How To Check Iphone 11 For Viruses

How can iPhones get malware from websites.

how can iPhones get viruses from websites

Can iPhones get Viruses from Websites?

Can iPhones get viruses from websites or can iPhones get malware from websites or outside sources surpassing strong security of Apple devices, are questions often asked by the iPhone users.

Apple is very particular about security of its devices. In fact, iPhone is by far one of the most secure smart-phones currently in the market. This of course does not mean that the answer is an unqualified 'no' when someone asks – do iPhones get viruses or can iPhone get malware from outside sources?

Let us, therefore, see how can you get viruses on your iPhone or how can iPhones get malware from websites and other sources despite Apple's strong security.

Can iPhones get viruses from websites or Internet – what are the chances?

We all know that the security of its devices has long been one of Apple's biggest priorities. But you may sill find many iPhone users are worrying about – can iPhones get viruses from websites despite such strong security? Let's, therefore, look into the chances of iPhone getting infected by viruses or malware.

The likelihood of getting viruses on iPhone from websites, internet or outside sources, are extremely low. This is because all the Apps in the Apple store go through thorough security checks before being uploaded on the store. If any virus or malware is detected Apple will not approve the app to be uploaded. Moreover, Apple does not allow any download from the web. Another reason that iOS devices are relatively safe compared to Android devices is that there are many more Android users than iOS which makes Android a bigger target of the hackers. Therefore, my first response to the query – 'can you get viruses on your iPhone' would be – this is unlikely unless your phone is jail-broken.

However, although the likelihood of viruses on iPhone is extremely low, it may be technically possible for iPhones and other iOS devices to get viruses or malware from websites or internet. There are incidences where legitimate apps in the iOS App Store were infected with viruses or malware. Now, how do iPhones get viruses or malware in rare cases?

When you download any app from Apple store it is always virus or malware free. But when the app is updated there is chance of it getting infected. This is because the data for updates come from developers who might transfer virus in the process. However, in this case also your iPhone may not be affected because its internal security will not allow the infected app to feed any data into the device and the app may eventually crash. But it cannot be an unqualified no the query – can you get viruses on your iPhone? The fact remains that your iPhone still could potentially be infected by viruses or Malware.

iPhone has become more of a target by the hackers as it has grown in popularity. Though Apple has taken so many precautionary steps to ensure safety of its iOS devices, which include encrypting all iMessages and strict security screenings of all App Store offerings, you might have heard a lot about iPhones acting strangely or running slow due to virus or malware infection.

How can iPhones get malware from websites?

Though it's rare, it has been found that iOS devices at times can be infected by malware or viruses, even if the devices aren't Jail-broken. Now, how can iPhones get malware from websites or other sources?

It needs to be remembered that, no matter how strong a platform may be, there will be still some exploitable weaknesses. The malware, which are 'malicious software', may come from infected websites, emails, and third-party programs. Although malware is typically tends to be more associated with PCs and Windows devices, it has been detected that it can also affect Macs, iPads, iPhones and other Apple devices. Even if you don't jailbreak your iOS device, despite very rigid control from Apple, App Store cannot always keep malicious apps from finding ways into your device. Hackers can find alternative methods to compromise it. One way hackers distribute malware is by tricking iPhone users to download free versions of apps that users would otherwise have to pay for.

Security researchers at Google have also recently found evidence of efforts to hack iPhones using websites which would discreetly implant malware or malicious software to gather contacts, images and other data. Nevertheless, these exploits tend to live only for a very short period as Apple issues regular updates of its devices to the latest software to make sure they are adequately protected.

However, the facts remain that very few malware and viruses are targeted to iOS devices as compared to Android. According to a report only 0.7% of the total malware threats around are aimed at iOS devices. The reason for such low percentage of threats is simply because it is very hard to target iOS and infringe into its security.

Therefore, the true answer to the query – can iPhones get malware from websites, internet or other sources, can be made in one sentence – even though the instances of infections from viruses or malware on iPhone are not so common, the security of iOS devices are not totally impregnable.

Keeping your operating system up to date is one of the best ways to protect against such infections.

How to check for viruses on iPhone?

Once you know how can you get a virus on your iPhone from websites and other sources, your next question may be – how to tell if your iPhone has a virus or malware?

Despite strong security of Apple devices against viruses if you notice your device acting strangely or running slow, doubt may obviously arise in your mind that my iPhone may be infected with virus. In such situation you should first need to ensure that it is actually a virus that is causing unnatural behaviour of your device. Now, how to check for viruses on iPhone?Here are some common symptoms that tell if there are viruses on your iPhone:

Data usage: The first sign of iPhone virus is that there will be rapid data depletion. This is because the virus (malicious software) can eat away your data by communicating with its creator via the internet and running different tasks in the background. Therefore, if you notice a huge spike in data usage, there's a good chance that a virus has managed to intrude in your device.
Crashing apps: If you have a virus on your device, the apps will no longer function properly and would tend to crash too easily and frequently. This is because the iPhone's internal security won't allow the infected app to feed any data into your iPhone and the app may eventually crash.
Pop-up ads: While surfing the net if you start getting pop-up ads all over the place on your device, especially for dubious products and services, then that could be the result of virus infection of your device. In such a situation you should never click those ad links because it may worsen the situation further.
Unwanted apps: Trojans download apps that look just like other real apps on your device. They are designed in the same manner as the legitimate apps to avoid detection. Therefore, if you see an app that looks familiar, but you don't remember downloading it, check its authenticity. There's a good chance that a virus has managed to intrude in your device. If the app looks suspicious, delete it.
Battery drain: All kinds of viruses consume lots of power and cause the battery of your device to run out faster. Therefore, if you find your iPhone battery draining fast all of a sudden then you also need to check if your device has virus.

