Is your relatively new iPhone starting to feel sluggish and clunky? Then you may have accidentally exposed it to a form of malicious software (often shorten to malware).

Malware is a form of harmful software that hackers and cybercriminals use to steal data and information from unsuspecting users. Today’s hackers have created malware that can infect a wide variety of devices, including:

  • Computers (Mac and PC)
  • Smartphones (Apple and Android)
  • Tablets (Apple and Android)

Exposing your device to malware can also harm its software, resulting in a slow operating system.

There are several different types of malware that users should be aware of; some common examples include ransomware and spyware.

If you value your cybersecurity, you should consider making use of the following tips. Using these tips will dramatically reduce the chances of a dangerous malware infection.

Download Mobile Antivirus Software

If you want to safeguard your device from malware, the first thing you should do is download a high-quality mobile antivirus program from a reputable cybersecurity company.

Modern mobile antivirus software has the ability to proactively detect and deal with malware that can compromise your sensitive data.

Not to mention, unlike your device’s built-in cybersecurity programs, premium mobile antivirus software can identify both known and potential forms of malware. This is done by using heuristic technology to pre-emptively scan your files, software, and applications.

This means that your device is protected from cyber threats that cybersecurity experts are still learning about!

Furthermore, the best antivirus software for iOS protects your device from other common cyber threats, some of which include:

  • Spam/phishing calls
  • Malicious websites
  • Ad trackers and malvertisements
  • Fraudulent texts or messages

If you’re unsure of which cybersecurity company you’d like to go with, you may want to look for a company that offers a free trial of their software. Downloading a free trial gives you the time to get a feel for the software before committing to a subscription.

Don’t Jailbreak Your iPhone

Have you ever thought about jailbreaking your iPhone before?

For those who aren’t familiar, jailbreaking is a process in which a user modifies their device in a way that allows them to customize their software further. For example, after jailbreaking their iPhone, users are granted access to apps and UI features that aren’t available on standard devices.

Although there are a handful of benefits to jailbreaking your iPhone, most cybersecurity experts don’t recommend it.

Jailbreaking your iPhone can severely compromise your device’s built-in cybersecurity features. Hindering these features makes your device more susceptible to malware and other cyber-attacks.

Furthermore, jailbreaking your device gives you access to unauthorized content and software, which is generally riddled with cyber threats that can brick your brand-new device.

With this in mind, it’s easy to see that jailbreaking your iPhone isn’t worth the risk, especially if you value your cybersecurity.

Only Download Apps from Reputable Developers

Apple’s team of specialists put countless hours of work into verifying the programs that they share on the Apple App Store.

Despite this effort, some hackers have successfully published compromised apps on the Apple App Store and similar mobile app platforms. Downloading one of these apps instantly infects your device with malware (which, by now, you know isn’t ideal).

To avoid the malicious apps, you should only download programs from verified and authorized developers. The easiest way to verify an app or developer is by downloading an application profiling tool.

These nifty programs can quickly scan newly downloaded apps and provide users with a safety assessment. These assessments give users in-depth analytics regarding the quality and overall security of the application.

Some details that application profiling tools are designed to assess include:

  • Authentication processes
  • Metadata leakage potential
  • General information leakage potential
  • User tracking

Update Your Device Promptly and Regularly

Updating your iPhone is extremely important, especially if you want to protect your device from malware.

Updating your smartphone allows your operating system to patch any issues or vulnerabilities that developers have spotted since the previous update. Promptly updating your operating system makes it more difficult for hackers or cybercriminals to infiltrate your device.

If you’d like help updating your iPhone to the latest operating system, feel free to check out this guide.

Bonus Tip – Update All of Your Apple Products

The tip mentioned above doesn’t just apply to iPhones; you should take a moment to upgrade all of your Apple devices when a new update comes out.

By making use of the tips mentioned above, you can efficiently safeguard your device from malware and a wide variety of cyberthreats.