So I always thought iPhones didn’t get viruses. Me and my friend have a running joke where he makes fun of the fact that I have an iPhone. Last time we were joking, he said “at least my phone doesn’t get worms.” I googled it and saw some results but didn’t dig deep because googling affects my anxiety. So what’s the truth about iPhones and worms and viruses? How do you get them? How do I protect myself?
Thanks
iPhone 13
Hi Rheon123,
There are many ways Apple prevents viruses from entering your iPhone.
Firstly the App Store comes in to play. Apple checks every app that is being placed in the App Store, so no malicious software makes it on to the App Store. Since there is only one controlled place to download your program’s (apps) from, there already is a low risk of your iPhone getting any viruses.
An other is Apple’s hardware which is also made to prevent security threats. An example is the start up-ROM-code, a non changeable code that is baked into your iPhone’s chipset. The code is used during one of the first steps of your iPhone’s start up process in which it checks if the iPhone’s software has been changed, and will fail to start up if it has changed.
Another way that Apple keeps your iPhone save are of course the iOS’s frequent and free software updates.
Those are the ones that came to my mind, check out this page for more details: http://apple.com/security
Hope it helps :)
Let your friend laugh at you. Just know your friend is completely wrong and there are no known Virus in the wild for iPhone. And Apple is so good that if something comes along, they roll out an update about as fast as you can blink.
Android on the other hand, is far more susceptible to viruses, but Android has done a better job managing them in the last few years.
An ongoing problem with Android OS is that it allows users to install apps that were not downloaded from the Google Play Store, so these have not been checked for malware. Google is working at closing this loophole, but there are still thousands of apps available outside of the play store for “side loading” and it’s a barn door that’s difficult to close.
Yep. There's a guy in my office who has fallen victim to apps not downloaded from the Google Play Store and he has had loads of issues along the way. He is planning to get an iPhone as his next phone.
The only virus you need to be aware of is the one that can get on the outside of the phone when you touch it right after you shake hands with someone with covid19. Joking aside.
There are currently no known/widespread viruses for iPhones. What you are most likely to experience is SPAM in the form of calendars that are installed from the Internet. However, you will always be asked if you want to install the calendar, to which you simply answer no - and if you press yes, it can easily be deleted again afterwards. It does no harm, but can be annoying.
You may also experience some websites telling you with a pop-up similar to the iOS design that you have got a virus - however, this is also just fake, and only aims to send you on to the App Store so that you can download some useless app , which promises you everything from a virus-free phone to $1,000,000.
Quite short. Everything that happens in your apps stays in your apps. There are no 3rd party apps that have access to important system files in iOS, therefore the chance of viruses is quite small, if not non-existent.
The only place there might be a risk is if you jailbreak your iPhone. The chance isn't great either - but still. You open the system with jailbreak and make it possible to download things from 3rd party stores, Cydia, Sileo or directly from the internet. Things that can damage the system. However, jailbreaking is something you have to actively do, so it's not something you "get to"
So enjoy your iPhone and each not so worried.
Outstanding reply!
Thank you 😁
Worms and viruses?
