Can iPhones Get Viruses From Safari?

The iPhone is one of the most secure smartphones available today. 

But can iPhones get viruses from Safari? The answer is – very rarely. 

If you’re wondering how you can prevent that from happening and how to remove viruses from an iPhone and protect your device, read on. 

Can iPhones get viruses from Safari?

While iPhones, and other Mac products, have built-in protection against malware that is virtually impenetrable, an iPhone can get infected by a virus, including via a Safari browser.

Malicious websites can take advantage of flaws in the mobile browser and iOS itself to penetrate your phone.

How To Get Rid Of Viruses On Your iPhone?

On the off chance that your iPhone gets infected by a virus, you’ll have to remove it on your own or ask a professional for help. The virus won’t disappear on its own. 

Update the operating system

Every time Apple releases iOS, it adds new security features and improves its existing ones. Apple rarely talks about these changes, but the most recent version of iOS is always the safest and can remove any viruses on the iPhone or prevent possible malware infection.

Delete suspicious apps

Most phone viruses, regardless of whether you have an iPhone or an Android, come from suspicious applications. 

If you think your phone might be infected, double-check all the apps and delete anything that you don’t remember downloading to clear the virus from your iPhone. Apps have connected files that can contain viruses and uninstalling them usually deletes the imported files.

Clear your browsing history 

An iPhone safari virus can reside in your browser history or website data if you visit a risky website. In addition, viruses can further inject files on your phone and invade your privacy.

That’s why it is important to regularly remove cache from your iPhone’s history.

Restart your iPhone

Another iPhone virus removal trick is restarting your phone. Viruses and malware frequently infect your phone when it is in use, and turning it off completely can prevent a virus or malware from infiltrating your iPhone.

It takes less than a minute and can save you a lot of time and aggravation.

Restore a backup to an earlier iOS version

You may get rid of a virus once you restore your iPhone or iPad to a previous iOS version. 

Keep in mind that you will lose all of your files unless you have the iCloud backup feature.

Factory reset

If everything else fails, you can always restore the factory settings on your phone and start fresh. Any content you haven’t backed up will be permanently deleted so, make sure you save the most important files in a cloud or elsewhere, before tapping on the “factory reset” button. 

How To Protect Your iPhone From Viruses?

Britons love iPhones and part of the reason is that safeguarding them from viruses is a relatively simple process. Here’s what you can do to protect your phone from spyware and ransomware.

Only download apps from the App Store

Unless it’s coming straight from Apple, don’t download any iOS releases. Updates from third-party sources might include viruses and spyware.

Also, if you want to keep the built-in security tools to work properly, don’t modify your iPhone in any way. Not only will your warranty be voided, but apps you download outside of the App Store are far more likely to contain viruses and infect your phone.

Keep an eye on phishing attempts

If you receive an unusual message, phone call, or request for personal information or money, always assume it’s a scam. You can also reach out to Apple to make sure the phishing attempt failed or if you have a security issue.

Get an antivirus that has an iOS app

A good antivirus can frequently conduct a virus check and protect your iPhone from spyware and other malware attacks. When browsing for antiviruses, make sure they’re available in the App Store and steer clear of any third-party antivirus apps. 

Steer clear of public WiFi

Public Wi-Fi connections are the most vulnerable to attacks. Cybercriminals often exploit the poor security measures in public Wi-Fi connections to spread malware and steal personal information. 

To be on the safe side, it’s best to avoid public Wi-Fi altogether. If your choices are slim, at least make sure that you use a solid VPN when browsing while connected to public Wi-Fi.

Think twice about jailbreaking your iPhone

Jailbreaking your phone is legal, but it is not always safe. The major disadvantages are that it makes your phone an easy target for cybercriminals and voids Apple’s guarantee of security.

Bottom Line 

Apple’s products are one of the safest on the market thanks to its built-in security features and the company’s strategy to create a bubble where its users mostly rely on apps that are controlled by Apple itself. 

You can take some precautions to reduce the chances of malware and even try to remove a virus by yourself, in case you accidentally click on a suspicious link in a text message.