If you accidentally clicked on spam link on iPhone, Android phone, or Mac, you can run a virus scan with McAfee, Norton, etc. Just download and install it via App Store, Google Play Store, or Mac App Store. Once the malware is found, remove it from your device.
While the number of potential viruses that could affect your iPhone is miniscule compared to the thousands of known viruses that could infect your PC, iPhones are not as invincible as many people think they are. To answer the question “Can iPhones get viruses from websites?” the answer is a resounding yes.
Clicking on suspicious links can inject malware into computers or phones that enable fraudsters to record account numbers and passwords.
A Hacker May Receive Information From or About You
If you click on a phishing link, the attacker will automatically receive some basic data, such as your device statistics, approximate location and any other information you may have voluntarily provided.
Clicked on a phishing link but did not enter details? Still go through the steps below. If you've clicked something suspicious, it's better to overreact than to underreact. Immediately change your password for the affected account and any account where you use the same login credentials.
Phishers are a nimble bunch: About 84% of phishing sites exist for less than 24 hours, with an average life cycle of under 15 hours.
Due to security restrictions on iOS, it is not possible for any app to scan the system or other apps for malware. Apps are not allowed those kinds of permissions, and for that reason, antivirus software on iOS is not possible.
There is no way to scan your iPhone for malware, so if you suspect your device is infected, we'll show you how to troubleshoot. If all else fails, you can always erase your device and restore from a backup to get rid of any viruses.
Hackers do not even have to steal the victim's phone to download malware. They just have to plant viruses on websites designed to infect the smartphones and wait for the user to simply click a link on their phone.
While Safari is a very safe and very secure web browser, there are instances where Safari can be susceptible to zero-day exploits. These come with new iOS updates and are usually quickly amended. There's also the risk of clicking suspicious links that use Safari to try and gain access to your personal info.
iPhones are vulnerable to hacking despite being more secure than Android devices. Hackers can exploit security loopholes in the iOS operating system or third-party apps to gain unauthorized access to your device, steal personal data, or install malware.
Check if a website is safe in Safari
Go to the website you want to visit. to open the Tools pop up window. From the list, tap Scan Website. Mobile Security will scan the website and display if the page is Safe or Dangerous.
Your device may suddenly become sluggish or apps may not load correctly. Battery life may decrease as well. Another potential sign of a virus is when unexpected ads pop up or phone or text messages that you never sent show up in your phone logs. A virus can also slow internet access or increase data usage.
Apple's operating system (iOS) provides iPhones and other Apple devices with security features that make it extremely difficult for malware to infiltrate. However, if the phone has been tampered with, it may be worth taking additional security measures to protect your devices, such as installing antivirus software.
Open Settings > General. Tap iPhone Storage, select Safari from the list of apps, then tap Website Data. Tap Remove All Website Data at the bottom of the screen, or delete an individual site's data by swiping left and tapping Delete.
A malware scan finds spyware installed
One of the best ways to determine if your iPhone is hacked is to run a malware scan. Antivirus apps for iOS are quite limited as Apple's operating system does not allow them to access areas of the device where malware typically hides.
Although iPhones are more secure than other smartphones, it's still possible to get a virus while browsing the internet on one. You don't need to lose sleep over the possibility your phone is infected, but it's important to be aware it's possible.
Here are some ways to recognize a phishing email: Urgent call to action or threats - Be suspicious of emails that claim you must click, call, or open an attachment immediately. Often, they'll claim you have to act now to claim a reward or avoid a penalty.
Use a URL checker
Google has its own version of a URL checker called Google Transparency Report. To check the safety of a link, all you have to do is safely copy the link and paste it into Google's URL checker. To safely copy a link, right-click and choose “copy” from the options that appear.
Grammar errors and misspelled words. Email addresses and domain names that don't match. Unusual content or request – these often involve a transfer of funds or requests for login credentials. Urgency – ACT NOW, IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED.
Yes, you can get a virus just from visiting a website. These days, it's very easy to be overconfident in our abilities to avoid computer viruses. After all, many of us were told that we simply had to avoid files and programs we didn't recognize. If an email came through that looked fishy, we didn't open them.