iPhones have long had a reputation for being impervious to viruses and malware. But is this reputation deserved, or is it just a myth? In this article, we take a look at the likelihood of an iPhone being infected, what safety measures you can take, and how to protect yourself from viruses and other types of malware.

Do iPhones get viruses?

Maybe your iPhone is hot to the touch, or perhaps it’s running out of battery too fast. The good news is that it’s extremely unlikely to be a virus. The bad news is that it’s still possible your iPhone is affected by malware.

Viruses vs. malware on iPhone

Malware (a combination of the words “malicious” + “software”) is intentionally designed and deployed to steal, disrupt, or destroy data, or to gain control of a device. There are different types of malware(nuova finestra), including trojans, spyware, ransomware, and, of course, viruses. 

A virus is so named because of the way it behaves. Once it infects its host, it replicates across files. The reason iPhones are considered safe from viruses is that every third-party app on an iPhone is isolated not only from every other app, but also from operating system data. This makes it virtually impossible for a virus to self-replicate on an iPhone. 

How Apple protects against malware

Apple’s defense strategy relies on an architecture designed to prevent malware (including self-replicating viruses) from ever establishing a foothold. Instead of relying on third-party antivirus software, iOS (Apple’s proprietary operating system for the iPhone) integrates security through three primary layers:

  • Strict sandboxing: Every app runs in its own isolated environment (a “sandbox”), preventing it from accessing data from other apps or core system files unless explicitly permitted by the user.
  • App Store vetting: Apps undergo both manual and automated reviews before being published. This significantly reduces the risk of malicious code entering the ecosystem, unlike on open platforms (such as Android) where sideloading(nuova finestra) is much more common.
  • Automated security patches: Apple delivers frequent, mandatory iOS updates that patch known vulnerabilities immediately. This ensures that exploited loopholes are closed rapidly across supported devices.

Learn more about Android vs iOS security

Perhaps because they’re so confident in the security measures they have in place, Apple has no official support resources that use the term “virus.” Instead, they focus on concepts like “unauthorized modification” and “threat notifications”. 

While this reinforces the idea that iPhones are immune to viruses, it makes it harder to take action if you suspect your iPhone has been compromised. And although there’s no evidence that viruses have successfully targeted iPhones, there have been notable malware attacks. 

Real-world attacks

While iOS is designed to block self-replicating viruses, it remains vulnerable to other forms of malware under specific conditions, such as jailbreaking, compromised development tools, or targeted state-level exploits. 

AdThief (2014)

Malware type: Adware/hijacker

This malware targeted users who had jailbroken their devices. Once installed on approximately 75,000 devices, it swapped legitimate ads within apps with its own malicious ones. The impact was financial: cybercriminals hijacked the ad revenue stream, stealing income from developers.

It serves as a prime example that once the OS sandbox is broken via jailbreaking, even simple revenue theft becomes possible. 

XcodeGhost (2015)

Malware type: Supply chain Trojan

This was a landmark incident in which the attack method wasn’t a phone virus but a compromised development tool. Attackers created a fake version of Xcode (Apple’s official coding software) that was infected with malware. Chinese developers who downloaded this counterfeit tool unknowingly built compromised versions of popular apps—including WeChat and Angry Birds. When users installed these apps from the App Store, the malware activated.

This showed that even apps vetted by Apple could be carriers if the source code itself was poisoned before review.

Pegasus (2016–present) and Graphite (2025-present)

Malware type: Zero-click spyware

Unlike previous examples, Pegasus and the similar Graphite(nuova finestra) don’t require user interaction. Developed by the Israeli firms NSO Group and Paragon Solutions respectively, they exploit zero-day(nuova finestra) vulnerabilities in iOS to gain root access. Once inside, they can extract messages, photos, location data, and microphone feeds.

These are the most serious threats to date, demonstrating that sophisticated actors can bypass iOS security entirely through undiscovered flaws. Targets are generally high-profile people such as journalists and politicians, rather than the general public.

LightSpy (2020–present)

Malware type: Cross-platform spyware/web-based exploit

Targeting both macOS and iOS, LightSpy uses malicious websites to deploy its payload. When users visit a compromised page — often via phishing links or deceptive ads — the site attempts to install surveillance software that can harvest contacts, messages, and files without any further interaction.

You don’t need to download anything or tap anything suspicious — just visiting the wrong webpage can be enough. Since Safari is the default browser on iPhone and opens web links automatically, it’s the most likely entry point for this kind of attack if the device isn’t running the latest software.

Signs of viruses or malware on your iPhone

There’s no definitive way to check for viruses on the iPhone, but there are signs you can look out for. 

