Does My iPhone Have a Virus? Virus Warning Pop-ups If you follow the tips below, it's very unlikely that your iPhone will be invaded by malware of any type. While viruses are rare on iPhones, fake virus warnings are fairly common (see Virus Warning Pop-ups, below). The iPhone doesn't typically get viruses, but other kinds of malware do exist, for example, spyware, which sends your activity to a third-party, or adware, which shows you extra and unwanted advertisements. Viruses are a specific type of malware: malicious software programs that replicate themselves by modifying software with their own code once they've invaded. Anything that can harm your devices or steal your personal information is included in the malware category. Malware is short for malicious software and includes Trojan horses, spyware apps, and viruses. The term virus has entered the common vernacular to mean any unwanted invader of a computer or handheld device, but if we're technical, there is a difference between a virus and malware.
