If you love your iPhone, you are not alone. Millions of iPhones are sold in the United States yearly. While many people believe their iPhone is immune from malicious software and web or technology viruses, you might wonder whether that security is an urban legend or the real thing. Can iPhones get viruses? Find out if your iPhone is at risk from viruses or any other security threats!

Can iPhones Get Viruses?

The answer is YES— but not usually. According to Business Insider’s 2019 report, the risk of your iPhone having a virus is “virtually zero”. The reliability of that answer also depends on whether or not you jailbreak your iPhone. If you do, the risk is higher and your phone could fall victim to a virus on the web or one that is embedded into suspect apps.

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Why Are iPhones (Usually) Safe From Viruses?

Your factory set iPhone is “safer” due to the methods that Apple uses as a company. According to Amit Serper – who heads up security and research for a company called Cybereason, as reported in 2019 – the lowered risk is based on the security model that Apple employs. Essentially, Apple uses “closed security” for its iOS, which protects its entire system from hackers and you reap those benefits as an iPhone user!

This means that Apple makes sure that third-party apps and services use approved methods and reviewed “safe” software. How do they guarantee this? By having downloads go through their own App Store. By using the App Store to filter downloads, the company can use that control to prevent the prevalence of malware. If you have an Android phone and wonder if viruses are a risk— unfortunately, the answer is a resounding YES.

Can iPhones Get Viruses and Other Threats?

Malicious Mobile Apps with Viruses

A user sees an app and downloads it, thinking its the real deal. However, once they download it they realize the app is actually fake and they have just given their information to the scammer. There are also apps that have bugs due to not being updated in a while that can steal information and give it to other users. This can lead to identity theft, where they steal your identity and pretend to be you to get access to your money.

Trustjacking

Trustjacking (or juice-jacking) is when you plug your phone into a public computer or a public charging station and a scammer steals your data. They can do this by hacking into the computer when you’re done if you clicked on the option to “trust the computer.” They can also plug in a device that skims the data of people’s cellphones when plugged in a public charging station.

Spyware

The scammer infects your device with malware that steals your data without your knowledge and relays it back to them.

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Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks allow for man in the middle attacks. This is when a scammer steals your information from the internet you are using since they can access the same public Wi-Fi as you. They then transfer the data back to the router and then on their device, where they can use it to commit identity theft.

Mobile Phishing

Phishing can show in the form of pop up ads, fake emails, phone calls, and text messages. Phishing is when a scammer uses an excuse thats usually fearful as a reason to need your information or money. The victim usually falls for the bait and gives the scammer the requested information or money.

If you do jailbreak your phone, your iPhone virus risk is higher. Be especially aware of downloads from unusual sources that haven’t been vetted.

1. Don’t download anything that is randomly emailed to you or sent by unsolicited text.

 2. Beware of phishing sites that look like real business sites, but aren’t.

 3. Use an algorithm based smart search to check the identity of suspicious web or text users by name, email address, phone number, online profile picture, or name.

Can iPhones get viruses? It is significantly less likely to have your iPhone exposed to viruses, which should give you some peace of mind. However, that is not the only risk you might experience when you connect to WiFi or even use cell data. It can be easy to fall prey to hackers, scammers, catfish, and phishing websites or text forms. Watch out for emails that ask you to go to a link that you haven’t verified is legitimate.

Before you do business with a new company, online seller, or even indulge in a close online friendship… verify the source’s identity for the safety of your personal data. Don’t risk your financial or personal data being exposed online or having your identity stolen.

If you wanted an answer to the question, “can iPhones get viruses?”, then you probably would also like to know which scammer was behind stealing your data. Try a proprietary reverse search on Social Catfish, today! You can reverse search any name, email address, phone number, social media username, or image.

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