Some apps may offer a “secure browser” with their own phishing filter, but those work similarly to the one already built into Safari. Others include password managers, call blockers, and VPNs, which you can get in other apps. Some include “media vault” tools that can hide photos on your phone with a password. IPhone security apps often include features that don’t help protect against malware, like antitheft features that let you remotely locate your phone-just like iCloud. Well, their names are a clue: These programs are named things like “Avira Mobile Security,” “McAfee Mobile Security,” “Norton Mobile Security,” and “Lookout Mobile Security.” Apple clearly won’t let these apps use the word “antivirus” in their names. What Do Those Mobile Security Apps Do?Ĭonsidering these apps can’t function as antivirus software, you might wonder what exactly they do. To check if this feature is enabled, head to Settings > Safari and looking for the “Fraudulent website warning” option under Privacy & Security. If you end up on a website designed to trick you into giving up personal information-maybe it’s a fake website impersonating your bank’s online banking page-you’ll see a warning. The Safari browser on your iPhone has a “fraudulent website warning” feature, also known as an anti-phishing filter. To check if Find My iPhone is enabled, head to Settings, tap your name at the top of the screen, and then tap iCloud > Find My iPhone. You don’t need a special security app with “anti-theft” features. IPhones have a built-in “Find My iPhone” feature that works through iCloud, letting you remotely locate, lock, or erase a lost or stolen iPhone. If malware is found in an App Store app later, Apple can remove it from the Store and have your iPhone immediately delete the app for your safety. It can only install apps from Apple’s App Store, and Apple checks these apps for malware and other bad things before they’re added to the Store. Your iPhone already has a bunch of security features integrated. RELATED: How to Update Your iPhone or iPad to iOS 11 How Your iPhone Already Protects You

Just keep your iPhone updated with the latest versions of iOS. But these problems can only be solved through quick security updates, and having a security app installed won’t do anything to protect you. Sure, iPhones do sometimes have security flaws, like Spectre. If one existed, we’re sure these iPhone security app makers would trumpet it-but they don’t, because they can’t. That’s why there isn’t a single example we’ve ever seen of an iPhone security app blocking a piece of malware from infecting an iPhone.

Apple virus scan program