iPhone and viruses? How can this even be in the same sentence?

Yes, the entire ecosystem designed and developed by Apple is best known for its security and privacy. But, as we all know, nothing is impossible in our digital era. Firstly, there is always a human error in the iOS code, and secondly, the iPhone user may be the weak link in the security chain, and not the operating system. So there have already been infections through sideloaded apps, fake apps in the App Store, calendar invites, which shows that the risks are real.

It is clear that there is less chance of having any kind of malware on the iPhone than on other OS, but this is not a 100% guarantee.

So, now you know that any iPhone can get a virus. And it can do serious damage. In some cases, the malware will cause minor inconveniences, such as quickly draining the battery. However, if personal data were stolen, everything is much more troubling.

Either way, you can still eliminate this damage. Let’s discover how to detect viruses on an iPhone and how to fix them.

Let’s check your iPhone for malware

It’s simple to identify whether your phone is infected since it will act differently than usual.

You should check your device for malware if there’re the following signs:

• Unexpected apps crash. If your applications suddenly start to crash for no sound reason, it’s 98% infected. Perform a device scan.

• Presence of unfamiliar apps. Dubious apps on your phone – software you haven’t downloaded and that aren’t Apple’s standard apps – might be an indication that you have a virus. On the home screen, browse through files and folders. Check your phone’s settings if you don’t notice anything. There may be something strange there.

• Safari’s pop-ups. There can be viruses on your gadget if you’ve seen a rise in pop-ups when using Safari. Or when you even don’t.

• Unreasonably high phone bills. If your iPhone has malware, it begins to use more data each month. If you exceed the amount set by the tariff plan, you will receive a larger invoice. Another sign of iPhone malware is strange calls, both incoming or outgoing, that you didn’t make or don’t remember when you took them. 

• Fast-draining battery. Viruses can consume a lot of processing power. That, as a rule, decreases battery life. 

• iPhone overheating. Malicious apps beat the bag out of your iPhone, resulting in higher temperatures. Malware is a popular cause for your phone to overheat.

• Jailbreak. Jailbreaking is when you undo Apple’s security restrictions to download unapproved apps. Your gadget is considerably more likely to become infected with malware after jailbreaking. Finding out if your phone has been jailbroken is not easy. One possible sign is the presence of the Cydia app. This app is only available on jailbroken iOS devices.

Here’s a detailed guide on how to manually check your iPhone for viruses

 Another option is to use a specialized security tool that will routinely scan for malware and remove it before any symptoms appear.

How to kick all viruses out of your iPhone

If you suspect that your iPhone is infected, you need to act immediately. Below are a few simple steps to get rid of malware on your device.

#1. Restart your gadget 

This step might occasionally assist in removing viruses. Hold down both the on/off button and the Home button. Continue doing this until your phone restarts.

You can still forcibly restart your iPhone and put it into recovery mode if it lacks a Home button.

#2. Remove unusual apps

Removing any suspicious applications from your phone should help in cleaning it off of malware. Select Remove App after holding the icon down until just one app is highlighted.

#3. Clear browser history

You may eliminate malware on your iPhone by deleting your history in Safari. Additionally, you safeguard your data and passwords from theft.

#4. Restore iPhone from backup

Try older backups until you find one that doesn’t cause problems and that doesn’t contain malware.

#5. Restore factory settings

Well,if nothing helps, there’s only one solution – to reset your phone to factory settings after backing up your data. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase Content and Settings to accomplish this.

Protect your iPhone

Use robust security methods that provide continual protection to ward off viruses and secure your iPhone or iPad from attacks.

The following steps are the most crucial ones you can do to safeguard your iPhone or iPad against malware and viruses:

• Use App Store only to download something

All apps that appear in the App Store are subject to strict virus control. By downloading applications from the App Store, you ensure the security of your smartphone.

• Check the app permissions

Check the app’s or software’s requirements for permissions. Do they seem reasonable? If the permissions are ambiguous, either refrain from downloading the program or remove it.

• Don’t click on dubious links

Don’t open any spam messages; instead, mark them as trash mail. Don’t click any of the links in such a mail if you unintentionally opened it.

• Update your OS and apps regularly

Update your operating system regularly. This ensures that your smartphone is protected with the latest security updates.

Also, update all apps. This will reduce the chance that criminals can use their vulnerabilities in them to break into your iPhone.

• Be careful when using free Wi-Fi

Try not to shop or make online payments when using public networks. If you still have no choice, use a VPN to safeguard your connection by encrypting your data.

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Don’t put yourself at risk of infection. Protect your iPhone now.