Some other "antivirus" for iOS we have seen swarming the network. It does not hurt to remember the importance of privacy in mobile telephony, especially now when Apple almost urgently launches the update to iOS 9.3.5 due to a serious problem that allowed any iOS device to be intercepted at a reasonable price (about $ 26.000 per device ). Let's analyze the perspective of antivirus for the iPhone, how much of a myth and how much of a reality the claim that an iPhone does not need antivirus. The reality is that this type of content is scarce in the iOS App Store, why is it?
We are going to analyze the matter from a somewhat critical and somewhat skeptical perspective, assuming that the only way to be 100% secure on the network is to be offline. We have always stated that both iOS and macOS devices do not require antivirus, and this phrase has a bit of truth and a bit of a lie, so we must be careful when we rush to make such a statement before inexperienced users, who can be led to misunderstandings or the somewhat irresponsible use of the device within their false sense of security.
Are there viruses for iPhone?
To deny this possibility outright is to deceive ourselves. The reality is that any operating system, whatever the brand, is vulnerable to any type of infection. Generally speaking, we label almost any software that inadvertently impairs device performance as viruses, but we found a huge catalog of these types of threats: ransomware, keyloggers, Trojans, adware, and a long etcetera. The reality is that in operating systems such as Android, which is a direct competitor to iOS, we find a lot of adware (viruses focused on intrusive advertising) and ransomware (viruses that allow the hacker to block our device, encrypt the content and blackmail us for it). On iOS, these types of threats are much less common, but they do exist.
When we have an iOS operating system suitably updated to the latest version available, we do not download applications from external stores and we do not Jailbreak, the reality is quite unequivocal, it is very unlikely that your iPhone will be infected by any type of virus. At stake are activities such as installing profiles of unknown developers or performing the Jailbreak to the device, here we are allowing root access to our device and therefore, opening the door to a huge number of possible threats. Above all, because we have lost all support from Apple engineers, who take the task of keeping our devices safe quite seriously.
Even the iOS App Store has been able to enter some malicious software on occasion, it has not been exempt from these penetrations. However, it is clear that this type of security flaw occur considerably less often than on Google Play, in part due to the meticulous control that Apple makes to the applications before publishing them in the iOS App Store.
What are iOS antivirus for?
This section is where we are going to have the most problems when it comes to reaching a common understanding. In March 2015, Apple issued a statement saying that after the arrival of iOS 8.2, the system was secure enough to fend for himself, as well as he took the measure of eliminating all the antivirus available in the App Store. A battle between developers and Cupertino then began. However, it is not entirely true, we will explain why.
Many of these antiviruses available on the iOS App Store did not care about the integrity of the operating system itself, but instead are dedicated to tracking email and messaging applications in order to find content considered offensive. Think, if the iOS antiviurs detects that we have received an email with a Trojan, its action could prevent us from opening the same email on another platform, such as our PC or macOS, where it could really wreak havoc.
It seems that this measure by the apple company it is due more to a propaganda attitude than anything else, By removing antivirus from the App Store, they make users think that they are applications that their mobile devices do not really need. Then What is an antivirus for iOS? Of course, it does not serve to prevent the intrusion of Trojans into the operating system, but it does to alert us that we are surfing on unsecured networks that could intercept our data; that we receive identity theft emails or that the messaging applications we use are dangerous, among many other threats that surround computers in general.
But ... what if I have Jailbreak?
Here things get complicated. When we Jailbreak our iOS device we are opening Pandora's Box. All system applications will have root access, allowing access to part of the memory and the operating system that Apple has hermetically sealed for the sake of security. This is when antivirus programs start to make sense, especially if we are not sure that we will be able to use it responsibly.
As with viruses on Android, the installation of applications outside the usual legal channels is what causes the majority of infections on mobile devices. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you use an antivirus if you have decisive information on an iOS device that has been jailbroken. In 2015 we also found several threats such as WireLurker and Xagent, which infected terminals without Jailbreak, however, Apple usually takes a few days to close all possible security flaws in its system.
The best antivirus for the iPhone
Let's talk about antivirus. If the need or not of an antivirus on your iPhone has already been clear to you, it is time to choose, to know which are the best antivirus that we have at our fingertips, so we are going to make a small compilation of some Recommended antivirus for iPhone, maintaining your privacy and your security is its reason for being.
Avira Mobile Security
It is one of the most popular and well-known. This application will allow us protect our photos, contacts and emails electronic It has a system known as «Identity Safeguard»Which will allow us to check if our email has been hacked. But it doesn't stop there, in case "Find my iPhone" falls short, Avira will allow us to quickly locate a lost or stolen device, indicate its location on the map and allow us to make a call to the device. In addition, Avira Security is multiplatform, so we will have more devices included in our security system.
McAfee
This is another of the developers who was forced to remove their application from the iOS App Store, turning it into a "Safe" as they call it. With McAfee you can store endless files, from photos to documents. Like the rest of the applications, McAfee also allows you to locate the lost device, with an extra, and that is that it has CaptureCam, which will allow us to take a picture of the avid thief when an incorrect unlock code is entered. At that time, we will receive an email with the photograph of the alleged thief as well as the location of the device. It has the advantage of being developed by one of the most important companies in terms of software security, which is pretty reassuring.
Norton mobile security
Of the most relevant this is the one with the most discontent with its users judging by the stars they get on the iOS App Store. Unlike the previous two, it is focused above all on protecting the iPhone and iPad from loss and theft, since it will locate the device and allow us to emit sounds. Little more, except that it is signed by Symantec, a company also a leader in software security. It does not allow us to encrypt or store files, that is, it has cross-platform development, so we can take advantage of the subscriptions of other Norton services to take full advantage of the capabilities of this application.
F-Secure SAFE
One of the most downloaded on the iOS App Store. It has practically the same functions as McAfee and is developed by the F-Secure company. It has a browser that will allow us to safely explore the network for ourselves and the little ones, since it has an age filter. It also has a remote location system that gives us the opportunity to locate the device. It also has a special protection system to access banking sites and is available in no less than twenty languages. They also warn that Continued use of GPS can reduce battery life.
Kaspersky Safe Browser
We return to another large company in the security environment, Kaspersky promises us safe browsing. Like Norton's, it offers few possibilities. It is basically a browser that will make sure that we do not intercept any type of threat through the network, as well as prevent anyone from intercepting our traffic. It is only in English, and due to the options available and the language, it is the one we least recommend of all. It has content filters and blockers, however, it is not too fast when browsing.
