Are there any apple viruses

How to remove virus from an iPhone?

Is your iPhone behaving badly? It could be a virus. Although iPhone viruses are rare, this popular make of phone is not completely immune. If you think your iPhone may have a virus, you are on the right page.

In this article we will look at:

• If and how iPhones can get viruses
• How to spot if your iPhone has a virus
• How to clear a virus from your iPhone
• How to protect your iPhone using Kaspersky Security Cloud for iOS

Can iPhones get viruses?

Fortunately for Apple fans, iPhone viruses are extremely rare, but not unheard of.

While generally secure, one of the ways iPhones may become vulnerable to viruses is when they are ‘jailbroken’.

Jailbreaking an iPhone is a bit like unlocking it — but less legitimate. It involves obtaining root privileges which bypass the security restrictions that normally limit the operation of software on the device. Apple takes issue with jailbreaking and seeks to patch vulnerabilities in iPhones that allow it to happen.

The backstreet practice of jailbreaking iPhones gives users more control of the operating system. For example, the ability to customize how the system looks, delete pre-installed apps and download apps from places other than the App Store.

This may sound appealing but jailbreaking your iPhone may leave it less secure — there have been malicious programs that have affected jailbroken iPhones.

So, while the answer to the question “Can iPhones get viruses?” is ‘generally not’, iPhones have been known to get viruses, albeit rarely (and more likely if they have been jailbroken).

Learn more about other security threats iPhone users may face in our article Vulnerabilities in the iPhone.

Why are iPhone viruses so rare?

Viruses are malicious bits of computer code that replicate themselves. They spread throughout a system and may cause damage and delete or steal data.

In order to spread, a computer virus needs to be able to communicate with various programs that make up a system. However, the operating system that iPhone uses makes this difficult.

This is because Apple’s operating system is designed so that each app runs in a separate, virtual space. Essentially, the interactions between apps are restricted, making it hard for a virus to spread.

Added to this, all apps that Apple users download have to be downloaded from the App Store and Apple has a strict vetting process for all its apps. So, it’s incredibly unlikely for any malware infected apps to end up available for download.

Does your iPhone have a virus?

If your iPhone is behaving strangely, it is most likely because:

• There’s a buggy app that needs updating or deleting
• Your phone is running out of memory space
• Your battery needs replacing

Only rarely is the problem caused by a virus. Nevertheless, it is wise to know what to look out for. To check if your iPhone may have a virus, answer these yes/no questions below:

• Have you jailbroken your device?

If your iPhone has been jailbroken, it is more vulnerable to viruses.

• Have you spotted apps you don’t recognize?

Unfamiliar apps may be a sign of malware. Uninstall those you do not recognize.

• Are your apps repeatedly crashing?

When this happens for no reason it means your phone may be infected with malware.

• Has your data usage gone up?

Increased data usage that is not explained by you using your phone differently, may be caused by malware.

• Has your phone bill gone up?

Some malware sends messages to premium services. If you have an unexpectedly large bill, malware may be the reason.

• Are you seeing pop-ups when your browser is closed?

This should not happen if all is well with your iPhone. Pop-ups that appear when your browser is closed are a sign of malware.

• Is your battery draining quickly?

Malware can drain your battery. If you keep running out of charge your phone may be infected.

• Is your phone overheating?

If your phone is heating up more than usual, this may be a sign of malware activity.

How to remove a virus from your iPhone

Do you think your iPhone has be infected by a virus? If it is infected, here’s how to clear a virus from your iPhone manually:

• Delete apps that look suspicious

Delete any apps that you do not recognize or that you downloaded around the time the problem started.

• Clear your data and history

Go to ‘safari’ within ‘settings’. Tap ‘clear history and website data.’

• Power off and restart

Hold down power and slide to turn off. Then hold down again to restart. This may fix the problem. If the problem remains, go to step 4 below.

• Restore your phone from a previous backup

Keep trying earlier backup versions until you find one that does not have the problem and is malware free.

• Restore factory settings

If all else fails, return your phone to factory settings making sure you back files up first. To do this, go to ‘settings’ > ‘general’ > ‘reset’ > ‘erase all content and settings’.

How to protect your iPhone

You know how iPhones can get viruses, you know how to manually remove malware, but do you know how you can prevent your iPhone from malware in the first place?

Here are some key ways to keep your phone virus free:

Download Kaspersky Security Cloud for iOS

Protect your phone with Kaspersky Security Cloud for iOS. It provides vital security enhancements. For example, notifications about relevant security incidents and a tool that checks for weak system settings.

