Iphones are protected from malware and other forms of viruses, but they are not immune to hackers, mostly because of the users themselves. Here's why
There's no doubt that Apple devices are very secure, but just like any object that can connect to the network, they're not completely immune to hackers. For a number of reasons, in fact, even devices made by the California-based company are potentially hackable.
Potentially, in fact. The Cupertino-based company's operating system, compared to Android, is characterized by being "closed". This means that, unlike the Green Dot, it doesn't allow any outside company to make changes. Moreover, in most cases it is not possible - unless you force iOS with dangerous procedures of dubious legitimacy - to install applications from unknown sources, as it happens for example on Google OS devices. Downloading programs from the web, in fact, means risking being attacked by hackers.
In addition, Apple on iOS uses sandboxing techniques, systems that create a sort of virtual "fence" that prevents applications from communicating with each other. In other words, one app can't access data, let alone modify another app.
Iphones, just like iPads or iPod Touch, are protected from malware and other forms of viruses. They remain - as we'll see in a moment - vulnerable, however. And not because of iOS. As it happens on Android, most of the hacker attacks suffered by the devices of the bitten apple are caused by the users themselves. Here's why.
App sideload
App sideload is a really dangerous system, as it allows users to install third-party apps on their devices. As anticipated, on iOS you generally cannot download software outside of those in the App Store. Similarly to Android, Apple checks all applications in its market before publishing them. One of the main techniques used by hackers to infect smartphones - and not only Apple's - is to hide malware inside "external" applications.
Jailbreaking
Closely related to the previous point is jailbreaking. This is a very risky procedure through which it is possible to unhinge the iOS protection systems. In practice, the technique allows you to "open" the operating system of the Cupertino-based company and allows you to run on the iPhone any program or application, including external ones. And, therefore, potentially even malicious ones.
Phishing
Nothing can be done against phishing. At least from a software perspective. If a user receives an email on his iPhone, decides to click on the link contained in the email and enters his bank data on fake sites, he has fallen into the trap of hackers. And there is no antivirus or operating system that can stop people's superficiality. Tip: Be careful with these kinds of emails. They are made to reproduce almost faithfully the official web pages of banks and other companies that offer digital payment services.
Antivirus
It may also happen that antiviruses are running on the App Store. What are they good for? Nothing. As anticipated, sandboxing techniques are active on iOS, which would make them useless. In fact, some of them might even contain malware. If in doubt, leave it alone.
Wi-Fi networks
Hackers could attack iPhone owners via a public Wi-Fi network. The reason is simple. Since they are not protected, cybercriminals could intercept the data transmission and appropriate, for example, the access credentials of current accounts. Be careful, especially if you are on vacation and are using the hotel's Wi-Fi network, for example.