The other day a friend of mine who had recently purchased an iPhone asked me – “Apple’s defenses against malicious threats are known to be strong, so, should I get an Antivirus for my iPhone?” I replied “Of course yes!
Quite recently researchers found a way using which an attacker can exploit Apple’s Find My feature and track down the location even when it is powered down. (source: https://www.wired.com/story/iphone-find-my-malware-attack-vulnerability/ )
That’s just one of the incidents. To steer clear or at least keep your iPhone ready, it is important to have a security app on your iPhone. In this post we’ll not just be looking at some of the best Antivirus for iPhones, but, we’ll even quickly ponder upon the question my friend asked i.e. why do you need to install an Antivirus on your iPhone?
Does an iPhone Need Antivirus Protection?
Before we get down to the list of best Antivirus software for iPhone, let’s address a question that often comes to the mind of both iPhone and non-iPhone users – Do I need an Antivirus for iPhone? Or, to put it in other terms can an iPhone get viruses or any malicious threat for that matter?
Although the chances that an iPhone will get involved in a virus attack are less, it is still not an impossible situation.
Let’s first quickly have a look at situations when your iPhone might get a virus –
- You have installed apps from a malicious website other than the App Store
- You opened a suspicious attachment and fell prey to malware
- You had recently jailbroken your iPhone and bypassed Apple’s built-in security measures
- You visited an unsecured website and malware has crept inside your iPhone
To cut the long story short, it is highly advisable to have an Antivirus app on your iPhone. And, for that, we are going to enlist some of the best Antivirus for iPhone.
Best Antivirus Apps for iPhone
1. AVG Mobile Security
Rating on App Store – 4.8
AVG Mobile Security offers the best-in-class iOS security and kicks in even when Apple’s defenses don’t. It stays on guard 24/7 so that your iPhone stays protected.
Features
- Analyze Wi-Fi security automatically
- Check if your password is stolen
- Ascertain if your email is involved in a data leak
- Conceal IP address using a VPN
- Comes with an encrypted photo vault
Price: Free
Pros
- Detailed web security
- Comprehensive Wi-Fi security
- Email Protection feature
- Unlimited identity protection
Cons
- Some users have reported that apps have slowed down
Install Here
2. McAfee Security: VPN & Privacy
Rating on App Store: 4.7
Looking for an all-in-one Antivirus app for iPhone that can protect you against malicious threats, and guard your device and the personal data inside? McAfee Security could be the answer you are looking for. It comes with bank-grade Wi-Fi encryption and the VPN inside keeps your location private.
- Comprehensive Wi-Fi and system scanner
- Safe browsing feature to block malicious websites and get alerted when you are about to fall prey to phishing scams and the likes
- Review safety measures and know how you can stay away from data breaches via Protection Score
- Identity protection
- Secure VPN to stay protected when on unsecured Wi-Fi networks
Price: Monthly subscription starts at $2.99
Allows you to watch streaming videos
Multi-device protection
Scan if your credentials are on the dark web
VPN available
Check Wi-Fi vulnerabilities
On a pricier end
3. Norton 360: Mobile Security
When you hear the brand name “Norton”, you know that your device is in safe hands. The security app for iPhone provides layers of protection that can’t be penetrated by malicious threats. Its various features are capable of warding off threats such as malware, ransomware, spyware, and other threats.
- Suspicious network detection
- Get notified about those Wi-Fi networks which are under attack
- Filter spammy SMS text messages
- VPN that keeps you protected both in your home as well as public Wi-Fi
- Dark web monitoring for personal information
Price: Starts at $14.99
Effective malware detection
Speed scanning
App advisor with which you can check apps being installed
LifeLock ID protection
Lacks anti-theft capabilities
4. Avast Security & Privacy
Avast is yet another renowned and credible name when it comes to securing devices such as the iPhone. To ascertain its credibility, it is already trusted by over 435 million users across the globe. Regardless of what your goal is – staying safe on Wi-Fi, protecting online accounts, safe web surfing, or just protecting devices from malicious threats, Avast Security & Privacy is an option to consider.
- Free Wi-Fi security to keep away from unsafe networks
- The identity protection feature keeps an eye if your details are stolen
- Encrypted photo vault
- Guided steps to set up a device for high-end security
- A smart scan can help you check for any potential vulnerabilities
Price: Monthly plan starts at $4.99
Simple interface
Comprehensive dashboard and inclusive stats
You can see if your email is involved in a data leak
VPN included
Avast has been accused of stealing user data
5. Kaspersky Security & VPN
Another name that often pops up when talking of device security is Kaspersky and this holds true for iPhone as well. Kaspersky Security is a feature-rich Antivirus utility for iPhone that scans your device for any traces of malicious threats whether they have pounced on your device via the online route or the offline route. Although most features are subscription based, the investment is worth every buck spent.
