iPhones are widely considered to be more secure than Android phones when it comes to malware threats. Apple’s tight control over its iOS operating system and App Store make it much harder for malicious apps to get installed on iPhones without the user’s knowledge. However, iPhones are not completely immune to malware. Here is a look at how common malware truly is on iPhones.
How Apple’s security measures protect against malware
There are several key security measures Apple has put in place to limit malware on iPhones:
- App Store review process – All apps submitted to the App Store go through extensive automated and manual review to check for malware, spyware, and other threats before being approved for distribution.
- Sandboxing – Apps are restricted in what data and resources they can access on a device. This containment prevents malicious apps from reaching sensitive user data or system files.
- App signatures – All apps must be digitally signed by registered developers. Modified or hacked apps can be detected and blocked based on invalid signatures.
- Data encryption – iOS utilizes robust encryption to protect data stored on devices and in transmission between Apple servers.
- OS updates – Regular system software updates patch vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malware developers.
These measures make iOS a very secure mobile operating system. Apple claims that iOS offers “the highest level of security of any mobile platform”.
Malware statistics and reports
Now let’s look at some statistics and reports regarding actual malware detections on iOS:
- Kaspersky Lab detected only 8 million malware attacks on iOS devices in 2020, compared to over 200 million detections on Android devices.
- Symantec reported just 3 iOS malware families detected in 2020, affecting only about 40,000 devices. In comparison, 564 Android malware families were reported.
- An Alcatel-Lucent study found the average iPhone to be infected with about 0.7 malware variants compared to 17 for the average Android device.
- Less than 0.1% of mobile malware targets iOS, per a LexisNexis report. 99.9% of mobile malware targets Android.
- Malwarebytes reported detecting an average of 130 threats per 1,000 iOS devices in 2020 compared to 950 threats per 1,000 Android devices.
These statistics indicate that while iPhone malware does exist, it is dramatically less prevalent than on Android. The closed nature of iOS prevents broad malware dissemination seen on the more open Android platform.
Examples of iOS malware
There have been a handful of notable malware outbreaks affecting iPhones over the years:
- WireLurker – Detected in 2014, this malware infected over 400 iOS apps, targeting devices connected via USB to infected OS X computers. It was able to steal data from the iPhone and install additional malicious apps.
- YiSpecter – Discovered in 2015, this malware infected jailbroken iOS devices and abused enterprise certificate permissions to replace system apps with malicious versions. It affected over 10 million users in China.
- Pegasus – Developed by the NSO Group, this spyware exploited vulnerabilities to install itself on target iPhones, allowing full access to messages, emails, and other sensitive data. It was detected actively attacking thousands of iOS devices.
- XcodeGhost – A corrupted version of Xcode infected thousands of iOS apps in 2015, mainly targeting China. It could perform phishing attacks, prompt fake app ratings/purchases, and gather device info.
These examples show that iOS malware is rare but can pose a serious threat when it does occur. Carefully sticking to the official App Store and avoiding jailbreaking greatly reduce exposure to these threats for most iPhone users.
Is jailbreaking less secure?
Jailbreaking removes many of the default Apple iOS security measures. This leaves jailbroken devices much more vulnerable to malware. Some examples of the heightened risks from jailbreaking include:
- Circumventing code signing allows untrusted apps to be installed from outside the App Store.
- Sandbox containment is disabled, so malicious apps have more system access.
- Security updates can no longer be installed over-the-air once an iPhone is jailbroken.
- Jailbreak processes often exploit security flaws that could also be used to propagate malware.
- Jailbreak app repositories frequently host pirated IPA files containing malware.
Major malware outbreaks like YiSpecter exclusively targeted jailbroken iOS devices. While jailbreaking provides more device customization, it results in much higher malware risk.
Can iPhones get viruses?
Unlike Windows PCs, there are no true viruses impacting iPhones currently. This is thanks to the closed nature of iOS and App Store ecosystem.
