How to get rid of Malware on iPhone – 6 effective methods.

How to remove Malware from iPhone?

In this article, I am going to show how to remove malware from iPhone effectively and take preventive measures to protect your iPhone from malware attacks.

We all know that the security of iOS devices has long been one of Apple’s biggest priorities. iOS devices are much less susceptible to viruses or Malware than Android devices because of their strong security features. However, despite their reputation for security, iPhones are not immune to Malware attacks. For example, you could accidentally click a link in a phishing email and end up with Adware/Malware on your iPhone. It is, therefore, essential to know how to clean Malware from iPhone and the preventive measures you should adopt, to avoid any threat to your device.

Before going into how to get rid of Malware on iPhone let’s have an overview of what Malware is.

What is Malware?

‘Malware’ is a term for any ‘Malicious Software’ purposely designed to disrupt all electronic devices, including computers, cell phones, tablets, and more. It can steal sensitive information from your computer, gradually slow down your computer, or even send fake emails from your email account without your knowledge.

Malware poses serious problems to individuals and businesses on the Internet. This is because despite Apple’s strong security some types of Malware still find a way to sneak into iPhone and other iOS devices. Here are the most common ways your iPhone can get infected by Malware:

1. Downloading un-trustworthy applications from third-party app stores;
2. Clicking links of phishing emails;
3. Clicking malicious ads;
4. Encountering fake system update notifications;

Once infiltrated, Malware may slow down the device’s performance, steal sensitive data, or even render the device useless. The defense strategies against Malware differ according to the type of Malware. The common types of Malware include Viruses and Worms, Spyware, Adware, Trojans, and Ransomware.

Before I show the steps for Malware removal from iPhone we need to know the signs of Malware on iPhones.

How to detect Malware on iPhones

Here are the main symptoms that could indicate your iPhone has Malware:

1. Presence of unfamiliar apps or programs;
2. Unfamiliar messages being received or sent;
3. Abnormally high data usage;
4. Unusually high battery drain;
5. Overheating;
6. Unforeseen notifications from unknown sources;
7. Slow performance;
8. Huge amount of pop-ups and ads;

Now let us see how to get rid of Malware on iPhone.

How to remove Malware from iPhone – the steps to follow

If your iPhone shows signs that it’s infected with Malware, it is crucial to take action for Malware removal from iPhone to avoid any threat to your device. To do that, follow the steps below on how to get rid of Malware on iPhone.

1. Restart your iPhone

The easiest way to remove Malware from iPhone is to restart your device. To do that, press and hold your device’s power button until the “slide to power off” option appears. Drag the slider to turn off the iPhone. Then to restart the phone press the power button again until the Apple logo appears.

2. Update iOS version

Apple frequently releases updates to patch security vulnerabilities. Therefore, by updating your iPhone’s operating system to the latest version, you can potentially remove Malware from your device and prevent future Malware threats. For updating the iOS version on your iPhone,

Go to Settings> Click on ‘General’> Then Tap on ‘Software Update’> Tap “Download and install.”

3. Uninstall any unfamiliar or suspicious apps

Any unfamiliar app on your iPhone may be spyware or a threat to your device. Therefore, if you see any apps on your device that you haven’t downloaded, you should delete them instantly. Removing them can help you get rid of an iPhone virus. When you find a suspicious app, do the following to delete it,

Long-press the app icon> tap ‘Remove app’> Then tap ‘Delete app’ to confirm.

4. Clear iPhone browsing data

Clear your browser data if you think an infected website gave your iPhone, Malware. Here’s how to get rid of Malware on iPhone by deleting your iPhone browsing history on Safari:

1. Open Settings;
2. Tap Safari;
3. Choose ‘Clear History and Website Data’;
4. Tap Clear History and data;

5. Restore from an iCloud backup

Restoring your Apple device by using iCloud backup, made before you notice Malware infection, can help to remove the Malware from your iPhone.

Here is how you can restore your device from an iCloud backup:

1. Open your iPhone Settings;
2. Go to General;
3. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone;
4. Choose Erase All Content and Settings;
5. Tap Continue;
6. Finally, select Restore from iCloud Backup;

6. Factory reset your iPhone

If you still can’t get rid of Malware from your iPhone after all these steps, you may go for a factory reset of your device. But please note that this should be your last resort for removing Malware from iPhone as it will erase all your data. Therefore, back up any important files before going for this so you can restore them later.

Frequently asked questions

Now that I have explained how to remove Malware from iPhone let me also address some of the questions related to Malware removal from iPhone often asked by iPhone users.

How do I clean my iPhone from malware?

Here is how to clean Malware from iPhone:

1. Clear your browsing history and data;
2. Restart your phone;
3. Update iOS;
4. Restore your iPhone to a previous backup;
5. Reset your iPhone to its factory settings;

 Does iPhone reset remove malware?

Yes. Performing a factory reset on your iPhone can combat viruses by removing infected files and help in removing malware from iPhone.

How do I know if my iPhone has been hacked?

The following signs show your iPhone has been hacked:

1. Your iPhone is overheated or runs out of battery quickly;
2. You see unfamiliar apps on your home screen;
3. Your camera or microphone indicator lights turn on;
4. Others may receive “strange messages” from you;

How to remove spyware from iPhone?

You can remove iPhone spyware by updating your iOS to the latest version, removing suspicious apps, or performing a factory reset.

You may also like to read this related post: Can  iPhones get viruses from Websites

Conclusion

Although the iPhone is one of the most secure smartphones currently on the market you may often find the search phrase – ‘how to remove Malware from iPhone’ on search engines.

Even though Malware attacks on iPhones are relatively rare because of the strong security features of iOS devices, to stay safe, you must take preventive measures to protect your iPhone from Malware attacks. Following are some of the precautionary measures that you should adopt to avoid any threat to your device:

1. Download apps only from the official App Store;
2. Be extra careful with emails, messages, and unknown websites;
3. Never click on links, ads, or pictures in emails or messages from unknown senders;
4. Never click websites if their layout or language looks suspicious. Better leave them immediately;