Introduction
iPhone viruses may not be as common as their Android counterparts, but they do exist. Unlike Android, iPhones are less vulnerable to viruses because of the apps’ strict security checks. Nevertheless, iPhones remain at risk of malware and viruses. In this article, we provide a comprehensive guide on how to get rid of viruses on your iPhone.
We also explain the signs that your iPhone may have been infected by a virus and offer tips on how to avoid these viruses in the future.
Warning Signs of iPhone Viruses
It is important to be aware of the signs that your iPhone has a virus. If you notice any of the following, it might be time to take action:
- Slow performance: Viruses can cause performance issues like slow response time. If your iPhone is slow, it is worth investigating the cause.
- Pop-up ads: Malware developers often use pop-up ads to gain access to your device.
- Battery drain: If your battery drains faster than usual, it might be due to an iPhone virus.
- Excessive data usage: Viruses can use up your data without your knowledge. If your data usage is unusually high, an iPhone virus may be the culprit.
- Unknown apps or contacts: If you notice unknown apps or contacts on your iPhone, it could be indicative of a virus that has infected your device.
- Overheating: If your iPhone gets too hot to the touch, it might be infected with malware.
- Constant crashing/freezing: If your iPhone keeps crashing/freezing, it could be due to a virus.
- Unexplained charges on phone bill: Some viruses can cause you to incur charges unexpectedly on your phone bill.
- Unauthorized access to personal information: Malware can allow hackers to access personal information on your iPhone that they use to commit identity theft.
- Suspicious messages/emails: If you receive suspicious messages or emails containing links or attachments, do not open them as they could be carrying viruses.
How to Remove iPhone Viruses
If you suspect that your iPhone has a virus, there are a few steps you can follow to remove it and protect your device. Before attempting to remove a virus from your iPhone, it is important to back up all your data.
Here are some of the techniques that you can use to remove iPhone viruses:
- Steps to follow before attempting to remove viruses: Before you can remove a virus from your iPhone, it is important to force restart and clean out your iPhone’s memory. To do this, press and hold the power and home buttons for ten seconds. When the apple symbol appears, release the buttons. This will improve your iPhone’s performance and remove some of the data associated with the virus. Note that these steps will not wipe the iPhone’s data.
- Manual removal through deleting suspicious apps, clearing cache and resetting phone: You can also attempt to manually remove viruses by deleting suspicious apps, clearing caches and resetting your iPhone. You can also clear your browsing data to remove any hidden malware. However, this method is unlikely to remove all viruses on your device, and it is advisable to combine manual removal methods with using anti-virus software.
- Use of anti-virus apps: Some anti-virus apps are specifically designed to detect and remove viruses on iPhones. These apps automatically scan your iPhone’s apps and files for malware and remove them.
- How to use iTunes to restore iPhone: If other methods fail, you can restore your iPhone using iTunes. To do this, connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cord, and follow the restore iPhone workflow in iTunes. This will delete everything on your iPhone, and return it to its factory settings.
Note that you should always back up your data before attempting to manually remove a virus or restoring your iPhone’s factory settings. This will ensure that you won’t lose any vital data during the process.
Additional Tips for Preventing iPhone Viruses
Preventing iPhone viruses is better than trying to remove them. Here are some additional tips that can help you prevent iPhone viruses:
- Regularly updating iPhone software: Regular software updates contain security patches that fix security weaknesses and bugs that expose your device to malware
- Be careful with downloading apps and opening suspicious links: Only download apps from trusted sources and only open links and attachments from people you know or trust.
- Password protection and two-factor authentication: Setting a password for your iPhone and enabling two-factor authentication are excellent ways of keeping your iPhone secure.
- Using a VPN: Virtual private networks (VPNs) encrypt your online connections and make your device more secure from online threats.
- Turning off automatic connections to public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi networks can expose your device to malware and viruses. Therefore, it is advisable to turn off automatic connections to public Wi-Fi and only use secure networks.
Conclusion
Getting rid of iPhone viruses may sound like a complicated task, but it is achievable if you follow the steps outlined in this article. You now know the warning signs that your iPhone may be infected with a virus, the methods you need to use to remove it, and the additional precautions that you can take to prevent future infections.
Remember that prevention is better than cure and that regularly backing up your iPhone is crucial to ensure you suffer minimal damage, in case of an inevitable virus attack. With this knowledge, you can now take action to secure your iPhone and protect it from inconvenient and dangerous malware.