Can iPhones get viruses? The answer and how to stay safe

Can iPhones get viruses?

iPhones can get viruses, but it’s extremely rare. Other types of malware, such as spyware and trojans, are a more likely threat. 

Apple builds strong protections into iOS, but they don’t make iPhones untouchable. Attackers still look for weak points in apps, browsers, and user behavior.

How rare is it for an iPhone to get a virus?

It’s extremely rare for a fully updated iPhone to get a virus. For most users, the bigger risk comes from other types of malware and mobile threats.

Reliable public numbers on everyday iPhone virus infections are limited, and most reports track broader iOS risks instead. According to Zimperium’s 2025 Global Mobile Threat Report, which tracks risks across enterprise environments, 54% of all iOS threats were mishing (mobile phishing) based, while 39.8% were network threats such as man-in-the-middle attacks.

Even so, true virus infections remain rare on iPhones because Apple uses several built-in protections in iOS:

• It screens App Store apps. Apple reviews apps and app updates before release, which reduces the chance of iPhone users downloading malicious software.
• It isolates apps. Sandboxing limits what each app can access, so potentially malicious apps can’t freely read data from other apps or change the system.
• It releases security fixes quickly. Along with regular security updates, Apple uses Rapid Security Responses (RSRs) to deliver important fixes faster than a full iOS update.
• It sends threat alerts to users who may be targeted. Apple notifies people who may face mercenary spyware attacks.

How do iPhones get viruses?

Viruses and other malware can still reach a device through a few common routes. The same report on iOS threats highlights key risk factors, including phishing, jailbreaking, and untrusted apps.

Each of these paths matters because it either weakens Apple’s built-in protections or helps attackers trick users into taking unsafe actions.

1. Jailbreaking

Jailbreaking your iPhone doesn’t automatically infect it. The real problem starts when jailbreaking removes some of Apple’s built-in restrictions. 

Apple’s closed ecosystem usually makes it hard for malicious apps to reach iPhones, but jailbreaking weakens those protections. After that change, the device can run software that doesn’t pass Apple’s usual checks, and malicious code has a much easier path in.

A jailbroken iPhone no longer blocks suspicious apps, unsigned code, or deeper system access in the same way. If you then install malicious software from a shady repository or grant broad permissions to the wrong tool, malware can get far more room to operate.

2. Third-party apps

Malicious third-party apps can infect an iPhone if the user chooses to install them from an untrusted source. That risk used to center mostly on jailbroken devices. Today, users in the European Union can also install apps outside the official App Store through alternative marketplaces or direct web distribution, so trust matters even more.

The main danger isn’t the third-party label itself. The real danger comes from unfamiliar apps that hide malicious code, abuse permissions, or use fake branding to look trustworthy. A rogue app may pose as a utility, a game, a cleaner, or a security tool.

Apple’s App Store review process lowers the risk for official store apps, but the company can’t protect users who install apps from untrusted sources.

3. Phishing

Phishing can expose an iPhone to malware by tricking the user into taking an unsafe action. A fake email, text, pop-up, or redirect may ask the user to enter Apple ID details, install a fake security app, or approve a malicious configuration profile. It may also lead to a harmful website that looks legitimate. Many Apple phishing emails use this approach to steal credentials or push users toward malicious links.

Simply opening a phishing message doesn’t usually infect an iPhone. The real risk begins when a user taps through warnings, enters credentials, installs software, or lands on an exploit page that abuses an unpatched flaw. In many cases, phishing attacks aim to steal accounts or payment details, but some phishing campaigns can also lead to malware.

4. Malicious websites

Malicious websites can expose an iPhone to malware, and users often reach them through phishing links or deceptive redirects. However, simply visiting one doesn’t usually infect a fully updated device on its own. In most cases, the attack needs another step, such as approving a malicious profile, downloading a fake app, or following a redirect to another harmful page.

These websites often rely on tricking the user into taking that extra step. They may push a fake download, a bogus calendar subscription, a scareware alert, or another prompt that looks legitimate. In more advanced cases, attackers may try to exploit a browser or WebKit flaw.

Apple’s security updates show why website-based threats still matter. In March 2025, Apple issued a supplementary fix for an attack in which maliciously crafted web content could break out of the Web Content sandbox. That example shows that web-based attacks are possible, even though they’re uncommon and usually short-lived after a patch. 

5. Zero-click attacks

Some of the most serious iPhone infections come from zero-click exploits. These attacks don’t rely on the user tapping a link, opening an attachment, or installing an app. Instead, they may exploit a flaw in software such as iMessage or another system component to run malicious code without any visible action from the user.

Zero-click attacks are rare and usually highly targeted. They tend to focus on journalists, activists, political figures, and other people who face a higher risk of surveillance. Pegasus is one of the best-known examples. Citizen Lab documented a zero-click iMessage exploit called FORCEDENTRY after analyzing the iPhone of a Saudi activist infected with NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware.

How to protect an iPhone from a virus

Most iPhone malware attacks rely on one of three things: an unsafe download, a successful phishing trick, or an unpatched flaw. A few smart habits can block those paths and reduce the chance of infection:

• Refrain from risky behavior. Download apps only from trusted sources, avoid jailbreaking, and treat links, attachments, and pop-ups with caution. Be especially careful with pages that urge you to “fix” your iPhone, install a profile, or download a security tool right away.
• Increase iPhone security. Install iOS updates as soon as possible. Apple regularly ships security fixes and RSRs, which help close newly discovered flaws before attackers can exploit them on a wider scale.
• Use antivirus software. However, set realistic expectations. Security apps on iPhone can still help, but they don’t work like full desktop antivirus tools. Because iOS limits deep system scanning, these apps usually focus on web protection, scam detection, malicious site blocking, unsafe Wi-Fi alerts, and breach monitoring instead of full device-wide malware removal. If you want to learn more, read our guide on how to check for viruses on an iPhone.
• Use a VPN as an extra layer of protection. A VPN improves privacy and helps protect your traffic on public Wi-Fi. That matters because attackers on insecure networks may use man-in-the-middle attacks to intercept traffic, inject malicious content, or redirect users to harmful websites. Some VPN services also include web protection features. For example, NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature helps block access to dangerous domains while you’re connected to a NordVPN server.

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