Only download apps from the App Store

Apple has a thorough vetting process. Downloading apps from the App store means they are highly unlikely to contain malware.

Check developer in descriptions on the App Store

It is always wise to read about who developed the app you are about to download in the description.

Read app user reviews

Always read app reviews from other users. Remember, that real reviews normally raise both good and bad points about products.

Check out the number of app downloads

Apps with millions of downloads are less likely to be malware.

Check permissions requested by the app

What permissions is the app requesting? Do they seem reasonable? If what is being asked for sounds suspicious, avoid downloading the app or remove it if you’ve already installed it.

Do not click on unverified links

Mark all spam emails as junk and avoid opening them. If you accidentally open a spam email, make sure you don’t click on the links it contains.

Keep operating system updated

Update your operating system regularly. This ensures your phone is protected by Apple’s latest security updates.

Keep apps updated

Update all your apps regularly: this will reduce the possibility of criminals exploiting vulnerabilities in apps to compromise your security.

Be mindful of using free Wi-Fi

Avoid online shopping and banking within public networks.

If you must use free Wi-Fi use a VPN connection like Kaspersky Secure Connection. This protects your connection by encrypting your data.

Why expose yourself to any risk? Protect your iPhone today. Download Kaspersky Security Cloud for iOS.

How to remove virus from an iPhone?

Can iPhones get viruses? We answer this question and explain how to clear viruses from your iPhone. Read now to learn how to protect your iPhone.

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Question: Q: How to check an iPhone for viruses

How do you check your iPhone for viruses

[Re-Titled by Host]

Posted on Jun 29, 2017 3:43 PM

Not necessary is you are keeping your iPhone iOS system software up to date.

Posted on Jun 29, 2017 3:48 PM

Helpful answers

I didn’t update my iOS for a little bit. My iPhone 6plus is stating that I have 24% damage caused by virus. How do I go about getting this cleared up?

Jul 13, 2017 7:16 PM

I got a message that my phone have 3 viru

Sep 3, 2017 10:00 PM

Not sure where you are seeing this message, but it is not from your iPhone. As we have already stated, iOS devices do not get viruses. Updating or not updating does not change that.

Where are you seeing this message?

Jul 13, 2017 7:18 PM

There’s more to the conversation

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Unless your phone is jailbroken, you don’t. There are no viruses in the wild that affect unjailbroken iPhones.

Why do you think you need to? Are you experiencing some problems?

Jun 29, 2017 3:46 PM

Not necessary is you are keeping your iPhone iOS system software up to date.

Jun 29, 2017 3:48 PM

I’ve been asked to make sure that my phone is secure on some websites

Jun 29, 2017 3:48 PM

Jun 29, 2017 3:49 PM

I’ve been asked to make sure that my phone is secure on some websites

Whoever is asking you to do that probably doesn’t know anything about iOS. Make sure your phone is properly updated as Carolyn suggests and you can tell whoever that your phone is secure.

Jun 29, 2017 3:51 PM

I didn’t update my iOS for a little bit. My iPhone 6plus is stating that I have 24% damage caused by virus. How do I go about getting this cleared up?

Jul 13, 2017 7:16 PM

Not sure where you are seeing this message, but it is not from your iPhone. As we have already stated, iOS devices do not get viruses. Updating or not updating does not change that.

Where are you seeing this message?

Jul 13, 2017 7:18 PM

I didn’t update my iOS for a little bit. My iPhone 6plus is stating that I have 24% damage caused by virus. How do I go about getting this cleared up?

That sounds like the large crock of you know what I have ever heard. I say delete the message and stop worrying about it.

Jul 13, 2017 7:50 PM

as the others said, it’s best that you just ignore the message. there’s no threat to you or your device. if you have difficulties removing the message from your device try going to Settings > Safari > Clear Website Data and History

Jul 13, 2017 8:52 PM

I got an old iphone 4 and it s not possible to update ios to the latest version or the precious ones,fon t ask me why ,but that says itunes. Now,in the last times the phone is going crazy,doing thongs by itself like calling people,intereupting surfing,changing pages by its own and i cannot find an antivirus ,cause the phone has a way too old ios and should be updated..how can i find something to check,if it s really a virus,or simply the ios system is gone??

Aug 10, 2017 12:13 PM

There are no viruses in the wild that can affect an iOS device that has not been jailbroken.

What you describe is symptomatic of a failing touch-screen. The phone will have to be replaced in that case.

Aug 10, 2017 12:16 PM

iPhones don’t get viruses. Is the iPhone 4 you are talking about jailbroken? Have you tried resetting the device:

Hold down the Home and Power buttons at the same time and continue to hold them both down until the Apple appears. Once the Lock screen displays, see if the issue is resolved.

