After reading our Best Antivirus Protection picks, we continue to receive a number of questions about the need for protection on an iPhone.
Does my iPhone need protection?
Yes, Apple iPhone is safer than Android devices, but neither offers full protection you would get from good third-party protection.
Apple is generally very good at protecting its own devices, but not perfect.
- In 2007, there was only 1 vulnerability found in iPhone
- By 2021, the number grew to 360 iPhone vulnerabilities
- A total of 2,573 vulnerabilities plagued iPhone from 2007 through 2021
What added protection will go the extra distance to guard against attacks that are becoming more common?
iPhone protection can really pay off to shield you against vulnerabilities that occur within iOS and before Apple has an opportunity to push a fix. Hackers look for vulnerabilities and maximize attacks during the window of time before it is patched.
iPhone has fewer attacks mainly because of its closed code design. Apple does not share all of its code and offers stronger protection against damage from an infection because Apple built iOS to prevent one app from being able to take over another app or your iPhone.
Where extra protection on iPhone works best is shielding you from threats that bombard us by email, text and social media. Phishing attacks can have any of us handing over personal credentials to legit-looking sites that are fake knockoffs designed to steal.
While Safari browser has some protection against rogue websites, extra protection can go further by shielding you from malicious links, and when it offers VPN to protect the data flowing in and out of your iPhone.
For example, recently Apple patched a security hole that could have potentially exposed your Apple ID information and search history from apps to bad actors. More dangerous was the real threat that a malicious third-party app would have had the power to override your privacy preferences according to a support document released with the fix that came months later.
CVE Details database keeps a list of iPhone iOS vulnerabilities that show most security vulnerabilities remain a threat for 3 to 4 months before they are fixed. Apple does not discuss security threats about its software while the vulnerability poses a danger.
What added iPhone protection can do
In our review methodology, we look for iPhone protection features that can detect insecure WiFi networks that cybercriminals often exploit to gain access to your device. We also look for safeguards against malicious websites across any browser, app, or link within a text message or email that can either block or alert you to a potential threat.
Good iOS protection should also be able to identify suspicious calendar invites containing risky links that could compromise your personal data in seconds. The most important aspect of any added protection is how well threat data is maintained and how effectively it is used to identify dangers before they can do damage. We used to see device security add-ons as optional. Now, it is clear that reliable protection across all of your digital devices is essential.
One of the top solutions we recommend is Norton Antivirus Plus, which extends protection beyond just traditional virus scanning. While iPhones have strong built-in security, Norton adds an important extra layer by helping block malicious websites, phishing links, and unsafe downloads before they can cause harm.
If you accidentally tap a bad link in an email, text message, or social media post, Norton helps prevent access to known dangerous sites using its continuously updated threat intelligence.
If you are interested in a strong antivirus with phone customer service, we recommend Norton Antivirus Plus.
This product includes:
- Strong real-time protection against viruses, malware, ransomware and hacking attempts
- AI-powered scam protection to help identify suspicious emails, texts and websites
- Built-in password manager to securely store and manage logins
- 2 GB PC cloud backup to help protect important files from ransomware or hardware failure
- Smart firewall and phishing protection
- Protection for 1 or 5 devices
COVERAGE
- Protects 1 or 5 devices
- Available for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS
- Includes real-time threat protection, smart firewall and phishing protection to guard against online attacks
EXCLUSIVE CYBERGUY DEALS
Please note that the above product is the core antivirus product. Norton may try to upsell additional products, but we don’t recommend them. We encourage you to decline those offers.
Related:
Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. CyberGuy.com articles and content may contain affiliate links that earn a commission when purchases are made.