Is there an iPhone antivirus App?

The sun is hot (fact) but has nothing to do with this discussion just as the amount of memory used and cost of the app have nothing to do with this discussion.

I say it's a waste of money and memory because there is no benefit to the user when purchased and used... the user gets nothing for their money, i.e. it's wasted. Even if it could stop something, that something can do nothing to the iOS. It's like trying to protect a steel ball from a feather.

If there were virus problems with OSX, I might believe there could be a problem with iOS in the future but OSX has been quite secure for many years. I expect the same with iOS.

I understand there are other antivirus programs for Mac OSX and they do more than just search for viruses these days. They search for malware, they detect phishing web sites, etc. and VirusBarrier for the Mac OSX does more than just scan for viruses.

From the functionality described by Intego, VirusBarrier for iOS does more than scan for viruses.

I searched the app store for other virus scanning utilities.

Here is a couple of other utility/reference apps I found in the app store:

Anti-Virus Detective - Decision tree of how you avoid malware.

Virus Scan of Suspicious Websites - only checks websites with the address you need enter.

Sophos - provides a security threat monitor but not I don't believe it warns you about going to known bad websites.

McAfee Global Threat Intelligence - like Sophos it is only informational, it does not scan, or block/warn you from going to known bad websites.

I did not see any other apps in the app store that actually did a virus scan. I don't think there are other anti-virus applications for the iphone that can actually scan for viruses in the files you may receive.

The point here is that VirusBarrier on the Mac is a real application that scans for viruses, malware, phishing etc. They have ported some of the functions of that program to the iOS. They constantly update their threat definitions file. You can scan attachments emailed to you for viruses as well as other threats. I have actually scanned an attachment but found that it was somewhat cumbersome.

I understand the opinions/fact that because the iOS is sandboxed and cannot be changed, that a virus will not effect iOS. However, you can still spread a virus to others. I would be more concerned about that with when sending email to my clients and customers or editing documents on an iPad.

With that said, the VirusBarrier app does have much more functionality that just scanning for viruses and may find malware, phishing schemes etc. to avoid one from doing something foolish.

I have had the VirusBarrier on the Mac warn me a number of times about going to certain websites.

Although I have not tested it, I suspect the further functionality of VirusBarrier for iOS will do the same.

There are alternative options, you can always perform an onine antivirus check before downloading anything. Some free services are

http://www.bitdefender.com/scanner/online/free.html

http://www.findfiles.net/antivirus

http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/solutions/activescan/

Using one of these services saves a lot of trouble!

You are so right. There is nothing to be afaird of ... however can any files from the iphone be hijacked..?

@leonbakhan - You said, "....You are so right. There is nothing to be afaird of ..."

I hope what you said above remains true forever. I don't want to have to say "Famous last words....!"

And this applies to all of you who were dismissive of and had the arrogance to imply PJsPal's original question was stupid.

Today, no question about technology can or should be regarded as stupid. You can bet your sweet arrogance that someone somewhere will someday find a route into IOS. Don't ever think Apple has cornered the market on protective coding. They are as fallable as the others but fortunately for everyone of us iPhone, iPad and Mac users, they do more than most to ensure the software we use is the best and least apt to be hacked. I doubt any Apple exec or developer would provide you with a 100% guarantee that their iPhone, iPad or MAc software package will never be breached by a very determined and criminally aggressive hacker.

PJsPAL asked a question I was going to ask on this site. I want to thank him for saving me the trouble but I was not prepred for the answers he received from you. Had I received them I would be even more scared of using the devise I came here seeking a solution for.

For the future: when a ******* like me comes onto one of these Apple forums to ask a question that reveals a painfully inadequate ability to use and know about hi-tech Apple OS software, please don't respond with arrogance and your conceit. Just provide some worthwhile guidance devoid of your superior than thou attitudes. This way I will leave here confident in your knowledge and advice.

Thanks

Robert Bruce

@Robert Bruce...

Thanks for this.

When I said the above words, they are for the present and not for the future.

Sure who knows what the future tech will bring us..

So one has to keep the mind open and till then it is as it is. I am no high tech in apple software,but the first time apple phone user, though I have used almost every other type, but iPhone is the for the first time.

I have extensively searched the net, the forums and the rest but nowhere is there any post saying that iphone has a definite type of software that can really be named an "anti-Virus" for iPhone.

It is mentioned that the kernel, the software is devised in such way that it does not allow other files to infringe or alter it ( except when it is jailbroken-in which the software is altered, but is apparent to the apple team and hence gets unsupported). It is the reason that it is impossible to transfer any file except through the itunes, whch acts sort of filter.

I also agree with you that the answers should be given in a very humble way.

Thanks

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17623422

This proves that apple users are not immune to viruses. Don't let your arrogance be the downfall of your data.

deadguyale wrote:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17623422

This proves that apple users are not immune to viruses. Don't let your arrogance be the downfall of your data.

That article was not about viruses. It was about trojans. They are not the same thing. Please try to understand what you're posting about before you post it.

This proves that apple users are not immune to viruses.

Trojans are not viruses. An iPhone is not a Mac. Different things - different devices and OS.

Don't let your arrogance be the downfall of your data.

Don't let your cluelessness make you look like a fool. Oops... too late on that one.

ok, i am the fool who believes that malware protection is important.

You believe that "malware protection" is important for devices that don't have any malware and don't have any malware protection to install?

Where exactly are you intending to get this non-existent malware protection from, and how do you intend to install it on an iPhone?

i understand what i am posting. My intent was to show that you need protection in todays environment. You also know the true meaning of my post. But instead of agreeing with me, or simply saying "you know, i think i will just take the risk of no protection." you decided to make a pointless statement. If there is a Trojan horse infecting apple devices, do you really believe that there is no risk of infection of a regular virus? from wiki: Apple's Web site says that "a Mac is 100 percent safe from viruses designed to attack PCs." This is true; otherwise, Apple could face a class-action lawsuit. The loophole is a single, clever subtlety in the phrase, "designed to attack PCs."

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses- too-edition/

above you will find another website detailing how Mac's can get viruses.

Bottom line, you are wrong.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/iphone-virus-botnet-bank-details,9136.html