Do You Need Antivirus Software on Your Phone?

If you have ever used a computer, you have probably heard that antivirus software is essential. But when it comes to smartphones, the picture is more nuanced — and depends significantly on whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone.

iPhones have a security model that significantly limits what any app, including security apps, can do on the device. Apple controls exactly which apps are allowed in the App Store and reviews each one for malicious behavior. iPhone apps are isolated from each other in a way that prevents them from scanning other apps or accessing system files. For these reasons, traditional antivirus scanning as you know it from Windows computers is not possible on an iPhone. Security apps on the App Store for iPhone generally cannot scan for malware because iOS does not allow the deep system access required. What iPhone security apps can do is warn you about unsafe Wi-Fi networks, check if your passwords have appeared in data breaches, and provide a VPN. These can be useful features, but they are not "antivirus" in the traditional sense.

Android phones have a more open operating system that gives apps more latitude. Google has built-in security called Google Play Protect that scans installed apps and warns you about suspicious ones. It runs automatically in the background on all Android phones with Google services. For most people using Android normally — installing apps only from the Google Play Store and not clicking suspicious links — Google Play Protect provides adequate protection without installing any additional app.

The scenario where Android phones are genuinely at higher risk is "sideloading" — installing apps from outside the Google Play Store by downloading files directly from websites. This practice, while it has legitimate uses, is how most Android malware spreads. If you stick to the Play Store, your risk is quite low.

If you do want additional security on your Android phone, Malwarebytes is a well-regarded free option that can scan for malware and detect potentially harmful apps. Bitdefender Mobile Security and Norton Mobile Security are paid options with additional features.