Despite the rarity of the Trojan virus found on iPhones, malware infection is still possible. Thankfully, removing malware from an iPhone is a simple process. A significant advantage of owning an iPhone lies in the security features it provides, as the iPhone provides excellent protection against all sorts of malware. No phone, however, is completely safe from possible malware threats. This is why one of the most pressing questions amongst iPhone users is: if you can get a Trojan virus on an iPhone, is it a real risk?
You need to understand what a Trojan is, scanning your system regularly, as well as removing malware from your iPhone are the steps you have to take to ensure security.
What Is a Trojan Virus on an iPhone?
Users commonly refer to unwelcomed software on their smartphones or their computers as a virus, however, there is a distinction between a virus & malware. Malware is defined as anything that possesses the ability to damage, corrupt, or steal your data as well as disable your devices. Both viruses and Trojans are considered malware, the only difference is that a Trojan does not replicate and execute itself. In contrast, a virus creates copies of itself, modifying the phone’s software after it has infiltrated the device.
Malicious software includes Trojan horses, viruses, as well as spyware programs. Though viruses are uncommon on the iPhone, it still is possible to get infected with an iPhone Trojan or spyware that possesses the ability to expose your phone’s activity to a third party/an outsider. Keeping your iOS up to date greatly reduces the chances of malware attacks happening.
Does My iPhone Have Malware?
If you have noticed unpredictable activity on your iPhone, then there is a chance that it has been infected with some or the other type of malware. It is the best idea to scan your iPhone for malware if you have observed the following signs:
- Are you seeing apps you do not recognize: If apps that you did not install keep appearing on your iPhone, it might be an indication that your iPhone has been infected with a case of iOS malware. You should uninstall any unfamiliar app from your iPhone.
- Apps suddenly begin to crash: If one or more apps keep crashing for no particular reason, it is best to delete them, then reinstall them. If the problem persists, it is a good indication to scan your iPhone for any malware.
- Your iPhone battery is quickly drained: If your battery requires a recharge earlier than it should, it could be due to background activity from a recently visited website. Or, due to a new app.
- Your iPhone begins to overheat: Malware is a consistent cause of phone overheating. If you have noticed that your iPhone is heating up, it might be an indication of malware activity.
- Is your iPhone jailbroken: If you wanted to install untrusted apps that cannot be downloaded from the App Store, you would require to jailbreak your device. Jailbreaking is not recommended because it puts your iPhone at a higher risk of getting infected by malware.
- Increased data usage: If the data use on your iPhone suddenly spikes, it can be a sign that malware is consuming data in the background. That is why it is always a good idea to keep track of your monthly data usage.
What to do if your iPhone is attacked by Trojan Virus?
If you did scan your iPhone for potential malware and have discovered malicious software. Or, despite your scan not showing any results, you still suspect your iPhone is infected, you should take these simple steps as soon as possible.
- Delete all suspicious apps: You need to delete any unusual apps you did not download from the App Store. Or, the apps you installed around the time the issue began.
- Restart your phone: In a few circumstances, restarting the device might remove malware from your iPhone. If restarting does not work; you could try to force restart your phone and put it in recovery mode.
- You need to Clear your history as well as data: Clearing your Safari history might aid in the removal of malware from your iPhone. It helps in preventing your personal information as well as passwords from getting compromised.
- Back up the iPhone, then restore to factory settings: If you tried restoring to an earlier backup version, however, it did not resolve the issue of malware on your iPhone, then you should try restoring it to factory settings. This step will erase your data and make sure that you do not lose important information in the process.
What devices does Trojan Virus Impact?
Trojans are not problems just for laptop and desktop computers. They also have the ability to impact your mobile devices, including smartphones as well as tablets.
Generally, a Trojan comes attached to what looks like a legitimate program. But in reality, it is a fake version of the app, that is filled with malware. Cybercriminals usually place the Trojan on unofficial as well as pirate app markets for unsuspecting users to download.
These apps can steal information from your device and could generate revenue by sending premium SMS texts.
Trojans attack and infect smartphones and tablets using a strand of mobile malware. This could occur through the attacker redirecting traffic to a device connected to a Wi-Fi network, then using it to launch cyberattacks.
So, can you get a Trojan virus on your iPhone?
Though few people still believe that an iPhone being infected by any type of malware is highly improbable, a Trojan virus on your iPhone is not completely impossible.
If you are paying attention to your phone’s performance, updating as well as scanning it regularly, all while being cautious about the apps you install, are essential steps to follow for staying protected. With the ever-increasing threats that continue to keep surfacing all over the web, downloading a trusted anti-malware or antivirus program from the App Store is a plus.
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