Thread: First Anti Virus for iPad available

With 300,000 iPads sold within the first few days and the device jailbroken within 24 hours, it’s never too early to start taking preventive measures against malware threatening to invade your iPad. Mac security specialist Intego has begun offering the first antivirus scanner for the iPad.



Intego acknowledges there is no iPad malware to defend against as yet but argues it will be ready if and when the threat materializes.

The iPad runs on the same operating system as the iPhone, and only jailbroken iPhones with default passwords have ever been infected with malware so far. The risk of malware infection on the iPad mainly applies to devices that have been jailbroken to run apps not approved by Apple.

Since the iPad doesn’t support multitasking, a resident anti-virus scanner on the iPad, like those on PCs is impossible. Intego's VirusBarrier X6 has to be installed on a Mac computer. The anti-virus will then scan an iPad once it is connected to the computer. Suspicious files are quarantined on the Mac and deleted from the iPad. VirusBarrier X6 is also available as a Mac anti-virus.

VirusBarrier X6 costs €59.95 for a license covering two devices. A free upgrade for existing VirusBarrier X6 users is available.

Source:First Anti Virus for iPad available - Instant Fundas

60 euros for an ipad virus scanner? Wow. The more I read about the ipad the more it seems like a gigantic ripoff. The device itself is already quite expensive, then there are all those accessories you might need (like the stand/case, keyboard, various connectors and adapters etc), then all the apps in the app store which apparently cost 10$+ for the ipad ones, and now this. Unreal.

Originally Posted by OrangeArmy

60 euros for an ipad virus scanner? Wow. The more I read about the ipad the more it seems like a gigantic ripoff. The device itself is already quite expensive, then there are all those accessories you might need (like the stand/case, keyboard, various connectors and adapters etc), then all the apps in the app store which apparently cost 10$+ for the ipad ones, and now this. Unreal.

Off-topic: Indeed, I agree with the rip-off part. I don't really get what Apple wanted to accomplish with the iPad. I can't imagine someone sitting on the bus, taking an iPad out of his pocket :P but I think they are aiming at the professional industry. I can image the iPad being used in a hospital with an application that registers medication and that stuff.

On-topic: I don't really think that this virus scanner will really protect you, and if you mess things up, you can just do a firmware restore.

Thread moved to Computers. Please read the General Discussion posting guidelines before creating a thread, thank you.

Haha, that's just hilarious! I thought Mac didn't need av? But i would never pay so much, for a piece of av. Does ipad all ready have viruses O_o?

On a more serious the current iPad has a serious problem with its Wifi connection capabilities. This version seems to have a lot of flaws - the next generation of it will probably be much better.

Wow... I hope something like ClamAV implements a free option.

Wow and all I hear about macs is how they don't get viruses. This will be a nice little thing to show all those mac users that there just as vulnerable.

First of all: Macs have always had viruses, just not many of them due to the lower market share. What is with people thinking macs don't get viruses??? They DIDN'T, okay?! NOW IS NOW, and now we mac users use AV, just like the rest of you Windows people.

Secondly: "They're," not "There". >>