Do I need antivirus on my iPad or iPhone?
No. In general iPads and iPhones are considered secure, since Apple keeps a constant check on any apps allowed in its store, and claims to have built iOS with security at its core.
But there have been vulnerabilities. Even if you haven't heard of previous iOS malware that has hit the headlines, for example WireLurker, Masque Attack and Oleg Pliss, we doubt news of the nude photos of Jennifer Lawrence and other celebs leaked as the result of an iCloud hack passed you by.
These flaws have all been blocked by Apple - as have those that have occurred since - but in order to protect yourself from future attacks you need to ensure you install only safe apps and that all your logins are ultra-secure.
The Oleg Pliss and nude celebrities scandals were a result of hackers targeting Find My iPhone and iCloud accounts, then logging in as their victims. You should always use a strong password for online accounts (see how to create a strong password), and avoid using the same login for multiple sites.
WireLurker targeted iPhones and iPads when they were plugged into insecure Macs or PCs (read our instructions above on how to install AVG Free antivirus on your Windows PC or laptop). Only jailbroken devices were maliciously affected.
On that note, jailbreak your iPad or iPhone only if you really know what you're doing. A good rule of thumb is to never install untrusted apps found outside the App Store, since Apple has no control of what goes on outside its walls.
Finally, always keep your iPad and iPhone up to date. iOS updates are free to download and install, so there's really no excuse. If you're having trouble updating because you're running out of storage, just plug your iPad or iPhone into a (secure) PC or Mac and launch iTunes.
No. In general iPads and iPhones are considered secure, since Apple keeps a constant check on any apps allowed in its store, and claims to have built iOS with security at its core.
But there have been vulnerabilities. Even if you haven't heard of previous iOS malware that has hit the headlines, for example WireLurker, Masque Attack and Oleg Pliss, we doubt news of the nude photos of Jennifer Lawrence and other celebs leaked as the result of an iCloud hack passed you by.
These flaws have all been blocked by Apple - as have those that have occurred since - but in order to protect yourself from future attacks you need to ensure you install only safe apps and that all your logins are ultra-secure.
The Oleg Pliss and nude celebrities scandals were a result of hackers targeting Find My iPhone and iCloud accounts, then logging in as their victims. You should always use a strong password for online accounts (see how to create a strong password), and avoid using the same login for multiple sites.
WireLurker targeted iPhones and iPads when they were plugged into insecure Macs or PCs (read our instructions above on how to install AVG Free antivirus on your Windows PC or laptop). Only jailbroken devices were maliciously affected.
On that note, jailbreak your iPad or iPhone only if you really know what you're doing. A good rule of thumb is to never install untrusted apps found outside the App Store, since Apple has no control of what goes on outside its walls.
Finally, always keep your iPad and iPhone up to date. iOS updates are free to download and install, so there's really no excuse. If you're having trouble updating because you're running out of storage, just plug your iPad or iPhone into a (secure) PC or Mac and launch iTunes.
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