What to Do If You Think Your iPhone Has a Virus or Malware

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Find malware on your smartphone in just a few simple steps
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Are you seeing pop-ups, experiencing app crashes, or finding apps you didn't install on your iPhone? While iPhone viruses aren't common, they do exist—luckily, a simple factory reset will easily remove viruses without any hassle! This wikiHow article will help you check for signs that your iPhone is infected with a virus, adware, spyware, or other malware.

Common Signs of a Virus on iPhone

Your iPhone might have a virus if you notice lots of pop-ups in your browser or if you see unfamiliar apps in your App Library. A virus can also cause unexplained spikes in data usage, poor battery performance, and laggy apps.

Section 1 of 3:

How can I tell if my iPhone has a virus?

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  1. Jailbreaking removes many of the iPhone’s built-in restrictions, leaving it vulnerable to unapproved app installations. If you purchased the iPhone from someone else, they may have jailbroken it to install malicious software. Here’s how to check if it’s jailbroken:
    • Swipe left on the Home Screen until you get to the App Library , then use the search bar at the top of the screen to search for apps called “Cydia” and “Sileo.” If either one comes up in the search results, your phone is likely jailbroken.
    • Look for other unusual apps, like “checkra1n.” If you see any apps you don’t recognize, search for them on Google to see if they’re associated with jailbroken iPhones.
    • You can also try a jailbreak scan. Several apps claim to offer this service. However, do your research before installing one of these apps to make sure it is safe and effective.
    • To unjailbreak your iPhone, see Unjailbreak an iPhone .
  2. If you are suddenly inundated with pop-up ads when using the Safari browser on your iPhone, there could be an infection.
    • Never click a link in a pop-up ad. This could result in further infections. [1]
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  3. If the apps you use regularly are suddenly crashing, someone may have found a security weakness to exploit in that app.
    • Update the apps on your iPhone regularly so you’re always using the most secure versions. [2]
  4. Trojan apps are made to look legitimate, so this requires a little bit of sleuthing.
    • Swipe through your home screens and folders to check for apps you don't recognize or don't remember installing.
    • If you see an app that looks familiar but don’t recall installing it, it could be malicious. It’s best to delete it if you don’t know what it is.
    • To look at your purchase history in the App Store: [3]
      • Open
        iPhone Settings App Icon
        Settings and tap your name at the top of the menu. Then, tap Media & Purchases > View Account > Purchase History .
      • Tap Last 90 Days at the top and select a longer date range to view your history going further back. You can also search for specific apps by name, price, or order ID.
      • If there’s an app on your phone that isn’t on this list (and doesn’t come from Apple), it’s likely malicious.
  5. Viruses run in the background, using your data to communicate with the internet. Check your mobile provider’s billing statement to make sure you haven’t had a spike in data usage , or are suddenly paying to send SMS messages to premium numbers.
  6. Since viruses run in the background, they can drain your battery faster than expected.
    • To check your battery usage, see Checking Battery Usage . This teaches you how to find which apps are using the most battery power.
    • If you see an app in the list you don’t recognize, remove it immediately.
  7. Viruses can make your iPhone run slowly, overheat, or behave in other strange or unexpected ways. If you notice anything like this happening, your iPhone may be infected or hacked .
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Section 2 of 3:

Removing Viruses from Your iPhone

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  1. This isn’t a permanent fix, but it might interrupt the malicious app long enough for you to get the problem under control. The right way to restart your iPhone depends on the model: [4]
    • If your iPhone has Face ID, press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons until the Power Off slider appears. Swipe the slider to shut down your phone, then restart with the side button .
    • If your iPhone has a Home button, press and hold the side button , then swipe the Power Off slider. Turn your phone back on with the side button .
    • For all models, you can go to
      iPhone Settings App Icon
      Settings > General > Shut Down , then drag the Power Off slider.
    • If your phone won’t shut down or isn’t responding, you may need to force restart it .
  2. iOS updates often include security patches that can block or fix viruses and other security threats. If you suspect your iPhone has a virus, update it as soon as possible.
    • You can update directly from your device by going to
      iPhone Settings App Icon
      Settings > General > Software Update . If a new update is available, select it and follow the prompts to begin the update process.
  3. If you got a virus by visiting a malicious website or clicking on a strange link, you might be able to undo some or all of the damage by clearing your browser history.
    • To clear your history in Safari: [5]
      • Open
        iPhone Settings App Icon
        Settings and scroll down, then tap Safari .
      • Tap Clear History and Website Data .
      • You can also toggle on security features like Prevent Cross-Site Tracking and Fraudulent Website Warning to help prevent future issues.
    • To clear your cache in other browsers, check out How to Clear Your Browser’s Cache on an iPhone .
  4. If you see any apps on your iPhone that you don’t remember installing, delete them right away—especially if they didn’t come from the App Store. To delete an app, tap and hold the app icon on the Home Screen, then tap Remove App . Tap Delete App , then tap Delete . [6]
  5. If your iPhone is still behaving suspiciously, you can try restoring it from a backup, if you made one before the phone was infected. If you don’t have a backup and nothing else has worked, you may need to reset your iPhone to factory settings and start from scratch. Either way, you’ll have to erase the contents of your phone first.
    • To erase your iPhone: [7]
      • Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone .
      • Tap Erase All Content and Settings . You may be prompted to enter your passcode or your Apple ID and password.
      • Tap Continue to confirm. You might be prompted to either keep or delete your eSIM if you have one.
      • Wait for your iPhone to restart.
    • From here, you can either set up your iPhone from scratch or restore it from a backup. See Apple Support’s detailed guide to restoring your iPhone from iCloud or a computer backup .
  6. If someone has hacked into your iPhone, they might be using your iCloud account or other Apple services to make purchases or do other malicious activities. Even if you don’t see any evidence that someone has been using your account, you might want to reset your password just to be safe. Here’s how: [8]
    • Open Settings > your name > Sign-In & Security .
    • Tap Change Password .
    • Type in your current password or the passcode for your iPhone.
    • Type in a new password, then enter it again to confirm it.
    • Select Change or Change Password .
  7. If someone hacked into your Apple ID account, they might be signed in on unfamiliar devices. Here’s how to find and remove them: [9]
    • Tap Settings > your name and scroll down to see a list of your devices.
    • If you see a device you don’t recognize, tap on it.
    • Tap the red Remove from Account banner at the bottom of the screen.
    • Confirm your choice in the message that pops up.
    • Change your Apple ID password if you haven’t already.
  8. There are several antivirus/antimalware apps available for iOS. Download one of these apps from the App Store and use it to scan for and remove any malicious apps or processes from your iPhone.
    • A few popular options include McAfee Security, Norton 360, and AVG Mobile Security.
    • Most of these apps offer both free and premium features.
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Section 3 of 3:

