What should I do if I clicked a suspicious email link?

I am usually beyond care about emails from people/companies I don’t know, but this one slipped by me. I do a lot of surveys and get rewards emailed to me. An email came through from a company I’ve seen before but that doesn’t usually give out monetary rewards, like an idiot I clicked though and set up an account to redeem the reward. However the card (reward) didn’t work when I went to use it and when I went back to the email, it wasn’t addressed to me but to Dear dear…. Like I said I am usually super careful but I am recovering from COVID and have brain fog and the company is one or at least the name is one I have heard of before.


Did I screw up? and if so how bad.?



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPad Air 3, iPadOS 18

Posted on Apr 2, 2025 7:28 PM

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Apr 3, 2025 12:05 AM in response to niree32

only way to install software of any type (also malware) on a non jailbroken ios device is apples app store

so clicking on links or sms or mails or the likes will not compromise your device in any way


the problem is if you go to a site and type in sensitive data like user name and password and the likes then they can take advantage


read

Phishing & Other Suspicious Emails

and

Identify legitimate emails from the App Store or iTunes Store - Apple Support

and maybe

Phishing - Wikipedia


if you already did provide a website with your appleID and password then read

If you think your Apple Account has been compromised - Apple Support

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Apr 4, 2025 4:05 AM in response to niree32

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.


If you have given your personal details to a malicious website, this may be the cause of attempted fraud. If necessary, change account passwords (including your AppleID Password) if you suspect that they may have been compromised. If you have cause to believe that your AppleID has been compromised, follow the advice outlined here:

If you think your Apple ID has been compromised - Apple Support


If you have exposed your Credit Card details, you may wish to contact the Card Issuer - who may cancel and reissue your Card as a precaution.



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.



As for Apps that you may have been "encouraged" to install, you should delete these from your device(s). Bad Actors often have their victims install Apps (some being entirely legitimate Apps) that allow remote access to view or control the victims device. For your security, it is imperative that these are removed from your devices.

Delete apps on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support



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What should I do if I clicked a suspicious email link?

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