When it comes to the security of computers and mobile devices, anyone who knows even a little about the topic will tell you: Android is very easy to infect with a virus, but the iPhone is very reliable in this regard. But is it? Let's find out!
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First, about the terms
Before we begin, let's, as scientists say, “agree on terms.” Most people refer to any piece of malware as a "virus" - but it's not really (technically) quite there.
Malware (also known as soapware) is the most common type of malicious program. The virus enters the computer through an installed program, and then spreads throughout the device through replication (self-replication). Often it switches to other gadgets too. “Viruses” were popular in past decades; today they are not the most common type of malware.
Adware is software that brings a bunch of advertisements to your computer (desktop or mobile). It became popular due to malicious sites and browser extensions.
Spyware steals data about you and sends it to unscrupulous advertising companies.
Ransomware - locks your PC and demands a “ransom” to return access to your files and control over the system as a whole.
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Precautions and prevention
To summarize all of the above, we need to highlight the main conditions that will help both the iOS system and the smartphone operate fully and smoothly:
- The closed nature of the platform is not a disadvantage, but an advantage. It is this feature that allows you to get rid of installing unnecessary programs, and also be always calm about the safety of all files. Jailbreak removes all restrictions, but makes the system and device more vulnerable; in this case, a virus may appear on the iPhone, reminding you that you have to pay for everything. Instead, it is recommended to search the Appstore to find a suitable program for a specific type of activity.
- First of all, you should check for viruses not your iPhone, but your computer, through which your favorite videos, songs, pictures and other content will be downloaded.
- It is strongly recommended to download applications only from official stores, in this case you can rest assured of their reliability and quality. All unofficial third-party Internet sources cannot give any guarantees; files from them may pose a danger to the system.
How does iOS protect us from malware?
Cupertino has provided several levels of protection at once.
Application downloads are only from the App Store.
Apple created iOS so that the user (unless he jailbreaks) can only download applications from the company's app store. In Android, as in Windows, you can install programs from anywhere - but you pay a high price for it, because it is very easy to “catch” a virus on the modern, not very user-friendly Internet.
In addition, Apple censors manually check each individual application for viruses. If something suspicious is found in the program code, the application is returned for revision. This is not a perfect system; it also experiences occasional glitches. But here it is appropriate to make a comparison with Churchill’s famous phrase about democracy - “yes, this is a terrible form of government - but come up with something better.”
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"Sandbox"
iOS has a special practice called sandboxing. It ensures that the application (“sand”) will never go beyond the prescribed boundaries (“sandbox fencing”). What does it mean? For example, none of the newly installed applications will be able to access data from other programs.
In addition, almost all programs in iOS run in an account with “reduced” permissions. They do not have access to administrator (root) rights, so third-party applications cannot change system settings and cause harm.
The result is the following: even if you accidentally install a “suspicious” application, the second level of iOS protection will not give it access to the OS and files.
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Regular iOS updates
One of the best ways to avoid falling into the clutches of a soapware is to update your operating system in a timely manner. This is another one of the key and “eternal” advantages of iOS compared to Android. It is especially important that all compatible devices receive each new software release immediately. Look at the statistics of iOS versions running actively used Apple technology - you will immediately notice that most users have already updated to the most current version of iOS.
As of November 1, 2022 (less than two months after release), iOS 14 is installed on more than 50% of devices.
In Android, things work completely differently. Owners of top-end devices sometimes wait for months for an “update,” while owners of “ordinary” gadgets do not receive it at all. As a result, they risk catching a virus that has long been neutralized on Apple devices.
As of November 1, 2022, Android 10 OS (1 year and 2 months after release) is installed on 33.3% of devices.
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Standard scenario
If you don’t install an antivirus on your Windows PC, then after a couple of weeks you will definitely notice how your computer works slower. Advertising banners appear out of nowhere, programs freeze, or the system reboots for no reason.
Frustrated, you install an antivirus to scan Windows, run the scan and are amazed at how much malicious garbage you managed to pick up. I didn’t seem to crawl on suspicious sites; I downloaded the content from trusted torrents. Tired of it!
And at some point you go and buy a brand new MacBook, MacMini or iMac. There is no limit to happiness - the end of worrying about information on the hard drive, not a single virus will get into the brand new OS X, you don’t need to spend money on renewing your antivirus subscription every year, you think. And many owners of Apple computers and laptops think so.
The iOS operating system is also not accessible to hackers, because the platform is closed, unlike the Android OS. And in general, mobile virus writers today create 99% of all viruses for the “Green Robot”. iPhone and iPad users can rest easy.
Examples of malware viruses for iPhone
... But hackers are persistent people. From time to time, they still find vulnerabilities in iOS security and try to take advantage of them. Here are some recent examples (actually there are even more):
At the beginning of 2022, WikiLeaks released information about the CIA's methods for hacking iOS devices. Apple said it has closed all vulnerabilities.