Protecting Your iPhone from Infections

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  1. While jailbreaking your iPhone gives you more freedom to personalize it and install a wider variety of apps, it comes with a lot of risks. In addition to security vulnerabilities, you may lose access to official Apple updates and other support for your device. [10]
  2. Regular updates help ensure your apps and operating system are more stable and protected against the latest security vulnerabilities. If you don’t already have automatic updates turned on, do so now: [11]
    • Open Settings > General > Software Update . Tap Automatic Updates .
    • Toggle on the switches next to iOS Updates and Security Responses & System Files under the Automatically Install header.
    • Toggle on the switch next to iOS Updates under the Automatically Download header.
    • You can also set your iPhone to automatically update apps. Go to Settings > App Store and toggle on App Updates . [12]
  3. Apps that are available in the App Store have been tested and approved by Apple to make sure they’re safe. Avoid installing apps from other sources on your iPhone unless you’re absolutely sure they can be trusted.
  4. If you get an email or text from an unknown source, don’t tap any links or open any attachments in the message. Just delete the email or text. Likewise, avoid tapping on links in suspicious pop-ups or spammy websites.
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How Do I Check If My iPhone Is Hacked?


Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Is it normal when a phone loses 1% battery in about 8 minutes?
    Aradius Group
    Community Answer
    Many battery issues are actually software-related. Sometimes something as simple as updating your phone's software can resolve a battery draining prematurely. You may also want to check the health of your battery. If it's exceeded too many discharge cycles, then it may merely be entering the end of its life.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 22 Helpful 60
  • Question
    My confusion is that when I type Cydia, it showed Siri’s knowledge and a picture of the app, and it showed it under the little website column but, in did not show if it was on my phone.
    Xinyi Sun
    Community Answer
    Then you probably don’t have it. To be sure, type Cydia in App Store and if it says open instead of instore, your device is jailbroken.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 61 Helpful 113
  • Question
    I have an iPhone XR (iOS 13.2.2 version). When I opened the notes to write something, it automatically threw me out of the notes and sent me to the camera. What should I do? Is it jailbroken or hacked?
    EquableProgram
    Community Answer
    If you have the shortcuts app, check to make sure there isn’t an automated shortcut making that happen. Other than that, talk to Apple Tech support online, on the phone, or in-store.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2017/04/14/how-tell-if-you-phone-or-tablet-has-a-virus/100332572/
      2. ↑ https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2017/04/14/how-tell-if-you-phone-or-tablet-has-a-virus/100332572/
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118212
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/turn-iphone-on-or-off-iph841379c3d/17.0/ios/17.0#iph6c6b41f36
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/105082
      6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/101550
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/108931
      8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/101567
      9. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102649
      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/unauthorized-modification-of-ios-iph9385bb26a/ios
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118575
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102629

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you're worried there may be a virus or other malware on your iPhone, there are a few things to look for. First, do you see icons for apps you don't remember installing? If so, there's a chance you may have accidentally downloaded some malware, or that somebody has access to your iPhone. Also, if you decided to jailbreak your iPhone to download apps that aren't on Apple's App Store, you have a much higher chance of downloading a virus or malware than you would with a non-jailbroken iPhone. If you're not sure whether your iPhone is jailbroken, swipe left across the home screen until you reach the App Library, tap "App Library" at the top, and search for common jailbreak apps like Cydia, unc0ver (that's with a zero in place of the letter O), Checkra1n (that's a 1 in place of the I), or TweakMo. You may also have an infection if you're suddenly seeing lots of pop-up ads, warnings you've never seen, or demands for payment for your own data. Another thing to look at is which apps on your iPhone are using your mobile data—open the Settings app, select "Cellular," and then scroll down to the "Cellular Data" section. If you have a virus or malware infection, you'll often see high data usage from apps you don't recall using. The same goes for high battery usage, which you can also check in the Settings app—just head back to the main Settings menu, select "Battery," and scroll down to see which apps have used the most battery power. If you're worried you have a virus, the best thing to do is back up your personal data, and reset your iPhone to its original factory settings.

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