pc, iOS 4
My phone was acting a little slow and the home button is sometimes un-responsive on my iPhone 4. When I called Apple Care Tech Support they informed it might be a virus. I didn't think that was possible on a non-jailbroken iOS device.
She suggested clear all data and do NOT restore from backup; just sync all files from your computer.
If a virus, you will be the first and this would mean another iPhone user has the virus which your iPhone has also spread to other iPhone users.
A virus is a self-replicating, self-propagating, malicious piece of software designed to destroy files and folders on a computer system.
Your iPhone does not have a virus. The person you spoke with is wrong.
I'm fully aware what a virus does. I don't believe Apple could rule out all viruses and it may be an immensely small possibility. That's part of the reason I switched from PCs to Macs.
If you are fully aware of what a virus does and the definition of a virus, then you would also know that your iPhone does not have a virus regardless what some front line AppleCare rep said.
There are no viruses that affect or infect OS X - not one, zero, zilch, nada, which has been available for 10 years, and the iPhone runs an optimized version of OS X.
To avoid the what is or is not that people like to pounce on, just call it malware. Don't call it a virus.
Are wireless devices a target and susceptible? of course. And the idea of RFID and 'swiping' to make financial transactions means real tin foil 'hats' might be a must. Or, what access does the TSA have when you fly and treating smartphones the same as laptops.
Your smartphone is a tempting honey pot for stealing.
Smartphones face threat of next-gen mobile malware | Security ...
A security expert has warned that malware that can be delivered directly to mobile devices is on its way, potentially leading to developments such aswww.zdnet.co.uk/news/security-threats/2011/05/18/smartphones-face-threat-of-next-gen...Thanks Hatter!
I guess the Apple Care rep was right; my home button works now...
Actually there have been viruses for Mac files.
I have been a Mac user since their introduction in 1984.
I have been using a variety of virus scanners over the years for the Mac.
Over the last few years, I have been using Intego's VirusBarrier.
It on rare occasion has found viruses and deleted files.
Oftentimes, it may be PC viruses that are found MS word files that I have shared.
Regardless, to avoid spreading any virus, it is wise to have anti-virus software on your Mac.
Intego just introduced antivirus software for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Here is an article about it:
http://www.macworld.com/article/161072/2011/07/intego_virusbarrier_ios.html
For the few hundred dollars you have invested in the iPhone, it may be a good idea to invest a couple of bucks in anti-virus software.
Actually there have been viruses for Mac files.
Not with OS X.
I have been a Mac user since their introduction in 1984.
I have been a Mac user since the Apple IIe, which didn't have a hard drive.
Oftentimes, it may be PC viruses that are found MS word files that I have shared.
With OS X, that has been all it was.
Regardless, to avoid spreading any virus, it is wise to have anti-virus software on your Mac.
Baloney. I'm not going to waste processor cycles on my Mac scanning email attachments received that can't affect or infect my Mac and in case the attachments are forwarded to a Windows user that has chosen to use that swiss cheese for security garbage and who must run antivirus software on their PC.
For the few hundred dollars you have invested in the iPhone, it may be a good idea to invest a couple of bucks in anti-virus software.
No thanks, which can't be run automatically anyway and won't protect my iPhone from anything since I haven't hacked my iPhone.
Allan:
By all means, don't bother purchasing any antivirus software for your Mac. You are entitled to your opinion.
However, I can't afford a computer being down for a couple of hours due to some person going to some website and downloading software with viruses. You may be smart enough to avoid that, but others may not be.
The antivirus software is even a requirement of malpractice insurance carriers these days.
For the record - the Apple IIe is not an Apple Mac. The IIe used a Rockwell/Mosaid 6502 based microprocessor and its instruction set while the Mac used a Motorola 68000 based microprocessor and its instruction set. Of course the Mac then graduated to the Power PC/Risc instruction set, and then the Intel processors/Intel instruction set of today.
I would not consider a scan of a file wasted processor cycles. Intego's virusbarrier will scan the entire drive in the background anyway without notice. Of course there is a slight delay when opening a new file from an email message.
BTW - Email attachments with Malware/viruses do not require a hacked iPhone.
It would be wonderful if all PC users had better software and used antivirus software all the time. However that is wishful thinking. Hopefully you will never pass an infected file onto your customers or your clients.
However, I can't afford a computer being down for a couple of hours due to some person going to some website and downloading software with viruses.
What OS X viruses? Or do you mean malware? And when was the last time a Mac running OS X you are responsible for was down for a couple of hours due to an OS X virus? And please list that OS X virus that caused this.
For the record - the Apple IIe is not an Apple Mac. The IIe used a Rockwell/Mosaid 6502 based microprocessor and its instruction set while the Mac used a Motorola 68000 based microprocessor and its instruction set. Of course the Mac then graduated to the Power PC/Risc instruction set, and then the Intel processors/Intel instruction set of today.
For the anal retentive - I've been an Apple computer user since the Apple IIe.
BTW - Email attachments with Malware/viruses do not require a hacked iPhone.
Please list the malware/viruses that affect/infect an iOS device that has not been hacked.
It would be wonderful if all PC users had better software and used antivirus software all the time. However that is wishful thinking.
That is their problem. It is not my responsbility to protect a Windows user.
Hopefully you will never pass an infected file onto your customers or your clients.
I haven't for 10 years now and running.
Here is a history of Apple viruses and malware.
http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2010/11/24/apple-mac-malware-short-history/
This is missing the latest Macdefender malware that was more of a phishing scheme.
Here is a later article about more current Mac malware
http://www.betanews.com/article/Is-Mac-malware-dead-or-just-resting/1312297761
I remember the nVir and the MDEF virus for the earlier versions of the Mac.
I had antivirus programs remove these from my systems way back when.
I have been fortunate to not see the others listed here.
I recall reading about Leap-A for Mac OSX but I never used iChat much.
As for the iPhone, my wife just purchased one so I thought I better look into security issues with that phone since all her email is going to be there.
Googling iPhone malware:
PDF related files:
http://technology.inc.com/2011/07/13/apple-says-it-will-fix-ios-malware-exploit/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/06/iphone-security-issues-apple-ios-german y_n_891622.html
Here is a draft paper from Greece regarding Malware for iOS and the iPhone:
http://www.icsd.aegean.gr/publication_files/conference/462488002.pdf
This one indicates Apple is far safer than others, provided that users password protect their phones:
While Apple has done a good job of trying to sandbox iOS with its app store, others may still try and find weaknesses to get into it. With the various users of the iPhone and the openness of email and file sharing, I think it wise to try and protect them if I can.
Is it possible to get a virus on the iphone 4