- Data leak checker to tell you if your data is involved in a breach
- Jailbreak detection if your device is jailbroken
- Protection against websites and emails that are known for phishing attacks
- Unlimited VPN to keep you safe while you use public Wi-Fi or any Wi-Fi for that matter
- Unlimited account check
Price: Starts at $9.99
Data leak detection
Protect browser from being tracked
Includes VPN
Create strong and robust passwords
Some users have complained of network issues
6. Clario: Privacy & Security
When it comes to protecting your iPhone from viruses, ID theft, unsecured Wi-Fi connections, hacking, and several other cybersecurity dangers, Clario is one Antivirus app for iPhone to consider. It also comes with 24/7 assistance using which you can enhance your iPhone’s security even further.
Robust Wi-Fi security
Fraud link checking
VPN
Check iPhone if it is involved in a data breach
Data breach monitor
Comes with an inbuilt ad blocker
Monitor for personal detail leaks such as social security number, credit card, phone number, etc
Prompt notifications to alert you
24/7 expert assistance
On a pricier end for the features, it offers on iOS
7. TotalAV
Rating on App Store: 4.6
Perceiving that cybersecurity threats are on the rise, TotatAV has in place tools that can guard you against anti-fraud, data breaches, and various other such cybersecurity threats. It even comes with a VPN that can help conceal your IP address while you are surfing the web.
- Check if your email is involved in a data breach
- A device location tracker can help track your device in case it is lost
- Block dangerous websites (premium feature)
- VPN to stay safe on a public Wi-Fi (premium feature)
- Ensure that your system is locked and no unauthorized access can barge into your device
- Photo manager
Price: Monthly subscription starts at $7.99
Antitheft capability
You can check if your email is leaked
Keeps an eye on online fraud
Comes with website filters
On the Pricier end
8. Bitdefender Mobile Security
Rating on App Store: 4.5
Keeping aside the paid VPN, Bitdefender Mobile Security is often hailed as one of the best free Antivirus for iPhone. At its core, it protects your sensitive and crucial data from all malicious dangers that lurk online. It also prevents your data such as addresses, passwords, and other information from being exposed while you are surfing the web.
- Web protection keeps all your traffic protected
- Security scans help find out any misconfigured settings that may make your iPhone vulnerable to attacks
- Alerts to keep you posted on times when the device is protected
- Know when your email is about to get compromised
- Free VPN gives you 200 MB of traffic per day
Price: Monthly web protection is priced at $1.49
Get security tips from a virtual assistant
Decent web protection
Device security scanner to check Wi-Fi security
Check whether online accounts are breached
Unlimited VPN is payable
9. Avira Mobile Security
Rating on App Store: 4.2
As one of the best Antivirus for iPhone, Avira Mobile Security comes across as a no-nonsense Antivirus app that aims at keeping your data safe and anonymous. Alongside, it even lets you check if your personal information is leaked or if you are about to stumble on an unsafe website.
- Track your stolen phone
- Check if your email or contacts are involved in a data breach
- Categorize and block malware, phishing, spam, and others while surfing the web safely
- Block spam and wanted calls and texts
- Backup contacts
Pricing: Starts at $5.49
Masks Siri searches
Protect identity and email address
Activity log gives you information on previous security history
Rapid scanning feature
Web protection is available as paid feature
10. Sophos Intercept X for Mobile
Rating on App Store: 4.0
Being one of the best free Antivirus apps for iPhone, Sophos X packs inside everything that can enhance the security of your iPhone. From tracking down malicious Wi-Fi connections to providing a secure QR code scanner to read deceptive URLs and others, the Antivirus app for iPhone does a fair job of protecting your device.
High Wi-Fi security that can protect you from man-in-the-middle attacks
Password-safe to store all your account data
Generate OTPs to login into accounts that use multi-factor authentication
Managed mode to let your organization monitor your device’s compliance status
Web filtering
The strong network security tool
Device security monitor to check for software updates
A scanner that checks the QR code
Password-safe
Users have reported false notifications of risk on Wi-Fi
Wrapping Up
Which of the above Antivirus for iPhone is your pick? Do let us know in the comments section below. And, if your favorite didn’t make it to the list, do let us know that as well. We regularly come up with listicles, troubleshooting guides, and other interesting tech-related content, so stay tuned for more. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Flipboard, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