In September 2015, Apple discovered that hundreds of iOS applications made in China contained hidden malware code. This was made possible thanks to a fake version of the Xcode development environment, which Apple offers to everyone for free. Several developers from the Middle Kingdom downloaded old copies of Xcode from the Internet under the name XcodeGhost, and accidentally embedded malicious code into their applications. All “suspicious” applications have been removed from the App Store.
Before the release of iOS version 10.3, a serious vulnerability occurred in Safari. Hackers could configure the site to “spam” the browser with pop-up dialog boxes. As a result, Safari was blocked, and a ransom in the form of iTunes certificates was demanded to remove the blocking. Although in fact it was not at all necessary to part with your money - it was enough to clear the browser cache.
Xsser mRAT is a Trojan from late 2014. It infected jailbroken Apple devices and pumped out almost all possible information with it.
None of this malware was an epidemic for iOS users... but it served as a great reminder that even Apple can't protect its customers from every threat under the sun.
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Looks like a virus, but not a virus
iPhones have problems that can be attributed to viruses. But the real reason, of course, is completely different.
For example, if your smartphone is running slowly, you should free up more space on it or replace the battery, if the gadget has been working for a very long time and the battery is already “tired” - in such cases, Apple specifically lowers the processor frequency in order to prevent the device from spontaneously turning off when peak loads (the old battery can no longer cope with them). You can check the battery wear level in iOS settings. If he’s already been on a spree, it’s time to see a doctor (well, that is, to a service center).
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Symptoms of viral infection
A virus is a thing that greatly affects the overall health of the system. A malicious file uses a lot of smartphone resources, which is why slowdowns, lags and glitches become the main signs of infection.
Don't rush to conclusions. Perhaps the glitches and lags of the system are related to problems with the current firmware version or the obsolescence of the iPhone itself.
You can also check your iPhone for viruses for free and without additional applications using built-in tools. For example, by studying detailed information about the amount of free space.
If memory suddenly becomes suspiciously low, the likelihood that the device is infected increases. After all, the virus somehow occupies free space. Therefore, carefully study which files consume the most memory. If some inconsistencies are visible, it is recommended to take care of “curing” the iPhone.
Another sign is problems with autonomy. Since the virus constantly monitors the user, it consumes battery power. If your iPhone has lost 20-30% overnight, be sure to check the device for viruses or read the instructions for manually getting rid of malicious files.
Finally, the presence of a virus often results in the loss of personal data. For example, when you can’t log in to one of your iPhone accounts. This means that an attacker has hacked your account. And it is likely that the cause was an infection of the gadget.
Jailbreaking is a risk
So, the average iPhone user will never see malware on their smartphone. But we haven't talked about such a thing as jailbreaking yet.
If you don’t know: jailbreaking (popularly just “jail”) gives you access to iOS administrator rights and allows you to bypass all Apple security restrictions. As a result, the user gets the opportunity to install applications from any source and change the system at will - in general, everything is like on Android.
Jailbreaking gives you more opportunities to customize the system “for yourself” - but it also sharply reduces the level of security, because On a jailbroken iPhone, you can already install infected applications or become a victim of a cyber attack.
Today, the “jail” has seriously lost in popularity - Apple has made iOS a much more convenient and full-featured system than before, so even the once-loyal supporters of jailbreak decided that it was better to return to the “bright” path.
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New device
If all the data is infected and each borrowed file is of no use or the information is unavailable for another reason, you will have to reset your favorite cellular gadget to factory settings. We clear the Apple smartphone by selecting “Settings” -> “General” -> “Reset” -> “Delete all content and settings”. Then enter the password and confirm the process. We wait until the removal is complete, and then we set up the iPhone as a new device.
After all processes are completed, we reinstall the applications that will be used. We reboot digital media and make an interface for ourselves. Now we update iOS regularly, do not jailbreak, monitor social engineering attacks, and do not open suspicious links. That's all I wanted to talk about.
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Watch the video. It will be useful.
Antivirus on iPhone: is it really needed by iOS?
There are quite a few “antiviruses” in the App Store. Why are they needed if the risk of catching malware tends to zero?
If you look at these applications more closely, you will notice that these programs do not do anything useful. Programs like Lookout, Avira and Norton do not scan your iPhone for viruses (due to sandboxing, which we discussed above). What do they do then?
- Search for a missing phone and the signal by which it can be found;
- Protection from dangerous websites;
- Notifications that a new update has been released for iOS.
There's just one problem with all of this - you already have access to all these features! iOS has a Find My iPhone feature. The Safari browser—or any browser for iOS—will always warn you when you're about to visit an unsafe website. And, of course, your gadget will always inform you that it is time to update the firmware.
Other functions of such applications - for example, VPN and monitoring of your financial accounts - are better left to specialized applications.
The conclusion is simple - we are faced with absolutely useless applications, the value of which is zero.
By the way, starting in 2022, Apple will remove from the App Store a large number of fake antiviruses and other “useful” applications that claim to include virus scanning as their functions. Cupertino also updated the guidelines (instructions) for developers with a reminder that applications cannot include content or services that are not actually offered.
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