How to clear viruses from iPhone?

Now that you know how to tell if your iPhone has a virus or malware from the symptoms detailed above, the next question that will come up – how to clear viruses from iPhone if it is found to be infected.

If your device is acting strangely and showing any of the symptoms of virus infection mentioned above, the best way for removing viruses from iPhone is to reset your device to factory settings. Follow the steps below for iPhone virus removalif you suspect that your device is infected with virus:

1. Use iCloud or iTunes to back up your iPhone;

2. Go to Settings > General > Reset;

3. Tap 'Erase All Content and Settings' which would clear all apps and data on your device;

4. Restart your device and follow the steps to set it up again;

5. Sign in to iCloud while setting up the device to restore your iPhone from iCloud back up;

6. Download the apps again you consider necessary from the App store;

If you are unsuccessful in removing viruses from iPhone even after restoring your device to factory settings then you should fix an appointment with Apple's Genius Bar. They have system-scanning software that performs a thorough check on your device for detecting and removing any hidden malicious files.

You may also like to know: How to Delete Cookies on iPhone

Now that I have explained in detail how can you get a virus on your iPhone or malware on iPhone from outside sources in rare cases and the ways for removing viruses from iPhone, let me also answer some of the related questions often asked by the iOS users:

Can you get viruses on your iPhone from Safari?

The iPhone users often ask – can an iPhone get a virus from Safari? The answer is – you may rarely get virus or malware from Safari, if you have a current updated iOS version.

In fact, the iOS software on your iPhone is very secure and unless you've jail broken your device and subsequently removed the built-in protections – Apple codes into the software, you will not get a virus on iPhone. If you still receive a mail that claims that you have been hacked with malware, it is probably a scam and not real and you can ignore such message. But, if the message continues to come, you should clear Safari's cache by doing the following:

Go to Settings > tap 'Safari' > tap 'clear History and Website Data', then confirm by tapping "Clear."

How do I scan my iPhone for viruses?

You can scan iPhone for virus by downloading Avast Security which is a popular antivirus app for iPhone and iPad, available in free and Pro versions in Apple App Store. It is a fast, stable and efficient software capable of protecting all your iOS devices from any threat from outside sources.

Can iPhones get hacked from websites?

Yes, there is every chance of your iPhone getting hacked if you go on visiting unsafe websites. However, there is much less chance of hackers getting access to your phone from secured websites.

Can someone hack my iPhone?

The answer is yes, it is possible to hack your iPhone. But Apple devices being among the most secure devices your iPhone is at much less risk than other electronic devices. If you take the proper precautions, a hacker of average skill will find it too difficult to target your iPhone and he will want to go after easier prey.

How to know if my iPhone is hacked?

Here are some of the indicative signs if your iPhone is hacked:

> Your phone's temperature may rise without any visible cause;

> The phone battery tends to drain off too quickly;

> Your phone takes long to charge;

> The apps which were working alright before may stop working abruptly;

> You may often find your phone echoing amidst the voice calls which never happened before;

> Your iPhone may take very long time or even may refuse to shut down;

You may also like to read this post: How to fix a hacked Android phone – proven solutions

Conclusion

You may find many iOS users often asking – Can iPhones get viruses from websites or can iPhones get malware from websites or outside sources despite Apple's strong security? It is hoped that after going through the post it should not be difficult for you to answer these queries.

Now that you know how can you get viruses on your iPhone, may be in rare cases, whenever you observe any unnatural behaviour of your device, you may doubt that there are viruses on your iPhone. In such a case you should check whether your device is actually infected or not from the common symptoms as explained under how to check for viruses on iPhone. In case you guess that your iPhone is infected, remove the virus or malware from your device by following the steps under – how to clear viruses from iPhone .

The iOS users should take as many precautionary measures as possible to avoid such virus infections. No matter how robust a platform may be there are still some weaknesses that can be exploited and you need to plug those holes to keep your device secured and free from viruses. Here are some of the precautionary measures all iPhone users need to take to avoid viruses on iPhone:

1. Keep apps updated regularly and remove apps that you do not use;

2. Prevent cookies from being accepted in Safari. Clear old cookies;

3. Turn iCloud OFF;

4. If you are not using any Bluetooth devices, disable Bluetooth to increase battery life and prevent security risks;

5. Never Jailbreak or Root Your Phone which will bypasses most of Apple's built-in security measures;

6. Any attempt to access internet through a suspicious hotspot can result in compromised passwords and loss of personal data. Therefore, to use a public WiFi hotspot avoid unprotected hotspots, use secure channel (HTTPS) and disable automatic connection to WiFi in your iPhone settings;

7. Use public wireless network by employing a VPN (virtual private network);

8. Disable WiFi when you are not accessing wireless networks;

9. Remove all payment options after having created your iTunes account;

If any of you have ever experienced viruses on your iPhone, I would be glad if you please share your experience in the comments section below.