IOS software
Swipe away your touchscreen troubles and rekindle your love of Apple’s mobile devices Keep iPhones and iPads safe
Q
After reading about recent malware affecting iPhones, what should I do to keep my iPhone and iPad safe?
A
Recent reports about Pegasus commercial spyware, produced by the NSO Group, being used for intelligence-gathering by government and law-enforcement agencies are serious, but affect very few users who have been specifically targeted. Far more likely are unwanted and annoying apps known as PUPs, or websites that try to extract personal information. Pegasus can now be detected, but it’s complex and requires developer tools and Terminal, as detailed by Amnesty International at bit.ly/mac370mvt.
So long as you never jailbreak your iPhone, which would immediately put it at high risk, you rely on the protection afforded by the App Store and the limits it places on apps. Unfortunately, it’s those same limits that prevent effective anti-malware apps.
The biggest risks come not from malicious apps or rare targeted spyware such as Pegasus, but on what you do, the links you follow, websites you visit, and your behaviour. There are tools to help you avoid those dangers, but in the end it’s your personal judgement and caution, as no software can make everything safe.
Be vigilant for scams and malicious attachments sent via email, Messages, texts, even in calendar entries. Products like Malwarebytes Mobile Security, a good VPN service when you’re using public Wi-Fi, and Guardian Firewall, can all help, but you’ve still got to accept personal responsibility and not leave security to an app or service. Finally, ensure that your Apple ID password is robust, and that it uses two-factor authentication.