In a world where you are constantly connected to the internet, there is a lot of room for viruses and malware. While the chance of catching one are slim, it isn’t impossible. The internet has no boundaries and your phone is no exception.
If your smartphone is infected, it can cause you to lose work, which is something you probably don’t want to deal with. Learning how to check for viruses on iPhone is an important step towards protecting yourself from any future issues.
Viruses: These are malicious programs that spread themselves by infecting other files or programs on your computer or mobile device.
- How to Check for Viruses on iPhone
- How to Remove Virus from iPhone / iPad
- How to secure iPhone and iPad from hackers
- How to Protect your iPhone / iPad
- Can iPhone get virus? iPhone Virus Scanner & Protection
They use various methods to trick users into installing them — usually through email attachments or websites that appear legitimate but contain hidden code designed to compromise security and steal personal information such as usernames, passwords and credit card numbers. Viruses can also damage files or damage entire operating systems so that they no longer function properly after being infected.
Things to consider
- The first thing you should do is check if something else has gone wrong in your iPhone that could be the cause of these problems.
- While there are no viruses that can infect iOS devices, there’s an attack vector for them to take over your Safari browser.
- There may be something that’s been installed on your phone that “phishes” for data or steals information from you.
- If you think you’ve clicked on something that may have been an attempt at phishing, change all passwords.
- Sometimes checking to see if your iPhone has a virus, or if it’s just acting up, is as simple as turning it off and back on again.
- You may not want to delete the app right away if it’s crucial to your business or organization.
- Check other sites and apps to make sure they aren’t acting up as well.
- Section: A site like Down Detector can help you identify any potential problems with the app if it’s crashing the most with other users around the world.
- There may or may not be a virus, but it helps to understand how viruses operate so you can protect yourself from them.
iPhone is one of the most popular smartphones in the world, and it’s also a great tool for business. It’s easy to use and convenient, so you can take it with you everywhere you go. That’s why people use their iPhones for work as well.
But there are some risks associated with using your iPhone for work. For example, it’s often connected to a network that other people use as well; if someone has infected that network with malware, then your iPhone could become infected too.
- According to Apple, there are no known viruses that will affect iPhones.
- There have been viruses written but they target jailbroken iPhones.
- It is possible for your iPhone to get a virus from visiting a site on your computer other than the App Store or iTunes Store.
- If a pop-up appears on your iPhone asking you to call a number, you should ignore it.
- Other signs of an infected iPhone include ads appearing in apps that didn’t contain them before, or an app that doesn’t open properly.
➡ Reasons Why iPhone is Better than Android
There are several ways to check for viruses and malware on iPhones. Here are some of the most popular methods:
Here’s how to check if your iPhone or iPad has a virus
If you suspect your iPhone has been infected by a virus, take a look at these steps to see if they can help you figure out what’s going on.
1: Check the Battery Health
If you’re having battery issues, it could be that your phone is running too many apps in the background or that you’re using it in an area with poor cellular coverage. However, if you’ve recently downloaded new apps or updated existing ones and have noticed an increase in battery drain or performance issues, then there’s a good chance that one of these may have come with malware built into it.
To check the health of your phone’s battery, go to Settings > Battery and look for the “Battery Health” option near the bottom of the list. Tap on this and read through the information provided to see if anything looks suspicious (for example, if there are any apps listed that shouldn’t be there). If there are any apps listed as “unhealthy”, then it’s possible that they’re drawing too much power.
➡ How to check iPhone battery health | Apple Watch and MacBook
2. Use an Antivirus App
You can download a third-party antivirus app and scan your device with it. However, if you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s easy to accidentally delete important files or apps. We recommend that you use one of the following options instead.
There are several anti-virus apps available for iOS devices; we’ve tested five of them below: Avast AntiVirus FREE Security, Bitdefender Mobile Security, Norton 360 & Avira Mobile Security
These apps will scan your device for any viruses or malware that may have been downloaded and installed without your knowledge. You can install them by downloading them from their respective app stores or by visiting their websites directly through Safari on your iPhone or iPad (iTunes Store). The former method is recommended since it will automatically update the app when new versions come out while the latter requires you to manually check for updates every few weeks or months depending on how frequently they release new updates with improved features and bug fixes.
