[–] Mr_Lovette 0 points 8 points 8 points (+8|-0) ago
They however do still exist and users should be aware they aren't 100% safe.
[–] ChocolatesBetter 0 points 5 points 5 points (+5|-0) ago
Absolutely. I've had so many people tell me "my iPhone won't get a virus because it's a Mac," and then argue with me when I say a. It's not a Mac, it's an Apple. And b. Macs do get viruses, just not as often.
[–] Pinyaka 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
I would say no. There is a lot of malware and adware out there, but people have to actually install it themselves and if they want to remove it, it can be done through whatever means is provided by the system. When I think about viruses, I usually think about things that once installed require extraordinary measures to remove. I'd say that the prevalence of official and unofficial package managers on mobile devices has made "viruses" very difficult to spread. People will probably always install free stuff without thinking about how the developer is making development worth their time, but at least now you can't open an email or visit a webpage and end up with programs getting installed in the background and replicating on your system.
EDIT: Just to clarify, I am saying specifically that there aren't really viruses per se for mobile devices. Viruses traditionally replicate and the combination of package managers and permission systems on mobile devices effectively block replication.
[–] TommyVercetti 0 points 4 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago
From what I know it's near impossible to get adware/malware/viruses on iOS, but it's possible on Android. I would recommend using Firefox mobile if you use an Android device, as you can download an adblocker like ublock origin.
[–] rayfin 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Viruses don't exist in the traditional sense due to Android and iOS sandboxing. However, other malware such as trojans have been found on both Android and iOS. I'm not sure on iOS numbers because I'm an Android guy, but less than 0.001% of Android devices have been infected by said malware. It exists, but not common.
[–] boardmonkey 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
As everyone else has said, it does exist, but we should focus on how to keep the few out there from infecting your device. I'm an android fan, so that is what I will focus on.
Do not download APK's from unknown sources!!! The play store is fine, and so is Amazon. Many major companies will have specialty apps that you can download directly from there site, but you have to make sure that it is a verified site. Don't download APK's from torrents or random upload sites unless you know how to look for and kill a virus.
Just like with computers don't download links from unknown senders. If it looks fishy just delete the e-mail. If a warning pops up, then you should probably pay attention to it.
Google and Amazon are normally safe places to download. They do a pretty good job of staying on top of malware, and making sure that any apps available on their site for download and pretty clean. Still, sometimes things slip through the cracks. Make sure that before you download anything you are reading the reviews. Users are pretty quick to jump on apps that have problems, bad security, or bad in different ways. The reviews are more than just a place for people to blow off steam, it is a place where you can find out if that app is going to infect your phone. You should also read the permissions. Does a Solitaire game need to access your contacts list? No? Then don't download that app. Does that Tip Calculator program need wifi connection information? No? Then don't download it.
[–] Citizen 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
In short, yes. And to answer your second question, some malware is written for the challenge, but most modern malware is written for profit.
The first self-propagating malware for IOS was seen in 2009.
The first self-propagating malware for android was seen in 2014.
Thankfully, self-propagating worms are very few and far between.
There are also malicious programs that require user installation, such as flashlight apps that secretly spy on the user, but that's a different category of malware.
[–] [deleted] 0 points 9 points 9 points (+9|-0) ago
[–] Vitruvia [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
interesting!