Do Macs, iPhones and iPads need antivirus?
It’s a common myth that Mac and iOS devices don’t need online protection. But do Macs, iPads and iPhones need antivirus?
Do Macs need antivirus?
Yes. The Internet is the same regardless of your device. Criminals are always where the internet users are, and Macs are no exception. Viruses compromising Mac security have been on the rise due to the increasing popularity of Apple products. MacOS needs antivirus.
Do you need antivirus for iPhone?
Viruses aren’t that much of a threat to iPhones. Therefore, antivirus for iPhone is not the most essential app — if blocking viruses is all it does. However, an iPhone virus is not the only threat out there.
You can, for example, encounter phishing on iPhone. Phishing aims to trick you into giving personal details like banking information or passwords to criminals. They then try to steal your money or take over your online accounts.
How to delete virus on iPhone and iPad?
It’s very unlikely you have to delete a virus on iPhone or iPad. However, many legitimate apps can gather detailed information about you. This blurs the line between a malicious and a normal app. The collected data is used for profiling you so advertisers can better target ads to you. You can simply uninstall these apps from your iPhone.
The tricky part is to detect the unwanted actions and which app is causing them. That’s why it’s important to carefully consider why apps ask certain app permissions. Do you really want apps and their developers to have access to your photos, location, contacts, microphone and so on? If not, deny the app permissions.
Data breaches are a threat to all internet users
Data breaches are also a threat regardless of what device you use. Valuable personal information can be compromised in massive breaches. If that happens, criminals will use the stolen details for identity theft and account takeover attacks. You can limit and even prevent damage with the help of 24/7 identity monitoring and password manager.
Online privacy is worth protecting on all devices
Privacy is about keeping your passwords, online activities, and sensitive information safe from prying eyes. Many parties online are interested in all that information. Joining unsafe Wi‑Fi networks can also endanger your passwords and banking information. For online privacy and Wi‑Fi safety, use a VPN.
Do you need antivirus for iPad?
As with iPhones, viruses aren’t a major threat to iPads. But no device or operating system is completely secure by default. Just like with any other device, there are other security threats than virus on iPad. Phishing, altered advertising, unsafe Wi‑Fi networks and data breaches are a security threat for iPad users as well.
Do you want to secure your Mac, iPhone and iPad against online threats?
F‑Secure TOTAL is an all-in-one cyber security package for all devices. It includes VPN, antivirus, and password manager with 24/7 identity monitoring. With one subscription you can protect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows, and Android devices against online threats.
Try it for free for 30 days, with no credit card required.