Some key reasons why iOS viruses don’t exist:
- Apps can’t run in the background to infect other files.
- iOS sandboxing blocks apps from interacting with each other.
- The limited iOS user permissions model prevents infection.
- Only Apple-signed code can execute, stopping self-replication.
- The centralized App Store distributionhalts viral spreading between devices.
The iOS operating system architecture simply does not allow an independent self-replicating virus to take hold and spread like it could on Windows or in the open Android environment. All iOS malware requires some user interaction to infect a device rather than autonomous viral behavior.
Examples of iOS malware distribution
While traditional viruses don’t impact iPhones, malware still finds limited distribution channels into iOS devices. Some common infection methods include:
- Social engineering – The user gets a message prompting them to install a compromised app from outside the App Store, and they fall for it.
- Fake apps – Malware authors submit malicious apps to the App Store and hope they get approved by Apple.
- App Store downloads – Infected apps make it through Apple’s review process and users download the malicious app.
- Physical access abuse – The iPhone is jailbroken via direct USB access allowing infected apps to be installed outside the App Store.
- Enterprise developer accounts – Abuse of organization accounts lets attackers sign malicious apps that bypass app store review.
While limited, these distribution methods have enabled iOS malware outbreaks to impact significant numbers of users. Carefully sticking to trusted sources for app downloads is the best way to avoid these infection vectors.
Can you get a virus from Safari on iPhone?
The Safari web browser is another potential malware entry point, but also offers robust protection against infections.
Some key reasons iOS Safari is highly secure:
- Safari sandboxes isolate web page processes from the system.
- No support for browser plug-ins and extensions limits malware entry points.
- App Store vetting provides security for third-party browsers like Chrome.
- Apple sends security updates to patch browser exploit vulnerabilities.
- Suspicious tabs can be force closed without impacting other tabs or data.
While web-based threats like phishing or social engineering are still possible on iPhone, drive-by downloads that silently install malware in the background are essentially unheard of. The tightly controlled Safari environment means users are very unlikely to get an actual virus from iPhone web browsing.
Are iPhones safe from spyware?
Spyware is malicious software designed to secretly gather user data and monitor activity without the user’s consent. iPhones face some spyware threats, but are still considered much more resistant than Android devices.
Factors making iPhones safer from spyware include:
- App sandboxing blocks unauthorized data access attempts.
- Mandatory app code signing deters spyware execution.
- OS-level protections like address space layout randomization (ASLR).
- New privacy features like App Tracking Transparency in iOS 14 and 15.
- General lack of background processing on iOS limits spyware reach.
That being said, examples like Pegasus show spyware can still target weaknesses and slip onto iOS devices. Users should avoid sideloading untrusted apps, monitor app permissions, keep software updated, and utilize reputable malware scanners to minimize any spyware risk.
Does iOS have built-in malware protection?
Unlike some other mobile operating systems, Apple does not include dedicated antivirus software with iOS. Nonetheless, the multi-layered security design of iOS provides substantial built-in protection against malware.
Key anti-malware safeguards integrated into iOS include:
- Mandatory app code signing blocks untrusted software execution.
- App sandboxing contains damage even if malware gets installed.
- Data protection encryption safeguards sensitive user information.
- App permissions limit data access from compromised apps.
- The walled App Store ecosystem prevents untrusted software distribution.
- Frequent security updates patch known attack vectors.
These protections make iOS inherently more secure against malware attacks. While additional anti-malware software never hurts, most iPhone users won’t see huge benefits from third-party antivirus apps thanks to the strong integrated protections.
Conclusion
In summary, while iPhones are clearly not immune to malware, the iOS platform offers security measures that make malware extremely rare in practice for most users. Sticking to the official App Store for downloads, keeping devices up-to-date, and avoiding jailbreaking will keep the great majority of iPhone owners well-protected against any malicious threats in the wild.