And, in fact, many so-called antivirus iOS apps are fairly disreputable or scammy.īut those system-level protections can’t defend against social engineering techniques that trick users into downloading side-loaded software on their devices. You don’t need an antivirus program on iPhones or iPads. On the other hand, iOS features robust security protections because it’s a walled-garden system. Do I Need Anti-Virus for My iPhone or iPad? But that app likely won’t detect critical vulnerabilities like ZombieLoad (even if they’re actively being used against you). You can use an antivirus scanning app on your Mac as part of a broader cybersecurity routine. The recent ZombieLoad vulnerability, for example, exploits a component in most modern day computers - and allows it to bypass so-called perimeter defenses like firewalls or antivirus software. Mac-targeting malware is not just more common, it’s also more devious. But malware that targets Macs has become more common as Apple’s market share grows. That’s largely true and, historically, Mac users have gotten away with not needing antivirus software.
Macs have long been touted as being more secure than Windows PCs.