Does iPhone Need Antivirus? Risks, Signs & Protection Tips

iPhones have this great reputation for being highly secure and difficult for hackers to crack.

So when your device becomes sluggish or runs into issues, you’d almost never think about blaming a virus.

But iPhones do get viruses, and if left unchecked, they can compromise your personal data and install hidden files on your device.

Let’s take a closer look at the risks and the steps you can take to keep your iPhone protected.

Can iPhones Get Viruses?

Yes, iPhones can get viruses, especially when they are jailbroken with weakened security. 

Jailbreaking is when you bypass the security implementations of Apple to install programs that iPhones typically don’t permit. Once you perform a jailbreak, your device stops benefiting from Apple’s sandboxing and app vetting processes, leaving it vulnerable to Trojans and other viruses.

Jailbreaking also voids Apple’s License Agreement and prevents you from receiving OTA (over-the-air) updates. That means you won’t get the latest security patches from Apple, increasing your exposure to new cyberthreats. 

Signs Your iPhone May Be Infected

Before you start looking for Apple antivirus software, determine whether your device even needs one. Symptoms of an iPhone virus infection include:

• Overheating: Your device can heat up after being used in the sun for too long or when its battery capacity has degraded from prolonged use. But if your iPhone is repeatedly showing the red thermometer icon, a virus is likely the reason.
• Unexplained data usage: Another symptom of an iPhone virus is a sudden spike in data usage. If you’re on a limited plan and notice unexplained increases, a virus may be sending your data to a remote server.
• Unfamiliar apps: If an app you don’t remember downloading appears out of nowhere, make sure to investigate it. Viruses sometimes disguise themselves as legitimate apps, so it’s best to delete anything suspicious immediately.
• Quick battery drainage: If your iPhone’s battery is draining faster than normal, make sure to close unused apps. If the problem still persists, it’s likely there’s malicious software running in the background.

How to Protect Your iPhone From Threats

Threats will keep coming and targeting iPhone owners worldwide. The good news is that you can take steps to make your iPhone more resilient.

• Keep your OS updated: Apple does a great job at updating iOS to patch new vulnerabilities. Look for a new version in Settings and update as soon as it becomes available.
• Only download apps from the App Store: Although downloading from third-party sources may seem tempting, it’s best to stick to the official App Store. That’s because Apple thoroughly vets each app and only allows those that pass its strict criteria.
• Avoid clicking on malicious links: Phishing is becoming more prevalent as hackers use AI to generate and send realistic fake emails in bulk. Protect your device by scrutinizing every sender and message before clicking anything, and mark any suspicious emails as junk immediately.
• Be cautious on public Wi-Fi: Although you may have good intentions when connecting to public Wi-Fi, others may just be on the network to intercept users’ data. Go to your iPhone’s Settings > Wi-Fi and turn off auto-join to prevent your device from automatically connecting to untrusted networks
• Use a reliable VPN: Although it’s not an antivirus in the traditional sense, a VPN protects your device by encrypting your internet traffic and masking your IP address. High-quality VPNs such as NordVPN go a step further by blocking malicious websites before they load and preventing malware-embedded ads from running on your iPhone. 
• Limit app tracking and audit permissions: Malicious apps often disguise themselves as legitimate iOS software and request permissions so they can silently run and collect your data in the background. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security and revoke permissions for any app that doesn’t genuinely need them.
• Do not jailbreak: Despite jailbreaking promising a much more customizable and unrestricted experience, it is something that severely weakens the security of your device. As soon as you jailbreak, Apple’s sandboxing and internal security systems stop working, leaving you exposed to various risks.

Bonus read: 17 Safe Browsing Practices to Protect Your Privacy

Should You Install a Security App on Your iPhone?

It is not necessary to install a security app on iPhone as iOS is highly resistant to malware and has a built-in security architecture to protect against other threats. 

In most cases, updating the iOS firmware and adopting caution by not clicking suspicious links is enough to keep your device protected. But if you frequently use public Wi-Fi or want enhanced protection against phishing and identity theft, a reputable security app with web-shielding and built-in VPN features can be beneficial. 

Frequently Asked Questions