The Log4j vulnerability has started posing severe headaches, but the worst news is that it seems to stick around for a long. Considering that the majority of Java-based enterprise software alongside their server employs the Log4j library, modern-day systems are at great risk, and the same goes for iPads.

Although the perfect solution is yet to make an appearance, you can always have your artillery ready. In this article, we discussed the best possible ways that can help you ensure your iPads on a safer end.

This is all for today, bookmark iPadintouch for more amazing content.