So-called viruses are one of the many ways that cybercriminals have access to electronic devices. The iPhone is one of the most used and despite the existence of a topic of which the iPhone is the safest phones, the truth is that it is worth nuancing some aspects. In this post we tell you if it is necessary or not to install an antivirus on your iPhone.
Is iPhone the most secure device?
We start from the premise that any device is insecure. And let’s not exaggerate because it is true, since no matter how careful a user is with their equipment and despite the fact that there are strict security barriers, it cannot be said that there is a phone, computer or tablet that is 100% secure. In fact, there are many rewards from large companies for those who find security holes.
On the other hand there is a legend about the iPhone and Apple devices in general by which it is understood that they are very safe computers. This is partly true, since the Cupertino company focuses a good part of its efforts on implementing security measures in its terminals, thus restricting access to a multitude of functionalities that third parties can access. A case in point is the NFC, which is primarily restricted to payments made through Apple Pay. However, it can be said that in the end an iPhone may or may not be secure depending on the use made of it. Although this is also comparable today to Android devices.
The best antivirus is you
Many experts have ensured that the safest electronic device in the world would be one that is several meters underground, without bluetooth, WiFi, and nothing connected to it. Despite appearing exaggerated, it is real, although there are many ways to ensure greater security on our devices. The first of them is common sense , that is, if we suspect that we are downloading a file of dubious origin or browsing websites that are already presented as unsafe, we must be careful and try not to install anything that may damage the iPhone.
All this really increases with the dangers of Jailbreak on the iPhone , which is the main threat. We understand that some users wish to have a greater range of possibilities for their terminal thanks to those attractive tweaks that we find here. However, it should not be forgotten that the Jailbreak itself depends on the security holes of iOS, since Apple prevents this type of process by putting the device at risk. Despite the fact that not all third-party apps that can be downloaded in this mode are insecure, the truth is that nobody can guarantee that they are 100% reliable.
Threats on the iOS App Store
Apple has one of the safest app stores, for which it has strict rules for developers who want to expose their apps on it. The company tries to ensure that no cybercriminal can take control of the iPhone, but unfortunately they are not infallible. Hence, we have previously explained that no device can fully guarantee security.
On some occasion we have met an app that has evaded these regulations and has also deceived users by offering some functionality and, in the background, tracking the equipment and extracting data for the interests of criminals. The good thing about this is that as soon as there is a minimum suspicion, Apple intervenes quickly , temporarily removing the application and notifying the developer of it so that it abides by the rules. In the most serious cases, the company completely vetoes any type of modification in the app.
Fortunately, these cases are very specific and on rare occasions have affected a significant number of users. However, it is always advisable that those who have installed such an application uninstall it as soon as possible and, if possible, carry out a restoration of the operating system without backup. The latter will serve to remove any trace of malware on the iPhone.
Antivirus for iPhone does not work
Several years ago, Apple decided to remove the antivirus from its App Store, considering that they were not necessary, taking into account the equipment behind iOS, verifying that there are no security holes. However, if we do a couple of searches in the App Store we can see that there are applications that claim to act as antivirus, but this is not true.
Why are there still antivirus on the App Store? We do not know it, but despite the fact that these are developed by recognized anti-malware companies and that their functions can ensure that it eliminates viruses, what they really do is act as advisors. They do not track the operating system in search of malware, since they have it restricted, but they warn when you are browsing through unsecured WiFi networks, when suspicious messages are received or when we enter a website that can be dangerous.
Installing one of these “antivirus” may be recommended because the functions they actually offer may be useful to some extent, but they cannot be expected to do full system scans and remove suspicious files. Fortunately or unfortunately, who should be responsible for tracking iOS in search of problems is Apple itself and the user who takes action by updating the software or restoring the iPhone.
