Should I install antivirus on my iPhone?

Our phones, whether Android or iOS, contain our entire lives. There we find private documents, messages, our banking details and much more. It is therefore completely normal to be afraid of malicious attacks. But Macs, iPhones and iPads are known to be resistant to viruses and malware. Therefore, it is legitimate to ask whether it is necessary to install a anti-virus on his iPhone. A question that we will try to answer in this article.

iOS is a closed OS, so threats don’t exist?

If you are reluctant to install a security suite or a free antivirus on iOS because you fear nothing, then first of all, know that this preconceived idea is false. In the past and on several occasions, numerous security vulnerabilities have been discovered on iPhones and iPads. These could then be used for malicious purposes. However, if threats exist, it is worth remembering that the risk of them being exploited is particularly low on iOS. Android devices are indeed more vulnerable to malware than iPhones and iPads.

The strength of Apple’s mobile operating system lies precisely in the way it runs applications. To protect against any threat, they are launched into what is called a “sandbox”. It is a sealed environment and cannot interact with the rest of the applications or the system.

In short, if a threat is present in an application, it can hardly reach the rest of your iPhone. This makes it more difficult to steal your data or execute malicious code that could, for example, render your phone unusable. However, other threats are present on iOS and this goes beyond the simple framework of viruses and malware. When we talk about security today, it is a broad term that includes unsecured networks, theft of your phone or even phishing by fake sites that want to recover your data. Legitimate applications can also represent a threat to your confidentiality, by requesting abusive authorizations which undermine the protection of your personal data and by accessing sensitive parts of your smartphone (microphone, camera, history, etc.). To combat this, there are many solutions on iPhone.

What are the cases of viruses and malware referenced on iPhone?

As we mentioned previously, if the iPhone has never really been affected by viruses strictly speaking, it has already been the victim of numerous cases of malicious attacks in the past. We will come back to these threats and explain to you concretely the risks incurred at the time by the users of these devices.

In 2019, Google researchers spotted a Trojan horse attack that targeted iPhone users. After a simple visit to a website, victims could be spied on without their knowledge and their iPhone data could be stolen. This attack exploited no fewer than 14 vulnerabilities.

For several years now, with the deployment of company certificates, a new type of attack, closer to the idea that we can have of a computer virus, has appeared on iPhone. These certificates allow anyone to install an application not signed by Apple. While this practice allows developers to test their applications in real conditions, this certificate has been misused by some to offer iPhone and iPad users alternative application stores. These fake stores can provide access to the entire App Store application catalog. However, there is a good chance that the applications offered there have been infected. Use of these is then at your own risk. We can’t stress it enough, but always rely on the App Store to download your applications. Indeed, before making an application available, Apple verifies its entire source code with a very strict policy.

Beyond viruses, there are also other dangers that can affect iPhone users and should not be underestimated. For example, these could be fake emails that use the design of those from your bank. They then take you, via a link, to a fraudulent site and you are asked to enter your details. This is called phishing, and Apple cannot protect you from it.

There are therefore many security vulnerabilities and viruses, hence the importance of keeping your mobile up to date with the latest iOS security updates. Note, however, that these major discoveries are rather rare.

Are “antiviruses” on iOS fake?

No, security apps are not fake. However, they are simply not antiviruses as we know them. Since 2015, Apple has prohibited developers from publishing antivirus software on the App Store. Applications of this type already available were even deleted at the time.

All this helps provide the user with additional security for their mobile. If you are already aware of all these threats, it is obvious that there will be little interest in turning to these applications.

What are the best security apps on iPhone?

On iPhone there are many applications responsible for improving the level of security and protection of users’ personal data. We have selected a few for you, but we would like to remind you that this is in no way an antivirus.