In addition to checking your system performance, you can also scan your device for malware by using an app like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free or Lookout Security & Antivirus. These apps will scan your device for any viruses and other kinds of malware that could be causing problems with your iPhone’s performance or security. You can install these apps from the App Store if they’re not already installed on your device already.
3. Use a Web Scanner
You can also scan your iPhone through a web service like Norton or McAfee’s VirusScan. However, this method isn’t as effective because it can’t detect malware that’s hiding in apps that aren’t currently running on your phone (such as apps in the background).
Check if there are any apps that are installed but not showing up in Not On This iPhone list as they might have been removed by Apple due to security issues or bugs. If you find some apps that are missing from this list, then it’s best to remove them manually before proceeding with any further steps below as these apps may be causing problems with your device’s performance or battery life due to malicious activities done by hackers when creating these apps which could result in serious damage to your device if not removed immediately
4. Check Apple’s App Store reviews
Apple’s App Store has an overwhelming number of apps available for download — over 2 million at last count. The company prides itself on having one of the most secure platforms around, but even it can’t catch every bad actor trying to sneak through the cracks. That doesn’t mean that every review is legitimate; some are written by people who have been paid off by developers or other shady characters who want others to believe their apps are safe. However, if there are multiple reports of problems or bugs with an app, chances are good that something’s not right with it.
5. Check System Performance
The first step in making sure that your iPhone is virus-free is to make sure it’s running as smoothly as possible. If your iPhone has been slowing down or running into problems, it might be infected with a virus or other malware. To check system performance, open Settings and tap General > About. Scroll down until you find System Storage and tap this option.
This screen will give you an overview of how much space is being used by apps and other items like photos and music (which aren’t stored in system memory). If one app takes up more than of available storage space, it may be time to delete it.
➡ How to delete apps on iPhone 11, 12, X
6. Check For Suspicious Apps
You might be surprised to know that the majority of viruses are not spread through email or the web, but rather through apps. That’s because apps are designed to have access to your phone’s data, which makes them easy targets for hackers and malware developers.
If you’ve ever downloaded an app from a website or received one in an email, it’s important to check for suspicious apps.
If you downloaded an app and can’t remember doing so, it might be because someone else has been using your device without your consent or knowledge. Check out any apps that look suspicious by visiting Apple’s App Store and looking at their reviews page.
If you’re not sure if an app belongs on your device, visit Settings > General > Storage & iCloud Usage > Manage Storage and see what shows up under Installed Apps. If you don’t recognize any of those listed there (or even if you do), it could mean that someone else installed a malicious application on your phone without your knowledge or permission. It may also mean that your device has been compromised by malware like adware or spyware.
➡ Protect and Check Your Mac for Viruses and Malware
7. Check For URL Spoofing
Check for URL spoofing, which is a common phishing technique. If you see a link to a website that looks like it’s from Apple, but isn’t, you should avoid it. The easiest way to check if a link is real or fake is to hover over it with your cursor to see the full URL of where you’re going.
If the link is fake, then it will be something like “hxxp://appleiphone-support[dot]com.” If it’s real, then it will show something like “https://support.apple.com/iphone.” Another way to check if a link is real or fake is to look at its domain name.
For example, if the site asks for personal information and gives you a number to call or chat with someone, don’t give them any information until you’ve verified that they are who they say they are and that their site isn’t actually malicious code trying to steal your information.
Is Windows Defender good enough? How good is Windows defender
8. Do Not Jailbreak Your iPhone
This is the most important step in protecting your iPhone from viruses and malware. Jailbreaking your phone can potentially expose you to malicious apps that may contain viruses, spyware, adware and other harmful programs. If you have jailbroken your device, uninstall whatever jailbreak software you have installed.
The good news is that Apple has been taking measures to protect users from these worms by making it harder for them to spread and infect devices. And now there’s another feature which can help prevent worms from getting onto your device in the first place — XProtect.
➡ Mobile Security: Android vs iOS -Which Is more Secure?
XProtect is part of Apple’s anti-malware technology for iOS devices and it works with both jailbroken and non-jailbroken devices. It’s designed to protect against zero-day attacks — those that use previously unknown vulnerabilities in software. In other words: It protects against attacks that traditional anti-virus software can’t even detect until after they’ve been launched against users’ devices.
