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In addition to all of its many wonderful features, one of the reasons you might have chosen an iPhone over Android is because Apple has a solid reputation of keeping viruses and malicious software far, far away from your device.
But that doesn’t mean mistakes can’t happen from time to time.
This is the one app you should delete right now to keep your iPhone virus-free, according to a security expert.
While Android users might find the lack of freedom iPhone users have when it comes to downloading a wide (very wide) variety of apps, this is the very reason why Apple customers suffer fewer viruses than other smartphone users. “Since iOS is a closed ecosystem, users can only install apps from the App Store which is thoroughly checked by Apple,” Maik Morgenstern, chief technology officer for AV-Test, told Digital Trends. “It is unlikely that malware writers will get malware in the store.”
That being said, from time to time, mistakes can happen. Not long ago, a list of 17 malicious apps were uncovered on iOS devices.
According to Forbes: “Apple says that the apps in question have been removed from the App Store, and upon examination did not contain the trojan malware as claimed. Instead, the apps were removed for including code that enabled the artificial click-through of ads. A spokesperson for Apple confirmed the removal of the apps and that the App Store’s protective tools have been updated to detect similar apps in the future.”
What could these malicious apps actually do? According to Wandera VP Michael Covington, who spoke with Forbes, they can generate fraudulent ads, but also “potentially steal information, or open a backdoor.”
While it is unlikely you have any of these 17 apps downloaded on your phone, it’s certainly worth a second glance and a fast delete. The apps in question are:
RTO Vehicle Information
EMI Calculator & Loan Planner
File Manager - Documents
Smart GPS Speedometer
CrickOne - Live Cricket Scores
Daily Fitness - Yoga Poses
FM Radio PRO - Internet Radio
My Train Info - IRCTC & PNR (not listed under developer profile)
Around Me Place Finder
Easy Contacts Backup Manager
Ramadan Times 2019 Pro
Restaurant Finder - Find Food
BMI Calculator PRO - BMR Calc
Dual Accounts Pro
Video Editor - Mute Video
Islamic World PRO - Qibla
Smart Video Compressor
