It’s an ongoing debate. Some say that while virus protection for iPhone isn’t such a big thing, it will become one in the near future. But that has been a narrative ever since the 2012 scandal when more than half a million Macs were broken into via a malware called Flashback. All kinds of titles were roaming the internet back then, saying that it would be the end of Apple.

Suffice it to say, it was not so. In fact, Apple devices have been quite safe from harm over the last three years. But, the question remains, does this mean that Apple devices, such as the iPhone, are completely protected from viruses and other malicious software?

The answer to that question should be no. The fact of the matter is, it’s not that many people want to hack your iPhones, your iPads, or your Macs. But according to a 2012 statement by Eugen Kaspersky (founder of the wildly popular Kaspersky Lab company), Apple was then ten years behind Microsoft when it came to security. Kaspersky mentioned that the Mac was just beginning to enter a world of viruses Windows had been battling with for about twelve years.

The main advantage iOS devices have over Windows? Hackers don’t usually bother with them. Kaspersky mentioned that the operating system that Apple uses on its devices is fundamentally different from the framework upon which Windows was designed. And trying to hack Apple’s tech is like learning a new programming language from scratch – it takes time, and not a lot of people like to do it. And that’s especially true if the one that they already know (in this case, designing malware for Windows) is still working beautifully.

But in the three years since the Flashback scandal, it’s quite possible that this has changed for the worse. Virus protection for iPhone has ceased to be something Apple frowned upon, too proud to admit their devices are hackable. Today, if you enter the App store of your iPhone, you will find loads of apps that are specifically designed for fighting off malicious software. Companies such as McAfee, Norton, or Avira have all started a race for the bet virus protection for iPhone.

It’s no longer a matter of searching the internet for “do I need virus protection for iPhone?” The answer to that question comes in two parts: yes and yes. The first yes means that you, the user must take some steps for securing your Apple devices. The second yes means that third party apps are go. After you’ve taken the necessary precautions, look at the apps available for virus protection for iPhones.

Virus Protection for iPhone – Steps You Need to Take

The following is a list of precautions so that your device stays safe:

• Never forget to update your iPhone (or other Apple devices). This is the most important part. The Flashback disaster happened because many people simply forgot to update their Macs (apart from Apple delivering the updates six weeks too late).
• iOS update as quickly as possible. When there’s a new iOS, jump at the chance to change your old version for the new, sleeker one. It also always comes with immensely important security updates. Hackers are waiting for these updates just as much as you but they do so for all the wrong reasons.
• Be wary of computers. Unless you are completely sure that a PC or a Mac is safe, never plug in your iPhone. Not even for a quick charge. If the computer is running Windows, be extra careful. The meeting of the two operating systems may prove a great way of passage for harmful software – I’m sure you’ve probably heard of WireLurker.
• Jailbreak is a no-no. I know that some of you out there are avid hackers of iOS devices. But if you don’t know how to control the security of the resulting broken operating system, then you’d better not touch anything. Apple is trying incredibly hard to keep your phone safe. Don’t go complaining about security problems if you’ve deliberately stopped your security updates.
• Pirated software’s murky waters. Pirated software can come along with some shady friends: viruses. Malware isn’t that big a deal with Apple devices, but there are many other threats that may climb aboard the ships of pirates – if you catch my meaning. It’s best to respect the app developers and buy their software. This way, you’ll have the added bonus of keeping harmful software at bay.

Virus protection for iPhone 4 is increasingly hard to find.

Conclusion

After you’ve taken all these precautions, make sure that you also browse the app store for the best apps to protect against viruses. There are also free virus protection for iPhone apps out there, so if you don’t want to pay an extra dollar, you can still get a fairly decent firewall out of free apps for anti virus protection for iPhone.

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