If you have jailbroken your iPhone, it is a good idea to run a virus scan on your phone.
Step 1: Download a virus scanner app. There are many available, but we recommend Norton because it is free and highly rated by users. The app also has a built-in feature for scanning for viruses.
Step 2: Open the Norton app and tap on “Clean” (located at the bottom of the screen). This will open up a list of options from which you can select “Jailbreak Apps.”
Step 3: Select “Jailbreak Apps” and wait for the scan to complete. This can take several minutes depending on how many apps you have installed on your device. If there are any malicious or suspicious apps found during the scan, they will be flagged with red exclamation points beside them.
Step 4: Tap on any flagged apps to view more information about them, including their App Store ratings and reviews (if available).
➡ Can someone track my Phone? Even If it is turned off?
9. Only Download Apps from Trusted Sources (App Store or Apple Developer)
You should only download apps from trusted sources such as the App Store or from developers who have been approved by Apple (Apple Developer Program). You can find out if the developer has been approved by checking the app’s description page in iTunes or on their website (if they have one). However, just because an app is available in the App Store does not mean that it
10. Check Invasive pop-ups
One of the biggest problems with iPhone viruses is that they often come in the form of pop-ups that appear on your iPhone screen. This is because there are many apps available for download on the internet and some are infected with malware. In order to protect yourself from this type of virus, you need to know how to spot them.
The first sign of a virus on an iPhone is invasive pop-ups. These pop-ups can be anything from advertisements for a free app or service to warnings about low battery or storage space issues. Some users have even reported seeing pop-ups telling them that their phone has been “hacked” and they need to pay a ransom fee in order to get it back online again! These pop-ups will appear without warning and can be very alarming when they suddenly appear while you’re browsing the internet or using an app like Facebook Messenger or Instagram.
Invasive pop-ups can also be accompanied by strange sounds coming from your iPhone speakers or even by your camera flashlight turning on without any prompting from you at all!
The best way to check for viruses is by using an antivirus app such as Avast Mobile Security. This app will scan for viruses in real time and alert you when one is found.
11. A spike in cellular data usage
A spike in cellular data usage can indicate that you have a virus. If your iPhone is constantly consuming more cell data than usual, there is a chance that it may be infected with malware.
You can check how much cellular data your iPhone has used by going to Settings > Cellular.
12. Strange changes to your home screen –
You may see some apps or shortcuts that you don’t remember installing or adding. These could also be signs of a virus.
Your home screen is probably filled with the same apps and folders over and over again. But if you see new icons that look out of place, it could be a sign of something more sinister.
13. Your iPhone is overheating
If you’re having problems with your iPhone heating up, it may be caused by a virus. You’ll notice your phone getting warmer than usual, perhaps even too hot to hold.
If you’re sure that your device is overheating and not simply running at a higher temperature because of the weather or other factors, it’s time to take action. You can try resetting your device and installing apps from trusted sources such as the App Store. If those don’t work, then you’ll have to contact Apple Support or take your phone into an Apple Store.
How to get rid of fake virus scams on your iPhone
The best way to protect yourself against these types of attacks is to be careful when surfing the web and installing apps on your iPhone or iPad.
One thing that can help is being cautious about what links you click on and where they might lead you. Many times these sites are set up with links that look like official Apple pages or other trusted sources. But if you hover over them with your mouse cursor, you can see the actual URL address behind it — that’s how you can tell if it’s real or fake.
If there are any suspicious looking sites, don’t open them in Safari at all — use Chrome instead so that if anything does happen, it won’t affect Safari as well (or vice versa).
Second, if you are experiencing issues with your iOS device, don’t install anything that claims to remove viruses or malware as these may only serve to worsen the problem. For example, if you have a virus that has hijacked your browser and is preventing you from opening Safari (or other browsers), don’t install any app that claims it will remove the virus from Safari because it won’t – it will only serve to worsen your situation.
Thirdly and finally, always back up your data before attempting any sort of troubleshooting operation like this one.
Do the following:
1. Close the Safari tab where the pop-up appeared.
2. Open iPhone Settings.
3. Turn on Airplane Mode.
4. Next, tap on Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
5. Now, enable Block Pop-ups and Fraudulent Website Warning settings.
How to protect your iPhone from viruses or malware
You might not be aware of it, but your iPhone is a computer in its own right. It stores files, runs apps, and can be infected with viruses just like any other computer.
