How To Check For Viruses On IPhone?

Can your iPhone be attacked by a virus? Despite the fact that iOS is a closed ecosystem, it prevents viruses from spreading across your devices or stealing important data. Jailbreaking your OS devices is one of the reasons for viruses incursion. So if you don’t jailbreak your iPhone, the possibility of getting a virus is lower. However, there is more than one reason for the virus's incursion on your iPhone. In this article, we’ll show you how to check for viruses on iPhone and several methods to remove viruses from your device. Keep reading.

Why does your iPhone have a virus?

iPhones are normally less harmed by viruses and malware than other devices due to Apple's strict security measures and its closed ecosystem. However, it is still possible for an iPhone to get a virus if certain security measures are not taken or if the user engages in risky online behavior.

Jailbreaking your iPhone, downloading apps from untrusted sources, clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, and using outdated software are the most common reasons for getting a virus on your iPhone.

How to check for viruses on your iPhone?

If you think there’s a virus or other threat on your iPhone, check if your device has the below signals. Here are some common ways to check whether or not your iPhoen get virus.

Battery drain fast 

If there are too many apps running on your iPhone, it could make your device quicky run out of battery. However, if your iPhone battery is draining quickly even when no app is open, it could be a sign that there is a virus or malware running in the background.

Slow performance

In some cases, if your iPhone is running slowly, freezing, or crashing, it could be a sign of a virus. Make sure to close all apps and check your device’s performance. If it is running slowly, then your iPhone is likely to get a virus.

Pop-up ads

If you are seeing a lot of pop-up ads, especially inappropriate or suspicious ads, it could be a sign of a virus.

Unusual behavior

If your iPhone is doing something without your permission, such as automatically sending messages or making phone calls, it could be a sign of a virus.

How to remove viruses on your iPhone?

If your iPhone has a problem with viruses, you can try the below method to get rid of them.

Fix 1: Restart your iPhone

The first solution that most of us think of when trying to solve a problem with our device is to restart it. Press and hold the power button for a few seconds until you see the "slide to power off" option. Swipe the slider to the OFF option to turn off your iPhone.

Then, wait for a while (about 30 seconds) for your phone to power down, then press the power button again to restart your iPhone.

Fix 2: Update iOS

Many types of malware use iOS vulnerabilities to infect your iPhone or iPad. The developer often fixes the security errors in the new iOS version. Make sure to update your phone's software to fix security flaws and remove infections.

Here’s how to update your iPhone:

Step 1: Launch the Settings app.

Step 2: Select General.

Step 3: Select Software Update.

Step 4: Select Download and Install.

Step 5: Then, follow the detailed instructions on the screen to complete your iPhone update process.

The latest version of iOS will be installed on your iOS device.

Fix 3: Clear the browsing history and data on your iPhone.

If you think that your iPhone got a virus because of an infected link on a suspicious website, then you should clear your iPhone’s history and data from your browser to remove any potentially harmful cookies. Here is how to delete the browsing history in Safari. For other browsers like Chrome or Firefox, do the same steps.

Step 1: Open Settings and select Safari.

Step 2: Select the Clear History and Website Data option.

Step 3: Select Clear History and Data.

Fix 4: Delete suspicious apps from your iPhone

Several exotic apps could make your iPhone get viruses, so removing these suspicious apps is crucial to getting rid of viruses. This kind of app may sometimes steal the data stored on your device.

To get rid of suspicious apps, just follow these steps:

Scroll down to look for the app > long-press the app icon > tap Remove App to remove it from your iPhone.

Read more: How to trust an app on iPhone

Bottom line

Although Apple has a close ecosystem, that doesn't mean that your OS devices are totally safe from cyber threats. Hopefully, with the information given above, you are able to learn how to check for viruses on your iPhone and protect your devices against digital threats.