If it is not, then you need to back up the device to either iCloud or iTunes:

Then first time around, set the device up as a new device (do not restore it from the backup), just sign in and follow the set up prompts for setting up a brand new phone for the first time. See if the issue is resolved. If it isn’t, then it sounds like the phone may be damaged.

If it is resolved, erase it again, and then restore it from the backup you made and see if the problem returns. If it doesn’t, then you are all set. If it does, then you have a corrupted backup, and you will need to erase it again, and set it up as a new device (not from the backup).

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Can iPhones Get Viruses? How to Detect & Remove a Virus or Malware (iOS 15 Update)

Viruses are rare on the iPhone, but iPhone malware does exist. Should the worst happen, iPhone malware removal is simple, effective, and free.

Can iPhones get viruses? Although rare, your iPad or iPhone can be infected with malware. You don’t need an antivirus app or a virus cleaner to get rid of it; we’ll go over how to improve your iPhone security via virus protection, how to do a virus scan or check, and how to perform iPhone virus removal. So much personal data is stored on iPhones. Knowing this, I’m sure you’re wondering, «Does my iPhone have a virus?» Let’s get started learning about iPhone viruses so that we can detect, delete, and keep from getting reinfected with viruses.

What’s in This Article:

Can iPhones Get Malware? How to Keep Your Phone Secure

It’s easy to revel in the promise of security and believe our iPhones are safe; after all, the Apple ecosystem has a great track record for security and defense against electronic invasion of all kinds. Apple CEO Tim Cook stated, “iPhone, iPad, and Mac are the best tools for work, offering the world’s best user experience and the strongest security.» While that assertion may be true, iPhone owners need to do their part to keep their devices and their data secure, and not just rely on Apple to keep malware at bay.

What Is Malware on iPhone? What Is a Virus? What’s the Difference?

The term virus has entered the common vernacular to mean any unwanted invader of a computer or handheld device, but if we’re technical, there is a difference between a virus and malware. Malware is short for malicious software and includes Trojan horses, spyware apps, and viruses. Anything that can harm your devices or steal your personal information is included in the malware category. Viruses are a specific type of malware: malicious software programs that replicate themselves by modifying software with their own cod e once they’ve invaded. The iPhone doesn’t typically get viruses, but other kinds of malware do exist, for example, spyware, which sends your activity to a third-party, or adware, which shows you extra and unwanted advertisements. While viruses are rare on iPhones, fake virus warnings are fairly common (see Virus Warning Pop-ups, below). If you follow the tips below, it’s very unlikely that your iPhone will be invaded by malware of any type.

Does My iPhone Have a Virus? Virus Warning Pop-ups

This falls into the category of suspicious links below but is so sneaky and commonplace that it needs to be addressed right away. Sometimes a pop-up will appear on your screen that says something really official sounding—it may even claim to be from Apple! The pop-up is usually a virus warning like this, «Warning! Your iPhone has been compromised by a virus! Scan now!» There’s a button to tap, which will supposedly scan your iPhone for the offending virus, when in reality, there is no virus. This is a malicious advertisement–a popup ad–and clicking on it will infect your device (or more likely your browser) with malware. On an iPhone, there isn’t too much that these pop-ups can do except scare you and then trick you into volunteering sensitive information like credit cards—they cannot access your private information, your files, or your phone’s apps unless you grant them that access. If you see something like this come up on your screen, never ever engage with the pop-up; follow the procedure for getting rid of virus warning pop-ups to keep your device safe.

Jailbreak? Don’t Do It: Protect Your iPhone from Malware & Viruses

Sometimes there’s a temptation to jailbreak an iPhone so that software and apps outside of the Apple ecosystem can be uploaded. While it’s an understandable urge, once you jailbreak your iPhone, you not only void your warranty, but you also leave your device open to the malware it was formerly protected against. According to Paloalto Networks, 225,000 jailbreakers had their data breached, and Apple ID usernames and passwords stolen by malware called KeyRaider in 2015. Some of these hacking victims had their iPhones remotely locked and held for ransom as well. Held for ransom means exactly what it sounds like; these hacked iPhone owners had to pay cybercriminals to unlock their phones.