To protect your iPhone from viruses or malware, follow these simple steps:
Avoid public Wi-Fi –
Public Wi-Fi hotspots can be dangerous because they’re unencrypted and accessible to anyone who wants to use them. You should avoid using public networks, especially those at airports or coffee shops. If you have to connect to one, make sure that you use a virtual private network (VPN) so that your traffic is encrypted.
➡ How does VPN work? What does a VPN do?
➡ How does VPN work? What does a VPN do?
➡ Benefits of VPN – Advantages and Pros of Using VPN
Only install apps from the App Store –
The safest way to get apps for your iPhone is through Apple’s curated App Store. This means that each app has been checked by Apple for malware and malicious code before being allowed onto their platform. If an app does turn out to be harmful, Apple will immediately remove it from their store and issue an update for all affected users.
The App Store has strict security measures in place to ensure that all apps on its platform are safe. You should only install apps from the App Store because doing so will reduce your chances of downloading malware or malware-infected apps onto your device. Also, avoid jailbreaking/rooting your phone. Jailbreaking/rooting opens up access to sensitive parts of the operating system that could let attackers in if they manage to break through other security measures first.
Restrict your app permissions –
While it is true that you need to allow some apps to access certain features on your device, you should be careful when granting permissions. The reason is that some apps might be malicious and use those permissions to gain access to your personal information or perform tasks that are not related to their primary function. For example, a flashlight app may have access to your contacts list if it asks for it.
Update your iPhone regularly –
Updating your iPhone regularly is one of the best ways to protect it from viruses and malware. Apple releases iOS updates on a regular basis and these updates include security patches that fix bugs and prevent hackers from accessing sensitive information stored on your phone. You can update your device by going into Settings > General > Software Update > Download and Install. In case there is no update available, tap Later in the top right corner of the screen (or tap Never if you don’t want an automatic update).
➡ How to Update iPhone 11 / iPhone 11 Pro / iPhone 11 Pro Max
➡ How to update Safari on iPhone and iPad
Use an iPhone security app:
There are many different types of iPhone security apps available in the App Store — some are free while others charge a fee. These apps can help scan your device for malware, monitor traffic and block unwanted calls and texts from unknown numbers.
How good is Bitdefender ? Is Bitdefender safe ?
Conclusion
Checking for viruses on your iPhone is a simple process. The first thing you should do is make sure that you aren’t running any applications that could be suspicious. This includes apps that aren’t from the App Store, have been modified in any way, or have been downloaded from some other source. Even if an app looks very similar to an existing app, it could contain malware.
The next step is to check for URL spoofing and phishing attacks on your iPhone. These are two forms of attacks that can cause problems with the browser on your device, so it’s important to ensure that they’re not present.
If this doesn’t help, then there might be something wrong with the operating system itself. If so, then you must reset you iPhone else it would be best to take it into a repair shop as soon as possible.
Viruses do not discriminate and can affect all operating systems, even the most up-to-date ones. Since Apple’s mobile operating system is one of the newer ones on the market, there haven’t been as many viruses developed for it yet. While you don’t have to worry about a lot of viruses being developed for your iPhone or iPad, there have been cases where you can download a “spyware” virus from an application, though this seems to be less common. However, there are some other things to be aware of when it comes to security; namely keyloggers, which can be installed through infected messages or emails.
Backing up your iPhone is a very important step. Backing up your iPhone is simple, but use these steps to make sure that you are backing up all the crucial information on your iPhone.
When it comes to security, there’s no such thing as being too sure. And since we kind of have a bad habit of carrying all our personal information around in our pockets, it makes sense to take charge of keeping your devices safe from viruses and malware. The good news? It’s not rocket science. Take it from your friendly internet security specialists at themacios and you’ll be enjoying safe and secure device journeys for years to come!
As discussed above, I suggest that you download a legitimate anti-virus app for your iPad or iPhone. Even if you don’t plan on using it as your primary anti-virus solution, it’s still a good application to have. Whether you want to use it as a secondary check on other anti-virus apps or simply as a way to protect your phone from malware and viruses, there are many benefits to installing one.