Can My iPhone Get a Virus?

Yes, your iPhone can get viruses. However, it is uncommon for iPhones to get viruses due to the nature of Apple’s iPhone Operating System (iOS). Because iPhone users are only able to download apps from the App Store, this makes it much harder for hackers to infect their devices. Having a jailbroken iPhone would make you more susceptible to getting infected with viruses because you could download unauthorized apps outside of the App Store.

Continue reading to learn more about how you can tell if your iPhone has a virus and what to do to keep your iPhone safe from viruses.

Signs your iPhone has a virus

If you suspect that your iPhone may have gotten infected, check the following signs of an iPhone having a virus to determine what may be wrong with your device.

Random pop-ups keep appearing

When browsing the internet, you may keep seeing pop-ups that have nothing to do with what you are searching for. Pop-ups could be signs that your iPhone is infected with a virus. You should never interact with these pop-ups because this could lead to your private information being stolen. For example, if you start noticing “error messages” or ads as you browse the web, this can be a tempting tactic to get you to click on an ad and download malware onto your iPhone without you knowing.

Apps you never downloaded are showing up

If you don’t recognize an app on your iPhone and do not remember downloading it, this could mean that your iPhone has been infected with a virus. One of the best practices you should follow is to regularly go through your apps and delete the ones that you don’t use. By doing this, not only do you free up more storage space on your iPhone but you also ensure that no suspicious apps are lingering on your device.

Your iPhone is overheating

It may be possible that your iPhone has started overheating when you use it for everyday activities as a result of a virus. Sometimes, a virus may be active in the background of your iPhone even when you may not realize it.

You have started using much more data

If you notice a dramatic increase in data usage, this could be because your iPhone is infected with a virus. You can see in your settings which apps have been using more data than others under Cellular Data. A serious sign of a virus being on your iPhone is if the reported data usage doesn’t match your actual data usage. For example, if you know you were only using an app for five minutes each day, you would be suspicious if your settings told you that you used the app for three hours each day.

Your iPhone battery is draining quickly

Although this may be harder to tell with older and therefore slower iPhone models, your battery draining faster than normal could be a sign that your iPhone is infected with a virus. Some viruses take up a large amount of your iPhone’s energy, which causes your battery life to shorten quicker than normal if your iPhone is infected with a virus.

Your apps frequently crash while using them

Having a virus on your iPhone can cause apps to crash repeatedly while trying to use them. In some instances, viruses can seize control over apps that you use often, like iMessage. By controlling apps or app functions on your iPhone, cybercriminals can gain access to your private information when infecting your iPhone with a virus.

Your camera indicator lights stay on

When you use an app that requires your camera, there’s a camera indicator light that glows green. However, once you close that app, typically the light turns off. If you notice that your camera indicator light remains on after closing an app, this could mean that your iPhone has been infected with a virus. 

How iPhones can get viruses

Now that you know the common signs of an infected iPhone, you may be wondering how your iPhone could even get a virus to begin with. You could trigger a virus infection in a variety of ways, such as by downloading a free game from a third-party source instead of going through the App Store. By interacting with malicious apps and software, you could risk jeopardizing the privacy and security of your iPhone.

Your iPhone could also get a virus if you open a suspicious link or attachment. It’s always safest to ignore or delete unsolicited messages that ask you to click on a link or attachment because they can be malicious and contain a virus. Once you’ve clicked a malicious link or attachment, the virus could infect your iPhone and steal your personal information.

Another way your iPhone could get infected by a virus is if you jailbreak it. Jailbreaking your iPhone allows you to download apps and other software outside of the App Store, which can lead to unauthorized apps containing viruses infecting your device.

How to get rid of a virus on your iPhone

After you identify that your iPhone has a virus, you will immediately want to attempt to remove it from your device. Here are some steps that you can follow to remove a virus from your iPhone:

1. Restart your iPhone: By restarting your phone, you can temporarily isolate or pause the active virus. Complete the restart by holding the power button on your iPhone until you see Slide to Power Off. Slide that, and once the screen goes black, you can hold down the power button to turn your iPhone back on.
2. Delete suspicious or unfamiliar apps: Once you’ve restarted your phone, go through your apps and remove any apps that you don’t recognize. These apps could contain the virus, so deleting any unused apps would narrow down the source of the virus.
3. Factory reset your iPhone and restore your data from a backup that predates the virus: If you want to be sure that the virus is gone, perform a factory reset, which will wipe all existing data from your iPhone. As long as you backed up your iPhone before the virus appeared, you can restore your data safely.

Tips to protect your iPhone against viruses

Luckily, there are many simple ways to protect your iPhone against viruses:

Do not jailbreak your iPhone

As mentioned before, jailbreaking your iPhone can lead to getting a virus because you are no longer protecting your phone with Apple’s iOS. When you jailbreak your iPhone, you are allowing cybercriminals to easily infect your device. Your device can be infected by simply downloading a game or a free movie. 

Keep your iPhone up to date 

By installing the latest software updates as soon as they become available, you will protect your iPhone’s safety and functionality. In addition to patching security flaws, keeping your iPhone updated with the most recent software also fixes any bugs, adds new features and improves the overall performance of your device. One way to make sure that you receive the latest update on your iPhone is by turning on automatic updates.

Only download from trusted sources 

When searching for software or apps to download onto your iPhone, only download apps from the official App Store. Downloading from third-party sources can increase your chances of a virus infecting your iPhone because apps, games, movies and more could contain malware.

Avoid clicking unsolicited links and attachments 

If you ever receive a link or attachment that seems suspicious, do not click on it. By clicking on an unsolicited link or attachment, you could be granting cybercriminals access to your private information just by viewing a website or downloading a file that they sent you.

Avoid connecting to public WiFi

Refrain from connecting to public WiFi when you are outside of your home. By only using private or secure networks, you can prevent your data from being intercepted by cybercriminals. If you do use an unsecured network, keep your information safe and private by connecting to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) which will encrypt your data.

Avoid iPhone virus infections

While the chances of your iPhone becoming infected by a virus are rare, it is still necessary to know how to protect your iPhone from viruses. Now that you know the signs of an infected iPhone, you will be able to act quickly if you suspect that your iPhone has a virus by deleting suspicious apps and restarting or resetting your iPhone. Make sure to always download apps and open links from trusted sources like the App Store on your iPhone.