Your iPhone is a highly secure device that benefits from Apple’s strict app review process and built-in security features. Unfortunately, it can still be vulnerable to viruses and other threats.
These threats can come from different places like malicious websites or phishing emails. Hackers may also trick you into installing fake apps or downloading harmful configuration profiles.
If you suspect your iPhone has been compromised, don’t panic.
Below, I’ve compiled a list of seven steps you can take to identify and remove viruses from your iOS device.
Signs Your iPhone Has a Virus or Malware
A virus or malware can cause your iPhone to run slowly or behave in unexpected ways. For example, the device may begin to drain battery rapidly or there might be a sudden spike in your internet data usage. Other symptoms of iPhone viruses include frequent app crashes, abrupt pop-up advertisements, and and unfamiliar apps appearing on your home screen.
Any kind of virus should be dealt with proactively as it poses a risk to your personal and financial information. Advanced malware like Pegasus can access your iPhone’s mic and GPS in real-time, enabling hackers to monitor your conversations and locations. Some viruses deeply embed themselves into the phone’s OS, leading to long-term performance issues.
Where Do iPhone Viruses Come From?
iPhone viruses originate from various sources and differ in how they spread through the system. Common sources include:
- Jailbreaking: Jailbreaking allows people to install software from third-party app stores on their devices. The problem with this is that it bypasses Apple’s built-in security measures and leaves your iPhone vulnerable to malware and data theft.
- Malicious websites: Hackers often set up fake websites to trick users into downloading malicious software on their devices. These sites may use fake “Your iPhone is infected!” pop-ups to pressurize you into clicking links or installing fraudulent security apps.
- Malicious apps: Although rare, malicious apps sometimes slip through and make their way on the official iOS app store. These apps often disguise themselves as legitimate software to steal data, with names like “Wire Tools” and “PDF Readers” often being used to trick users into downloading them.
- iMessage: Hackers may also send malicious code via iMessage, Apple’s native messaging app, which automatically processes attachments like images and links. Because your iPhone previews these files before you even open them, an infection can happen without you tapping anything.
- Unsecured Wi-Fi networks: Hackers may also intercept your iPhone’s connection and install malware on your device. They typically do this by exploiting insecure public WiFi networks, such as those in hotels and coffee shops, and positioning themselves between your device and the network to steal your data.
How to Remove a Virus From Your iPhone (Step-by-Step)
If your iPhone is showing all the classic symptoms of an infected device, follow these steps to remove the virus:
1. Restart Your iPhone
One of the simplest ways to remove an iPhone virus and stop malicious scripts is to restart your device.
To restart your iPhone:
- Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears.
- Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone and wait 30 seconds.
- Press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears
2. Delete Suspicious Apps
If you come across a strange app or your device starts acting unusually after installing one from the App Store, delete it immediately.
- Find the app on your iPhone’s home screen
- Long-press the app icon and choose Remove App
- Tap Delete App to confirm deletion
You can also open Settings > General > iPhone Storage and scan for apps that you do not recognize. Once done, follow the same 3 steps to delete them.
3. Update Your iOS Firmware
It’s easier for viruses to exploit outdated versions of iOS. Therefore, you must update your Apple iOS software as soon as a new firmware is released. The same principle applies on computers too: outdated applications are easier for malware to exploit, which is why keeping every app updated adds another layer of protection.
Here are the steps:
- Open your iPhone’s Settings
- Tap General > Software Update
- Tap Download and Install
You can also enable Automatic Updates, which instructs your phone to download and install the latest iOS overnight. However, this requires keeping your iPhone powered on, locked, and connected to Wi-Fi during the installation.
4. Restore From a Previous iCloud Backup
If you have a backup from the time when your iPhone was working smoothly, restore it to get rid of the malware infection.
To do so:
- Go to iOS Settings and tap General
- Select Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings > Continue
- Choose Restore from iCloud Backup
5. Clear Safari Data and Cache
If you believe the cause of the virus is an infected website, clear your Safari history and data. Doing so can help you get rid of the malicious scripts that might be hiding in your mobile web browser.
Here are the steps:
- Open Settings
- Tap Safari > Clear History and Website Data
- Tap Clear History and Data to confirm
6. Check For and Remove Malicious Profiles
Certain forms of malware install configuration profiles on your device to gain control over its settings. Removing them instantly deletes all the settings associated with their use, including unauthorized certificates and forced web proxies.
Here are the steps:
- Go to Settings > General
- Choose VPN & Device Management
- Look for any profiles that you do not recognize (e.g., profiles not associated with your work or home setup
- Tap on the unfamiliar profile and choose Remove Profile
- Enter your passcode if prompted and confirm removal
- Restart your device to apply all changes
7. Perform a Factory Reset
If nothing seems to work, consider restoring the original factory settings on your iPhone to get rid of the virus. After the reset, you can restore your preferred IOS settings via an earlier backup. Although this step isn’t the most convenient, it effectively removes all malware by erasing all data and settings from your device.
Here are the steps:
- Go to Settings > General
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Select Erase All Content and Settings
- Choose Continue to confirm the action
How to Protect Your iPhone From Future Viruses
Protecting your iPhone from future viruses requires you to take steps that harden the security of your device:
- Turn on Automatic Updates: Enable Automatic Updates for both apps and the iOS system. Doing so helps your device receive patches as soon as they become available.
- Use the official App Store: Apple’s official App Store has a stringent vetting process that significantly reduces the risk of downloading malicious software. Only use this channel to download apps and avoid sideloading anything from unofficial sources.
- Enable Background Security Improvements: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Background Security Improvements and toggle this feature to activate it. Once done, Apple will start pushing security patches for system libraries and Safari between major iOS updates.
- Use modern fraud protection: Turn on Fraudulent Website Warning in Safari before surfing the internet. Also, consider using third-party security apps like Norton or BitDefender for real-time protection against phishing attacks.
- Avoid jailbreaking: Jailbreaking removes the built-in security restrictions Apple implements to keep your device safe. It also reduces the value of your device while making it highly susceptible to ransomware and viruses.
Do iPhone Viruses Go Away on Their Own?
No, iPhone viruses do not go away on their own. In some cases, restarting the device may temporarily stop malicious code from running in iPhone’s memory. But the virus often remains on the phone and causes issues later. Manual intervention is needed to permanently remove trojans and other viruses from your iOS device.
To remove a virus from your iPhone:
- Clear Safari data: Head to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data to remove malicious scripts.
- Remove suspicious apps: Delete any apps that you do not recognize or that were installed right before the problems started.
- Restart or update the device: Power off your iPhone and restart it, or go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest iOS to patch any security vulnerabilities.
- Perform a factory reset: If you still experience issues, back up your data and do a factory reset to eliminate all viruses from your handset.
Note: If you come across “your iPhone has a virus” pop-up in Safari, know that this is not a virus but a browser scam. Clearing Safari data and cache should make this go away.
Frequently Asked Questions
+ Can iPhones get viruses from websites?+ How do I know if my iPhone has a virus?
+ Will a factory reset remove a virus from my iPhone?