Best Antivirus Apps for iPhone and iPad

These days, iOS device apps are so well protected that an extra antivirus app will only act as extra add-on protection. Yes, we are aware that iOS devices aren't generally affected by malware because of the way the sandboxing works; however, if you want some extra peace of mind, it’s not necessarily a bad thing to get an antivirus app for your iPhone or iPad.

Now that you know that you can get extra protection, how do you choose the best antivirus app for iPhone or iPad?  Well, we want to make your life easier, we have selected the best antivirus apps for iOS devices, so you can find the right fit. Read further, and we’ll show you some of the top choices available.

Do I Need An Antivirus On My iOS Device? 

If your device gets infected with viruses and malware it can be dangerous. It is always better to take precautions to keep your devices and data safe. We know there is no traditional antivirus available for iOS devices because they have built-in protection tools already. The question is, is this enough?

All iOS apps run in a “sandbox” and cannot go beyond it unless you give the app permission. They cannot peep in the neighboring “sandbox” or get access to the operating system, and thus, malicious software would never get access to any piece of your data. This is great,  but it also makes it impossible for antivirus apps to check other applications and data the way they should. 

Hackers will always find a way to infiltrate devices and networks so it's always better to rather be safe than sorry. Hackers and cybercriminals will always invent new ways to utilize vulnerabilities in iOS and trick us. Therefore, installing certain defense features on your iPhone and iPad is a very good idea.

Do iPhones Get Viruses? 

As we mentioned, fortunately for Apple users, iPhone viruses are extremely rare. Although, they are not unheard of. Your iPhone can fall prey to virus and malware attacks just like any other device. We have listed the best antivirus for iOS devices that will help protect against the various attacks that can get into your devices, such as Wi-Fi attacks, malicious websites, and operating system exploits.

Do iPads Get Viruses? 

The same goes for iPads, that goes for iPhones. It's not well-known for iPads to get infected with viruses, but it is definitely possible and thus necessary to install antivirus for iPads. Do not leave your device vulnerable and allow cybercriminals to attack.

How Do Antivirus Apps On iOS Work?

Considering that iOS apps are already secure and the fact that antivirus apps can’t function as antivirus software, you might wonder what exactly they do? Well, the antivirus apps we mention here mostly include features that don’t help protect against malware but rather have features such as anti theft features that let you remotely locate your phone.

Some antivirus apps include “media vault” tools that can hide photos on your phone with a password. Others include password managers, call blockers, and VPNs, which you can get in other apps. Some apps may offer a “secure browser” with a phishing filter. Some of these antivirus apps have identity theft warnings that connect to an online service that warns you if your data has been leaked.

How To Choose A Good Antivirus App For iPhone?

Apple did a great job securing their devices against viruses and malware. The fact is, there are plenty of examples when cybercriminals found vulnerabilities in iOS and managed to get into users’ devices. The good news is, there is a lot of great antivirus software that will help protect your iPhone and iPad. Why take the chance when you know these apps are available for use? 

When choosing the best antivirus app for your iPhone, there are a few features you should look at:

• Antivirus companies develop antivirus apps for iPhone to protect you from phishing and online tracking
• They should offer parental controls
• VPNs
• Password managers 
• Other features that are not built into your iPhone

These features will help your device and data to stay both secure and private. Whether it is malicious websites, annoying ads, web trackers, or just someone grabbing your device when you are not looking, you want your data safe.

The 10 Best Antivirus Solutions For Mobile Phones

#1 Norton Mobile Security

Norton Mobile Security is an intuitive security app for iOS devices that has all of the essentials for keeping your device safe online.

Top Features:

• Web protection — Detects malicious and phishing sites in browsers, apps, text messages, and emails
• Wi-Fi scanner — Alerts you when you connect to an unsecure Wi-Fi network
• Device security — Notifies you when your operating system is out of date and needs to be updated

Norton Specifications

Norton offers an excellent security app for iOS users. It offers excellent parental controls, a VPN with unlimited data, and a secure password manager for iOS users.

Interested to know how Norton can protect your mobile and desktop devices? Visit our comprehensive Norton Review.

#2 McAfee Mobile Security

McAfee Mobile Security can be used on any iOS device. It has a common set of tools but also a few things which other providers don’t have.

Top Features:

• Anti-theft feature will let you locate your device and activate the alarm even if its battery is almost out
• CaptureCam feature will email you a photo of the person striving to get access to your storage
• Storage and Media Vault

McAfee Specifications

McAfee doesn't consistently get the best marks from the independent labs, but it seems to be improving.

Learn more about how we tested and rated this software provider in our full McAfee Review.

#3 TotalAV

TotalAV iPad gets your iPad optimized in no time. TotalAV is one of the most cost-beneficial antivirus software for iPad tablets. It is easy to use and includes a free full iOS system virus & security check.

Top Features:

• Photo and space optimization
• Battery Monitor

TotalAV Specifications

TotalAV has a lot to offer. The antivirus solution offers impressive packages and reviews that make you think it is a strong player in the competitive antivirus software market.

Want to know more? Visit our TotalAV Review and find out how we reviewed and rated this leading software provider.

#4 Avira Mobile Security

Avira for iPhones is another provider of effective security solutions (Avira review). And it is ready to protect your iPhone too.

Top Features:

• Phishing protection 
• Anti-theft tool
• Alerts for hacked accounts
• Malware Protection

Avira Specifications

Avira Mobile Security is a versatile suite that uses multiple layers to protect you from web-based and other dangers. While the basic version is free, you can upgrade to the Mobile Security Pro version and/or add identity protection with web protection.

Check out our full Avira Review and learn more about how this provider could help you secure your mobile devices.

#5 Avast

Avast offers free protection for the iPhone and iPad, but they do have a paid-for tier that brings you extra protection.

Top Features:

• Media Vault — it offers some of the same protection that McAfee Security offers
• Basic malware protection
• Internet Security
• Identity Protection
• Wi-Fi security

Avast Specifications

If you're looking for the best iPhone antivirus app then you probably can't get better than Avast Security & Privacy. Avast remains the leading provider of security and anti-malware solutions on desktop, and its mobile apps come with a similar degree of power and trust.

All the necessary info about features, anti-malware capabilities, pricing and lab test results of this software provider could be found in our detailed Avast Review.

Can I Use A Malware Scanner App For My iOS Device?

Due to security restrictions on iOS, you do not get a separate malware scanner for iPads and iPhones. No app can scan the system or other apps for malware. Apps are not allowed those kinds of permissions, for this reason, it is not possible to install a malware scanner for iPad or an extra iPhone malware app.

What you can do is, rather install an antivirus app that includes malware protection as a built-in feature or follow basic steps to keep your iPhone and iPad safe from malware.

Bottom Line

As you can see, there is a lot of excellent antivirus protection for the iPhone and iPad to choose from. You can now make the best decision and choose the best antivirus for iPads and iPhones with our recommendations and make sure your data is extra secure!

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