1. Unusual account activity

    • Messages sent from your device that you didn’t send
    • Unknown trusted devices linked to your Apple ID
    • Unexpected password changes or purchases
    1. Threat notifications
      • If Apple identifies a threat, you’ll receive alerts to your email, phone number, and within your Apple Account
    Threat notification warning (curtsy of the Apple support website)

    3. Technical anomalies

    • Battery drain or overheating without clear cause
    • Apps crashing unexpectedly or unknown apps appearing
    • Settings changing without your input

    4. Pop-ups or phishing attempts

    Messages urging you to install profiles, click suspicious links, or provide credentials—these are often scams but can indicate attempted compromises

      Learn more about how to know if your phone is hacked 

      How to get rid of a virus on iPhone

      Because Apple doesn’t use the term “virus” in its official support documentation, you won’t find any specific steps for virus removal on its website. However, if you’re experiencing the above symptoms, you can take practical steps to troubleshoot what might be acting like a virus — such as adware, browser hijacks, or configuration profile malware.

      Since no antivirus app for iPhone can scan your entire system, you’ll need to perform a manual diagnosis using built-in tools:

      1. Run Safety Check (iOS 16 or later) 

      If you suspect an app has too much access to your data, use Apple’s Safety Check feature to review and reset permissions.

      • Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Safety Check.
      • Tap Manage Sharing & Access and follow the prompts to reset sharing with people and apps.

      This ensures that any potentially compromised app immediately loses access to your contacts, location, and photos.

      2. Clear Safari data
      Often, what looks like a virus is actually aggressive adware or malicious scripts trapped in your browser cache, which can cause pop-ups.

      • Go to Settings → Apps → Safari.
      • Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data.

      This removes cookies and cached scripts that might be triggering unwanted ads or redirects.

      3. Review configuration profiles
      Malware sometimes installs a hidden “profile” to force changes to settings or redirect your internet traffic.

      • Go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management.
      • If you see Device Management listed, tap it to view installed profiles.
      • If you don’t see any profiles, you have none installed. If you see anything unfamiliar or suspicious, tap the profile, select Delete Profile, enter your passcode, and restart your device.

      4. Perform a factory reset
      If the issue persists after trying the steps above, the most definitive solution is to wipe the device clean.

      • Warning: Before doing this, ensure you have a recent, clean backup of your data via iCloud or a computer.
      • Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings.

      This completely wipes the phone, removing any malware. You can then set it up as new or restore from a backup created before the symptoms started.

      Note: If you believe your device has been targeted by sophisticated spyware (such as Pegasus or Graphite), a factory reset may not be sufficient. In these rare cases, contact Apple Support directly for advanced assistance.

      Is it OK to jailbreak my iPhone?

      We strongly advise against jailbreaking your iPhone. While removing Apple’s software restrictions grants access to unofficial apps and customization options, it also dismantles the security architecture that protects your device from malware. For most people, there is no practical reason to accept this risky trade-off.

      When you jailbreak an iPhone, you bypass three critical layers of protection:

      • You break the sandbox: Jailbreaking removes the isolation between apps. Once the sandbox is broken, a malicious app can access data, contacts, and system files belonging to other apps. This is how traditional viruses operate on other devices.
      • You lose App Store vetting: Apps installed via third-party stores or sideloading haven’t undergone Apple’s security review. This increases your risk of installing adware, Trojans, or spyware.
      • You block security updates: Jailbroken devices can’t easily install the latest iOS security patches. Without these updates, known vulnerabilities remain open, leaving your phone exposed to new exploits.

      Keeping your iPhone unmodified is the single most effective defense against malware. The convenience of custom themes or unauthorized tweaks isn’t worth it if it turns your secure iPhone into an easy target for hackers.

      Security tips: What to look out for

      While iPhones are naturally resistant to viruses, your biggest risks come from social engineering and risky behavior. Security breaches are most likely to occur when you’re tricked into granting access or installing malicious software. Here’s what to watch for:

      • Phishing and smishing: Be extremely skeptical of unsolicited emails, texts (smishing), or iMessages claiming you have a package delay, a compromised account, or that you’ve won a prize. These messages often contain links to fake login pages designed to steal your credentials. Always mark suspicious messages as junk and delete them immediately.
      • Fake “virus scanners”: If you see an app on the App Store claiming to scan for iPhone viruses, don’t download it. As we noted earlier, iOS architecture makes system-wide virus scanning impossible. Apps that make this claim are often scams designed to harvest your data or sell you useless subscriptions.
      • Malicious websites: Avoid clicking links in suspicious messages, even if they appear to come from legitimate companies. Before installing an app, be sure to check its credibility yourself. Look for high download numbers (millions usually indicates a reputable app), read recent reviews for red flags, and check the permissions it requests. An app shouldn’t need access to your microphone or contacts just to show a flashlight.

      The best way to protect yourself against phishing and data theft is to use tools that manage your security for you. We recommend using a dedicated password manager like Proton Pass to generate and store unique, complex passwords for every site, so if one is breached, the others remain safe. Proton VPN’s NetShield Ad-blocker(nuova finestra) DNS filtering feature will also prevent malware and trackers from connecting to malicious domains.