iPhone users swear by its quality and capability to block the virus, Trojans, and malware. Even the experts agree with the widespread view. There are valid reasons why iOS is as secured as an electronic safe system. Firstly, all the applications on the iPhone are installed in the sandbox directory which is inaccessible to the third party applications. Hackers may try to execute the malicious program on the phone but fail to do so because root access is denied by the operating system. Secondly, in spite of the location in the sandbox directory, the application can easily communicate to the external programs through the native interfaces. It’s akin to killing two birds with one stone.
Apple has also added Touch ID authentication mechanism for application installation. It operates on checksum technology that doesn’t allow fishy applications to pass through the security gate. All seems to be hunky dory however even the most prominent security systems are prone to breaches and the same goes with iPhone. Despite claims from Apple, recent attacks by XcodeGhost and WireLurker have shown that iPhones are also vulnerable and should be protected from the viruses and malware. Recent attacks provide enough reasons to Use Antivirus on iPhone.
XcodeGhost Attack: A Wake-up Call
On 20th September 2015 Chinese developers uploaded applications made from XcodeGhost; a malicious program instead of the valid Xcode was embedded into the application. The Chinese version of Angry Birds 2 also got infected along with 300 other applications. Apple took immediate action by removing the vulnerable apps from the store because they were directing users to the website for stealing personal information. The incident showed that even the sandboxing technique of Apple is not as effective as it is made out to be.
YI specter Fiasco: Time to Use Antivirus on iPhone
iPhone vulnerability is exposed by the launch of YI specter in September 2014 that uses the native APIs to propagate through the system. The malicious program generates enterprise certificates and hides itself on the springboard app of the phone. Users cannot find the specter icons as they cleverly steal sensitive data of the users. It has not only affected the rooted devices but also the non-rooted ones. Even after deletion, the malware seems to never leave the system. Therefore, iPhone needs antivirus to prevent the occurrence of attacks.
Why Antivirus is Necessary for iPhone?
The security system of Apple is impeccable because the company has established stringent standards for third party application. The user created software is scanned for malware or virus before it is uploaded to the store. According to the experts, a majority of attacks originate from the user installed apps. Despite creating fool proof system, sophisticated malware can still seep through and cause havoc to the mobile phone users. Hence, install antivirus on your iPhone and secure it forever from identity theft and malware threats.
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Conclusion
iPhone is as safe as you want it to be. If you are not interested in installing user based application frequently, the iPhone in its present avatar is sufficient for your needs. People who have a habit of downloading all types of apps from Apple store would do well to have an additional layer of security. They need to use Antivirus on the phone because it can form a credible defense against the external cyber-attack.
