iOS devices were considered exceptionally safe for a long time, but the tide is beginning to turn. Near the end of last year, Apple issued a warning to update all iPhone 8 or newer devices to fix a zero-day vulnerability but didn’t go into specifics. Simultaneously, cybersecurity experts at Proofpoint reported a 500% increase in mobile malware in Europe.
You might want to reconsider if you didn’t use any additional cybersecurity iPhone software. Below you will find five apps that will keep your iPhone safe from external dangers.
Encrypted Messaging App
Safe online communication is paramount, as hackers attempt to spy on every unsecured conversation for sensitive information.
Most messaging platforms use encryption to prevent snooping but have significantly different features. For example, if the messenger does not provide end-to-end encryption, the conversations can be accessed by insiders and rogue employees.
It’s best to choose an app that allows deleting conversations from their servers. It should also offer a self-destruct feature, which deletes the conversation after a chosen time period. Lastly, it should block screenshots if somebody attempts to take a photo of your talk.
AppLock
Who hasn’t left an iPhone at a bar or university library? Or maybe you feel unsafe sharing your phone with others because they could go through your personal folders.
There are numerous AppLocks for iPhones that will protect your programs and folders with a passphrase. Some also offer a screen time feature, so you can select a time frame after which the app is locked. Use it to secure your photos and videos folders, social media, and messaging apps.
You can use Touch ID to lock specific applications, but apps like Facebook or WhatsApp do not allow it.
Password Manager
Even the strongest iPhone security measures will not protect your online accounts if you fail to secure them with reliable passwords. On average, people have 40 apps installed on their phones, and it’s impossible to remember a long password for each.
Instead, you can trust your passwords with an iOS password manager. Choose one that offers a password generator, autofill feature, secure password sharing, and stores them in a secure encrypted vault. What’s more, fully-developed password managers provide cross-device compatibility, so you can use them to secure multiple devices simultaneously.
Anti-Virus
You might have noticed that there are no Anti-viruses on the Apple app store. That’s because, in 2015, they decided their OS is virus fool-proof. While that is not necessarily true, iOS devices are much safer, conceding only to Linux.
But because Apple does not allow sideloading apps, some users choose to jailbreak their phones to have more control over them. Once you jailbreak it, you lose most of Apple’s protection, and your device can get infected.
Various anti-viruses provide excellent iOS protection. They update their repositories with the latest iPhone malware threat and provide real-time online protection and identity theft features. If you notice your iPhone overheating, using too much data, or displaying suspicious pop-ups, immediately download an antivirus and scan your device
Virtual Private Network
A VPN is a privacy-protection-oriented cybersecurity software. It creates a safe and encrypted tunnel between your device and the Internet and masks your original IP address. It’s a number one go-to software for public Wi-Fi protection, Man-in-the-middle attacks, online surveillance, and IP tracking.
Professional VPN service providers recently launched numerous innovative features, such as cutting-edge WireGuard protocol and real-time threat scanners. The latter functions similarly to an anti-virus, so you can turn it off while using both. However, VPNs provide advanced encryption algorithms essential for safe Internet browsing.
We recommend using a VPN whenever you connect to public Wi-Fi or perform online banking operations.
Secure and encrypted Cloud storage will ensure you will not leak data if your phone is hacked. Lastly, you can customize iPhone privacy settings to expose as little personal data as possible, but that is a topic for another time.
