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PlanesandTrains

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 2, 2017
6
1
I have an iPad Air and noticed that under settings, General, About, Name, that my iPads name was something entirely different than I would have used for a name. The name was something like ws-admin's-ipad. My question is: Will or could Jailbreaking change this name or has my iPad been compromised by spyware? thank you in advance for your help.
 
Jailbreak wouldn't change any device names, that's for sure!
 
What was the name of the iPad before?

If you don't recall it's likely you never changed it and it's had this name for a long time.

I've been jailbreaking since iOS 5 and all my iDevices have a standard set of names that indicate what they are and how much capacity they have. I've never observed a name change I didn't expect (such as restoring to stock) in all that time.
 
Jailbreak wouldn't change any device names, that's for sure!
So, you think it is probably Spyware? How would I go about detecting Spyware on my iPad, any ideas?
[doublepost=1504371820][/doublepost]
What was the name of the iPad before?

If you don't recall it's likely you never changed it and it's had this name for a long time.

I bought it used. Pretty sure when I got it that I had to go through the entire set up process. Don't you name the device during said set up? I know for a fact I wouldn't have named it that name, hence my concern.
 
So, you think it is probably Spyware? How would I go about detecting Spyware on my iPad, any ideas?
Spyware, LOL!

Why would anyone spying on you change your device name? For what purpose?

If someone is spying on you through your device don't they have better stuff to do with your device than change the name of it?

And even if they were to change it, why to that?

Spyware, please!
[doublepost=1504372108][/doublepost]
So, you think it is probably Spyware? How would I go about detecting Spyware on my iPad, any ideas?
[doublepost=1504371820][/doublepost]

I bought it used. Pretty sure when I got it that I had to go through the entire set up process. Don't you name the device during said set up? I know for a fact I wouldn't have named it that name, hence my concern.
No, you don't name it. That's something specific you have to manually do as the device usually name's itself as [Your] iDevice where [Your] is your name.

The fact that is DOES have this name indicates to me that you probably purchased a corporate device.

I'd be careful in restoring. It probably has a company profile attached to it which means when you restore you'd need to enter the business credentials.
 
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Spyware, LOL!

Why would anyone spying on you change your device name? For what purpose?

If someone is spying on you through your device don't they have better stuff to do with your device than change the name of it?

And even if they were to change it, why to that?

Spyware, please!

Excellent point. Seems they would leave the name the same as to not draw attention to it. On the other hand, wouldn't a distinct name let them know when I was connected to a particular network and make it easier for them to target the device if it were being spied on? Just a thought. I have to admit, it was unsettling when I saw that bizarre name. I factory restore would probably have a default name like "iPad".
[doublepost=1504372305][/doublepost]
Spyware, LOL!

Why would anyone spying on you change your device name? For what purpose?

If someone is spying on you through your device don't they have better stuff to do with your device than change the name of it?

And even if they were to change it, why to that?

Spyware, please!
[doublepost=1504372108][/doublepost]
No, you don't name it. That's something specific you have to manually do as the device usually name's itself as [Your] iDevice where [Your] is your name.

The fact that is DOES have this name indicates to me that you probably purchased a corporate device.

I'd be careful in restoring. It probably has a company profile attached to it which means when you restore you'd need to enter the business credentials.

This device was a "display device" at a store, as I was told. It didn't have anything on it when I got it. So, after I went through the set up process, it should have my name on it, not that bizarre name. So strange.
 
Excellent point. Seems they would leave the name the same as to not draw attention to it. On the other hand, wouldn't a distinct name let them know when I was connected to a particular network and make it easier for them to target the device if it were being spied on? Just a thought. I have to admit, it was unsettling when I saw that bizarre name. I factory restore would probably have a default name like "iPad".
As I mentioned earlier, it's probably a corporate iPad with a management profile still attached.

See Apple MDM (Mobile Device Management): https://support.apple.com/business
[doublepost=1504372392][/doublepost]
Excellent point. Seems they would leave the name the same as to not draw attention to it. On the other hand, wouldn't a distinct name let them know when I was connected to a particular network and make it easier for them to target the device if it were being spied on? Just a thought. I have to admit, it was unsettling when I saw that bizarre name. I factory restore would probably have a default name like "iPad".
[doublepost=1504372305][/doublepost]

This device was a "display device" at a store, as I was told. It didn't have anything on it when I got it. So, after I went through the set up process, it should have my name on it, not that bizarre name. So strange.
That store was probably managing their display devices to make it easier on themselves when people messed with them or stole them.
 
As I mentioned earlier, it's probably a corporate iPad with a management profile still attached.

See Apple MDM (Mobile Device Management): https://support.apple.com/business
[doublepost=1504372392][/doublepost]
That store was probably managing their display devices to make it easier on themselves when people messed with them or stole them.

Would it be impossible to determine whether or not it had Spyware on it if I wanted to check to make sure? I have looked around and don't see many options on detecting it, just getting rid of it if you think you have it. Thanks for your time, you have been generous.
 
Would it be impossible to determine whether or not it had Spyware on it if I wanted to check to make sure? I have looked around and don't see many options on detecting it, just getting rid of it if you think you have it. Thanks for your time, you have been generous.
If there is spyware, it's most likely that the iPad was jailbroken. Unless you are the NSA or a government entity the likelihood that you could install spyware on a stock iPad is not very high.

I have no idea how it could be found if you were to look for it.

I would suggest, looking in General and scrolling down to see if there are any policys attached to the device. This will tell you if MDM is installed.
 
If there is spyware, it's most likely that the iPad was jailbroken. Unless you are the NSA or a government entity the likelihood that you could install spyware on a stock iPad is not very high.

I have no idea how it could be found if you were to look for it.

I would suggest, looking in General and scrolling down to see if there are any policys attached to the device. This will tell you if MDM is installed.

Yes, my iPad is jailbroken. That is why I am worried. I wouldn't be worried in the least if it wasn't. Maybe I will just restore to factory just in case. Thank you again.
 
Yes, my iPad is jailbroken. That is why I am worried. I wouldn't be worried in the least if it wasn't. Maybe I will just restore to factory just in case. Thank you again.
Just be aware that if you do and a screen comes up looking for credentials you don't have then MDM will have been applied and you're going to be stuck.
 
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