How To Check Your iPhone for Viruses

You can check your iPhone for viruses by checking for unfamiliar apps, seeing if your data usage has spiked, seeing an unusual number of pop-up ads and noticing if specific apps are draining your battery. A virus is a type of malicious software that can infect any device, like your iPhone, and then replicate itself on your device’s programs or files.

Read on to learn how to check if your iPhone has a virus, solutions to fix your infected iPhone and what you should do to protect your iPhone proactively from viruses.

Can iPhones get viruses?

Although Apple devices are less likely than other devices to get infected with viruses, due to the strong security features of the iPhone Operating System (iOS), it is still possible for your iPhone to get a virus. iPhones are much more likely to get viruses if they are jailbroken, which is when someone removes the iOS restrictions on their Apple device so they can download apps and software from third-party sources. If you jailbreak your iPhone, you run the risk of unauthorized apps and software containing viruses that could infect your device.

How do you check your iPhone for viruses?

If you are uncertain that your iPhone has a virus, follow these steps below to check your iPhone for viruses.

Look for unfamiliar apps

Search your iPhone for unfamiliar apps, as these could contain malware. Malware is a kind of software that infects your device if you click on a phishing link, download a suspicious attachment or install games from third-party sources. For example, if you receive an unsolicited email that contains a link and click on that link, malware can start infecting your device and could install apps that linger on your iPhone without you knowing.

Check if your data usage has spiked

Have you noticed that your data usage has suddenly surged – even if you’re not doing anything differently on your iPhone? This could be a sign that your iPhone has a virus because malware may be running in the background and can cause your iPhone to use more data than normal for it to function. To check how much data you are using on your iPhone, go to Settings, then Cellular. Once there, scroll down to see which apps are consuming the majority of your data.

See if any apps are draining your battery

Check if any apps on your iPhone are draining your battery life since malware-infected apps run in the background of your device. Just as you can notice increased data usage as a sign of a virus-infected iPhone, you can see how your battery life has been affected by malware. Visit Settings, then click on Battery. From there, you can choose whether to view battery activity over the past 24 hours or from the previous three days. That screen will show you which apps have taken up the highest percentage of your battery, as well as whether your screen was on or off.

What to do if your iPhone has a virus

If your iPhone does have a virus, there are some steps you can take to protect your iPhone and personal information.

Delete suspicious apps

After checking your iPhone for unfamiliar apps, make sure to delete ones that you don’t remember downloading or don’t use anymore. A virus can hide itself in the form of an app, so to be sure that you are using trusted apps and remove the virus, delete any apps that you do not recognize or use frequently.

Clear your browser’s history, cache and cookies

You should clear your web browser’s history, cache and cookies if you learn that your iPhone has a virus because this will protect your privacy in case you accidentally downloaded the virus on the internet. Regularly deleting your browser’s history, cache and cookies also helps web pages load faster and removes personal information from your browser, such as user activity.

To clear your browser history, cache and cookies, go to Settings, then find Safari. Scroll down until you see the Privacy & Security section, then tap Clear History and Website Data.

Factory reset your iPhone

Before resorting to factory resetting your iPhone, make sure that you have backed up your data or else you will lose everything on your device. You should only complete a factory reset if you have tried all the methods above and the virus remains on your iPhone. Factory resetting will revert your iPhone to a blank slate, like how it came out of the box, which is why having a backup of your data is critical when restoring your device. If you have a backup from before the virus infected your iPhone, you should be able to factory reset your iPhone and restore it to its uninfected state.

To factory reset your iPhone, go to Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone. Click Erase All Content and Settings at the bottom of your screen. Your iPhone may ask you to enter your passcode or Apple ID password. Once you do that, confirm that you want to erase your device, then give it some time to erase your data. 

Change your Apple ID password

Even after factory resetting your iPhone, a virus may persist. At this point, you should try updating your Apple ID password since some viruses can infect Apple devices if your Apple ID has been hacked. Create a strong and unique password for your Apple ID account to ensure your account’s safety and privacy. A strong password typically consists of at least 16 characters with a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid using any personal information such as your birthdate or your child’s name because cybercriminals can learn this information about you online. You can generate a random and secure password for your Apple ID using a password generator like Keeper^®.

Keep your iPhone protected against viruses

In a world where everyone relies on their smartphones and technology, viruses can seriously impact not only your day but your devices, online accounts and even identity. Prevent viruses from infecting your iPhone by regularly checking your data usage and battery life, being cautious of pop-up ads and clearing your browser history. Make strong passwords for your accounts, especially for your Apple ID, by using a password generator.

Start a free 30-day trial of Keeper Password Manager today to create and store your unique passwords.