Once you’ve jailbroken your phone, you’ll most likely be turned away if you bring your device to be serviced at an Apple Store. In my opinion, any convenience you may add by uploading unauthorized software and apps is far outweighed by the prospect of having to buy a new iPhone if your current device gets hacked. Beyond that, there’s the potential stress of identity theft, and all the countless hours it will take to change passwords, call banks and credit card companies, and check your credit report. Just don’t jailbreak, OK?

iOS Update: Install Apple’s Software Updates for the Latest Malware & Virus Protection

It can be tempting to wait on updating your operating system; it seems like you just got comfortable with the last version! There’s a very good reason to make the switch as soon as possible, though. Operating system updates are a way for Apple to introduce new features and fix bugs, but also to keep security at the highest possible level. When a security breach or even the possibility of one is detected, Apple programmers get to work tightening up the chinks in your iPhone’s armor. Waiting to switch to the latest version of iOS leaves your iPhone vulnerable to malware, so do that software update as soon as you can, every time.

Apple App Store: Avoid iPhone Malware & Viruses from Apps

One of the easiest ways to keep viruses and other malware off of your iPhone is to only purchase and download apps from the Apple App Store, which you’re limited to anyway if you haven’t jailbroken your device. Apple’s App Store has historically been a secure platform for purchasing approved apps from vetted developers. That being said, there have been cases of apps being removed from the store after they were discovered to be clever counterfeits or to include compromised code. But apps don’t have to be terribly malicious to do things you might not want, like send too many notifications, introduce advertising where you don’t want it, or track your device’s location. Even benign apps like those for parental control, designed to give parents extra information about their ward’s phone use, can be used as spyware if they are installed on your device without your knowing. Before purchasing any app:

1. Make sure the app has a professional feel: The images should be smooth and unpixelated; spelling and grammar should be correct in the descriptions.
2. Check for app reviews: Are they positive? Is there a large enough number of reviews to indicate that this is a legitimate app that customers are using successfully?
3. Do you recognize the app developer? Do they have a link to a company website you can follow to see this app, as well as their other products?

Trust your intuition—sometimes an app just feels off, or maybe it’s a «too good to be true» situation like a free app that would usually cost at least a few dollars. If you’re still unsure, contact Apple Support with your question, and wait to download the app until your concerns have been addressed.

Hackers can take the alternate route of infiltrating an app developer’s network to steal information gleaned from app store customers. This is why, beyond making sure that you’re only downloading from trusted app developers, you’ll want to check your privacy settings for each app. Many apps have far more access to your iPhone than they really require to perform the function they’re designed for. So turn off permissions for any unnecessary access to your device.

iPhone Malware: Avoid Suspicious Links, Phishing & Robocalls

I think we’ve all had the experience by now: a questionable download in an email from a friend, a robocall that urges prompt action on a past-due account, an email from your insurance company requesting that you follow a link to update your account information. Any of these might be legitimate, or they might be scammers trying to get access to your iPhone or your personal data.

If you’ve received an email or message on social media with a link or download that seems different than your usual conversational style or content with the sender, text or call to make sure your friend is really the one who sent that message before downloading or opening anything. If your friend’s email or social media account has been hacked, it may be sending messages to their contacts without their knowledge in an attempt to spread the malware still further. Similarly, don’t call numbers left in your voicemail, or follow links emailed to you, even if they seem important or official. If your credit card company or bank is trying to contact you, call the number on the back of your card or visit the usual customer service website you’ve used in the past and report the call or email. If it’s a genuine message, you’ll be able to deal with the issue through customer service; if it’s a fraudulent message, you’ve saved yourself a lot of trouble!

Back Up Your iPhone for Data Security

Just as important as updating to new versions of iOS is getting into the habit of regularly backing up your iPhone. If you’re wondering, «How do I back up my iPhone,» you can back up your device with iCloud, with your Mac or Windows computer, or both, and your photos, contacts, and other important data are preserved. An iCloud backup will be stored in the cloud, and a local computer backup will be saved on your computer; having both is a double assurance that if your iPhone picks up malware, or is lost or stolen, you’ll still have access to all the information it contained. Also, you can use your backups to restore your phone if necessary; we’ll get to that in a bit.

Does My iPhone Have a Virus or Other Malware?

How to Check Your iPhone for Viruses or Malware

So you suspect your iPhone has picked up some malware; it’s been acting a bit strange lately. We’re going to quote Chris Hauk, a consumer privacy champion over at Pixel Privacy: «As you’ll see when searching for antivirus in the App Store, most of the results are for apps that offer WiFi scanners, dangerous website alerts, and such. Actual virus scanning apps simply don’t exist in the App Store. This is because of the way iOS (and iPadOS) handle apps, forcing each one to run in its own sandbox. This prevents apps from being able to infect other apps or system files.» This makes it very difficult for viruses to operate on your iPhone, but it also makes it equally difficult for virus and malware scanners to find problems, because they can’t scan other apps on your device.

