Can Viruses Infect an Android Phone & iPhone?

Can Phones Get Viruses?

No matter what brand or model of phone you have, there's always a possibility that a virus will infect your device. Even though tech giants designed Android and Apple iPhone devices with security in mind, viruses can still get into phones if a malicious app is downloaded or a pop-up ad gets clicked on. There’s always a chance of infection. When this occurs, it's crucial to get rid of the application causing the virus to prevent it from spreading. If left unattended, viruses can steal your information and negatively affect the performance of your phone.

Can Viruses Infect an iPhone?

The iOS operating system installed on Apple iPhone devices is highly secure and isn't necessarily susceptible to viruses and malware. iPhone users can only download apps directly through the App Store, so fake and malicious applications can't be downloaded. The apps you download on your iPhone can't directly get into the device's operating system, reducing the possibility of viruses infecting your phone.

To effectively reduce the risk of a virus on your iPhone, you mustn’t purchase an unlocked or jailbroken phone that allows users to download applications outside the App Store. If you have an unlocked Apple iPhone, the device has the potential to be as susceptible to viruses as Android phones. The types of security threats that iPhone devices are most vulnerable to include identity theft, phishing, and unsecured WiFi networks.

Can Viruses Infect an Android Phone?

Android phones are typically considered to be more vulnerable to viruses than Apple iPhone models. These viruses are delivered to the phone by downloading malicious software. Once these viruses are downloaded and activated, they can worsen your device’s performance and corrupt any files or programs found on your phone.

The viruses that can infect your Android phone include spyware, adware, and ransomware. Even though nearly all apps from the Play Store are legitimate and don't contain viruses, Google won’t detect viruses until they've been downloaded and installed by thousands of people. You're at a higher risk of downloading a malicious app on your Android phone if you use a third-party app store.