Is there a totally free anti-virus program?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
What should I do if phone has virus?
What should I do if phone has virus?
I am worried about my phone because all this stuff keeps popping up
Your iPhone does not have a virus. The only way it would be possible is if you have a jailbroken iPhone. You can provide details on what you are experiencing and I'm sure you will be provided a solution.
Avast, the iPhone is generally well protected
Lexinatx wrote:
does anyone know of or recommend a good antivirus cleaner for iPhone?
You don’t need that.
As you will have read the above replies and found those lacking, you are seemingly then an exceptionally high-risk target and someone worth targeting with tooling built upon exploits worth multiple millions of dollars. Each. As such, your exceedingly high value means you are a candidate for specific and tailored security advice tailored to your situation. You might be an investigative journalist, political dissident, senior in private or public entity, with access to sensitive or classified data, with access to great wealth, or other such. This all based in available information on exploit usage,
Or if not, then to rephrase and re-state the above replies and discussion, there are no app cleaners, because what access an app cleaner needs to access to “clean” is the same access malware needs to access to “malware”. It’s blocked.
There are add-on security tools, though those too cannot scan or clean, and those can intercept your network connections and related metadata. Some of the better-known add-on anti-malware tools for Apple platforms have been caught (and fined) for collecting personally-identified web browsing data and web purchasing data, and welling it. Some of the other apps are heavily advertised, and those can badly solve a problem that basically hasn’t existed for a decade or so, but badly solve that non-problem in a way perfect for collecting metadata for resale.
iOS includes a built-in malware scanner, built-in malware removal tools, an administrative and technical process which scans the apps for questionable or problematic API usage and related, defenses that prevent accessing components and services that the app shouldn’t access (see above), a well-funded security bug bounty program, with an reviewing-related process that increases the costs and difficulties for malware authors, and with built-in telemetry data for detecting new issues. Among other details.
We ourselves are more often the target, not our devices. Phishing and spear-phishing, password re-use, failure to use two-factor, shoulder surfing, cons and scams, and other shenanigans are far more common than are viruses. Viruses basically don’t exist for iPhone or iPad. Or macOS, for that matter. Deliberately-installed adware or add-on anti-malware doing malware-like things is unfortunately common, too.
What to do? Have a look at the following document:
Run Safety Check as described there. Review and act upon the Apple-generated security recommendations (Settings > Passwords > Security Recommendations) , too. Etc. add-on tools? Those add-ons can introduce problems and can create privacy leaks and can add vulnerabilities as often as they can prevent problems. Maybe more so.
KnightBuzzo wrote:
All fanboys answering here VERY specific to your question and your word of choice “Virus”
they collectivly ignore all security breaches that goes on all the time
last update was yesterday
fixed lots of apps that broke in critical moments and spilled privilidges and access to private stuff and KERNEL amongst other things here’s all about it About the security content of Safari 16.5.1 - Apple Support
And you are ignoring the fact that no anti-virus software that works on an iPhone could have detected any of the types of security issues that the update resolved. iOS apps are sandboxed, meaning they are isolated from other apps and from the system. So, while there exist apps that call themselves "anti-virus" for iPhones, they really aren't. If you read the descriptions on the app store, non of them say they scan for malware.
The best protection against malware on an iPhone is to never jailbreak the phone and to keep up-to-date with security updates.
I'm also not sure why you linked to a Mac security update.
Puppydog73 wrote:
I am worried about my phone because all this stuff keeps popping up
What sort of “stuff”?
Web pop-ups with advertisements with fake “scans” or “(3) viruses detected!” or “hacker!” and other such direly-phrased advertising are quite common, for instance.
There can be other issues too, and those too often from installed apps. Are there any installed add-on security apps, or add-on VPN apps or ad-blocker apps installed here? If so, remove all that, restart your iPhone, and test again.
Anti-virus protection is unnecessary for iOS, Apple has built in encryption and data protection for all your devices.
For more information: Apple Platform Security - Apple Support
Puppydog73 wrote:
I was told my phone is infected
Many scammers will send people e-mails, Web notifications, pop-up notices on Web sites – you name it – falsely claiming that the intended victim's computer, phone, or other device, is infected or hacked. The low-lifes will try to frighten you into acting without thinking using scare phrases like "Your device is infected with a Trojan virus", "You have 99 viruses!", "Your iCloud has been hacked!", and "Your device will be permanently damaged unless you call XXXXX within the next 120 seconds."
Some of them "just" want you to waste your money on some particular piece of useless software, but many are looking to steal the money out of your bank accounts, and to get the information they'd need to commit identity fraud against you in the future. Call the number of the "helpful" "tech support" people (actually, criminals who sent you the pack of lies in the first place), and they will be all too glad to rip you off …
FTC – How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams
Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support
And, you can expect it to continue.
There are hundreds or more of scams going on all the time that are trying to trick users into believing that "13 virus infections have been detected on your phone" when your phone is just fine.
Lately, most messages that I've seen are now saying that "16 virus infections....."
Next week, it will probably be "20".
Even if an app to detect viruses is "free", it is not worth the money, since all it will do is slow down your phone and eat up more battery. But, go for it if it makes you feel better.
But....your phone will not be better.
loodolif wrote:
Avast, the iPhone is generally well protected
Data sold reportedly included:
That collection and sale being a behavior which reeks of being malware?
And “generally well protected”, what was provided above and beyond what the built-in anti-malware provides?
Preferably without added performance or power or stability issues, and preferably without added privacy leaks?
Puppydog73 wrote:
I was told my phone is infected
Lots of criminals send people messages telling that their phones and computers are infected.
All lies brought to you by criminals whose goal is to defraud you.
Charloeo wrote:
Why does iPhone charge for antivirus?
iPhone includes anti-virus built in. Free.
There are certainly scams claiming to be Apple, too.
Third-parties may well offer their own scanners, but there are substantial limits on what those add-on apps can do, and what can be scanned. Add-on anti-malware cannot scan your iPhone, as those apps will get blocked by the same mechanisms that are intended to block malware. Add-in anti-malware is limited to scanning your network activities, though that scanning can introduce issues.
Some of the add-on anti-malware around is itself very close to what people think malware does, with some of the better-known add-on anti-malware for Apple platforms having been caught selling personally-identified web browsing and web purchasing histories. The add-on VPN services are perfectly positioned to collect personally-identified web activity metadata, too.
Tany_2315 wrote:
No I don’t have,what should I do?
If you have iPhone or iPad or macOS, you already have anti-malware already installed and already running.
Please see the other replies here.
Is there a free anti-virus for iPhone?
