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Security on iOS/iPadOS
Your iPhone Protects You From Viruses but Attackers Could Still Trick You
iPhones and iPads don’t need antivirus software, but attackers might convince you to let them in.
Most operating systems have antivirus software, but not iOS/iPadOS. This is more than just hubris on Apple’s part. Previous operating systems had their origins in a world where no one realised security would be an issue. iOS/iPadOS was built to be secure from the ground up.
As strong as Apple’s mobile operating systems are, you still need to be wary of socially engineered attacks, however. iOS/iPadOS have mechanisms that allow organisations to manage mobile devices, which attackers can exploit if they can convince you to open the door.
Automation may be risky too. Scripting languages are unlikely to damage iOS/iPadOS, but they have access to your data and lack the controls Apple imposes on apps.
Why Windows and macOS are vulnerable to attack
Windows and even the Mac have been happy hunting grounds for virus developers because they were conceived in an age of innocence. Windows first saw the light of day in November 1985.
Back then, it was little more than a graphical interface for an even older operating system, MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System). The world was experiencing a desktop computer revolution.
In comparison to the minicomputers of the day, desktops were slow with little memory. Capability and performance were the issues, not security. In any case, the Internet was tiny. Most of the world’s hackers weren’t even conceived back then.
In such a world, it was okay for applications to have access to other applications, the operating system, and the computer’s hardware. Operating systems managed disks, the screen, and other peripheral and left the user to their own devices.
Why you can trust iOS/iPadOS more
iOS and iPadOS were developed in a world only too aware of viruses and malware. Why didn’t Microsoft and Apple just fix their operating systems?
