Can You Get a Virus on an iPhone? The Truth

I’ve heard it my whole life: “Macs don’t get viruses.” That belief trickled down to the iPhone, creating this idea that it’s a perfect, impenetrable digital fortress. For the most part, that reputation is well-earned. But is it the whole truth?

The short answer is: yes, but it is extremely rare.

If you’re asking, “Can you get a virus on an iPhone?” like the kind that plagued 90s PCs—a self-replicating file that corrupts everything—the answer is pretty much no. But the game has changed. Today, the real threats aren’t “viruses” in the traditional sense. They’re malware, spyware, and sophisticated phishing attacks.

So, while the chances of your non-jailbroken iPhone catching a cold are tiny, they aren’t zero. Let’s dig into why iPhones are so tough, how they can be compromised, and what to look for.

The “Walled Garden”: Why iPhones Are So Secure

The main reason I’ve always felt safe with my iPhone is Apple’s “walled garden” approach. This isn’t just marketing; it’s a core security philosophy built on a few key pillars.

1. The App Store

You can’t just download and install any program from the internet. You have to go through the official App Store, which has a strict app review process. Apple vets every app for malicious code and shady behavior. While a few bad apples have slipped through (like the “XcodeGhost” incident years ago), it’s an incredibly effective filter.

2. App Sandboxing

This is the real magic. “Sandboxing” means every app on your iPhone runs in its own secure, isolated container. Your Twitter app can’t access your banking app’s data, and a silly game can’t read your iMessages. This security architecture prevents malware from spreading easily, even if it did somehow get on your device.

3. Constant iOS Updates

Those annoying update notifications are your best friend. Apple is in a constant cat-and-mouse game with hackers. When security researchers find a vulnerability—say, in the WebKit browser engine or the kernel—Apple rushes to patch it.

Just recently, Apple rolled out iOS 26.1 to fix over 50 security flaws. Running an outdated version of iOS is like leaving your front door unlocked.

How Can an iPhone Get Infected?

Even with that high wall, attackers have found a few ways to get inside. The methods, however, almost always require either exploiting a major (and expensive) vulnerability or, more commonly, tricking me, the user.

The Number One Threat: Jailbreaking

This is the most common way iPhones get serious malware. Jailbreaking is the process of removing Apple’s built-in software restrictions.

When you jailbreak a phone, you break the “walled garden” wide open. This allows you to install apps from “third-party app stores” like Cydia, which have no review process. This is where hackers load up their malware. If your phone is acting strange and you bought it secondhand, it’s worth checking if it’s been jailbroken.

What is Jailbreaking?
Think of your iPhone as a pre-built house where you can’t move the walls. Jailbreaking is like knocking down all the interior walls to customize the layout. It gives you freedom, but it also completely removes the structural integrity and security that kept you safe.

You can check for jailbreaking apps like “Cydia” or “Sileo” by searching your App Library. If you find them, your device is compromised.

For more information on the risks, Apple has an official support page explaining why you shouldn’t jailbreak your iPhone.
Check out Apple’s guide on unauthorized iOS modification

Zero-Day and Zero-Click Exploits

This is the scary, high-tech stuff. A “zero-day” is a vulnerability that Apple doesn’t know about yet. A “zero-click” exploit is even scarier—it can infect your phone without you even clicking a link.

The most famous example is Pegasus spyware. This is military-grade malware sold to governments to spy on journalists, activists, and officials. It could be delivered via a simple iMessage and give the attacker complete access to your phone’s camera, microphone, and messages.

The good news? You and I are almost certainly not the target. These exploits cost millions of dollars and are saved for high-profile individuals.

Phishing and Social Engineering

This is, by far, the most common threat to the average user. The hacker doesn’t attack the phone; they attack you.

• iMessage Scams: “Your Apple Pay has been suspended. Click here to verify your account.”
• Malicious Calendar Invites: You suddenly have 10 events a day for “FREE IPHONE 17!” or “Your Mac is infected!”
• Smishing (SMS Phishing): “We detected a problem with your package delivery. Please confirm your address and credit card info.”

These attacks trick you into navigating to a malicious website and voluntarily entering your Apple ID, password, or credit card details. No “virus” is needed.

Sideloading and Insecure Wi-Fi

Two other vectors are worth mentioning:

1. Sideloading: Due to new regulations like the Digital Markets Act in the EU, Apple is being forced to allow app installation from outside the App Store. Security experts are worried this will open the door to a new wave of malware as users download unvetted apps.
2. Insecure Public Wi-Fi: Using that free cafe Wi-Fi can expose you to “man-in-the-middle” attacks, where a hacker intercepts the data between you and the router.

Signs Your iPhone Might Have Malware

If you haven’t jailbroken your phone, the odds are in your favor. But if you’re still worried, here are the common symptoms of an iPhone malware infection.

What to Do if You Suspect an Infection

Okay, let’s say your phone is checking a few of those boxes. Don’t panic. Here are the steps to take, from easiest to most drastic.

1. Restart Your iPhone: The oldest trick in the IT book. A simple restart can sometimes kill a rogue process.
2. Update Your iOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If there’s an update, install it immediately. This will patch any known security holes the malware might be using.
3. Delete Suspicious Apps: If you spotted an app you don’t recognize, press and hold its icon and delete it immediately.
4. Clear Browser History and Data: If you’re getting lots of pop-ups, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. This will log you out of sites but can clear a malicious cache.
5. Restore from a Backup: If you have an iCloud backup from before you noticed the problems, you can try restoring from it.
6. The Nuclear Option: Factory Reset: This is the only way to be 100% sure. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. This wipes your phone clean. When you set it up again, do not restore from a recent backup, as you might re-install the malware. Set it up as a new device.

My Takeaway: You’re the Best Antivirus

So, can you get a virus on an iPhone? Yes, technically. But for 99.9% of us, it’s not going to happen.

The real threat isn’t some invisible virus; it’s social engineering. The weakest link in Apple’s “walled garden” isn’t the software; it’s me and you. We’re the ones who get tricked into clicking a bad link, giving away our password, or jailbreaking our phone because we want a custom icon.

My final advice is simple:

• Keep your iPhone updated. Always.
• Never, ever jailbreak your phone.
• Think before you click. If a message seems too good to be true or creates a false sense of urgency, it’s a scam.