The good news is that if you’ve followed the steps for virus prevention outlined above: not jailbroken your iPhone, updated iOS as soon as possible, and avoided suspicious apps, links, and downloads, then it’s unlikely that malware has infected your iPhone. Just in case, though, let’s do an iPhone virus check and go over your phone’s symptoms to see if maybe malware is causing the problem. Here are a few indicators you might have malware on your iPhone:

iPhone Malware: Pop-Ups

If you’re experiencing lots of pop-ups when browsing Safari on your iPhone, that’s not necessarily a symptom of malware. Make sure you’ve turned on block pop-ups in your Settings, then see if the problem diminishes. If pop-ups keep, well, popping up with the same frequency, you may have an issue.

iPhone Malware: Apps Crashing

Sometimes apps crash, but that should be a rare occurrence. If one or more of your apps are repeatedly crashing, make sure to update apps. If a particular app keeps crashing, try deleting and downloading it again. If one or more apps still keep crashing, maybe malware is at play, after all.

iPhone Malware: Data Usage Spikes

It’s a good idea to have at least a general idea of your typical data usage month over month, in the same way that it’s best practice to keep track of your car’s gas mileage. This is because an increase in your data usage can indicate a problem in the same way a dip in your gas mileage can. If your iPhone’s data usage is suddenly spiking, it may be an indicator of malware burning through data in the background of your device.

iPhone Malware: Battery Drain

Another idea, this one suggested to us by Chris Hauk, is to keep an eye on your battery. If you find it suddenly failing much sooner than expected that may be an indication of background activity from a new app or a recent website – activity that you may not want. Check out our article about saving battery on your iPhone for how to identify which app is the culprit, and how to limit background activity.

iPhone Malware: Microphone & Camera Use Indicators

With iOS 14, Apple introduced a tiny orange light at the top of your iPhone screen to show you when your microphone and camera have been used recently. Apps that use your microphone or camera without your permission should have their permissions revoked or should be uninstalled.

Virus Remover & Cleaner: How to Get Rid of a Virus on Your iPhone

How to Reset Your iPhone

If you’re even marginally convinced that your iPhone has picked up malware, it’s time to restore from an iCloud or a local backup. This will allow your iPhone to start over with factory settings and, hopefully, no malware, but it will preserve any apps, settings, and data that you have backed up.

How to Clean Virus from iPhone

1. Open the Settings app.

Scroll down to General and tap it.

Tap Reset at the bottom of the menu.

Tap Erase all Content and Settings.

Once your content and settings have been erased, your iPhone will automatically ask you if you’d like to restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup or restore your iPhone from a local backup. Make your selection based on which backup is most recent, but definitely before the malware, then follow the on-screen instructions and in a few short minutes your iPhone should be back online and good to go.

How to Backup Your iPhone to Your Computer

Resetting your iPhone will almost certainly cure your strange behavior, but it will also wipe any data that wasn’t backed up. So you’ve got to have a recent backup available. Here’s how to make sure your iPhone is backed up. Apple is phasing out iTunes on Mac, so up-to-date Mac computers should be using the Finder. Windows computers and Macs with older OS should scroll down to find instructions for iTunes.

For Macs Running macOS Catalina or Later

For those of you who’ve updated your Mac to Catalina or later software, you can back up your iPhone using Finder. To do this:

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable.
2. Open the Finder window and click your iPhone in the sidebar under Locations.

Click General, then select Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac. If you like, you can also click Encrypt local backup to encrypt and password protect your iPhone data.

Click Back Up Now to begin the backup process. Leave your iPhone plugged into your Mac for the duration.

For PCs or Macs Running macOS Mojave or Earlier:

1. Plug your iPhone into your computer using your USB cord. If iTunes doesn’t automatically open when the computer detects your phone, open iTunes.
2. Follow the onscreen steps if your device asks for a passcode or to Trust This Computer.
3. Find and select your device in the Finder window.

When it’s time to restore from a backup, a backup of iTunes dated before your suspected virus infected your device. Click Restore Backup; leave your iPhone connected to your computer with the USB cord until it restarts and syncs with your computer.

Once your iPhone has been restored, it will start up like a brand new phone. Follow the steps of the setup process.

Apple Support Can Help, Too

If your iPhone is still showing malware symptoms after you’ve followed the steps above, it’s time to contact Apple Support. If you’ve owned the device for less than a year and haven’t done anything to void your warranty, like jailbreaking, the service may be free. If you’re an Apple Care or Apple Care Plus customer, your iPhone warranty is extended, so it’s always worth checking in at the Genius Bar.

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