The 3 Best Antivirus for iPhone & iPad (2022 Update)

Norton for iOS – Summary

Norton Mobile Security for iOS is the best antivirus for iPhone and iPad.

• The Unlimited VPN will keep your personal information private online.
• The Anti-Tracker will stop ads from following you across the web.
• The Web Protection will protect you from dangerous websites.
• The Identity Protection will monitor the Dark Web for your data.
• The Device Protection will keep you informed on security updates.

In short: Norton will significantly improve your online security and safeguard your privacy and identity. It’s the best security app for iOS of 2022.

Norton Mobile Security for iOS Review

Below we will discuss all of Norton’s features in order of importance.

VPN

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) hides your iPhone’s IP address and encrypts your internet connection. This has several advantages:

• You’ll be anonymous online. A VPN will hide everything you do online from governments, Internet Service Providers, Facebook, hackers, and more. You can search, surf, socialize, and shop in anonymity.
• You are safe on public Wi-Fi. Typically, public Wi-Fi networks are unsafe. However, because a VPN encrypts your internet connection, other users on the network (including hackers) can’t see what you do online.
• You can avoid censorship. In some countries, specific websites are blocked (for instance, WhatsApp calls in Dubai or YouTube in China). You can avoid these restrictions and use those services by using a VPN.

The best thing about Norton’s Secure VPN is its unlimited data. VPNs offered by other brands usually have a data limit between 200 and 500 MB / day, which means that you can’t leave the VPN on. Instead, you’ll have to use it tactfully and, most importantly, not forget to turn it on.

With Norton, you can turn the VPN on once and forget about it. From that moment forward, you will be anonymous online. Forever.

Ad Tracker

The ad tracker is part of Norton’s VPN. When the VPN is activated, the Ad Tracker will block cookies that attempt to track your activity online.

Web Protection

Norton’s advanced Web Protection will detect and block dangerous sites before you visit them. It works with any iOS browser and can be activated with or without the VPN. Of course, we recommend turning on both simultaneously to maximize your protection from online threats.

Identity

Did you know that there is a hidden part of the internet that search engines can’t find? It’s called the Dark Web, and cybercriminals use it to buy and sell personal data, like credit card information. Norton can search the Dark Web to see whether criminals are trading your personal data.

It can monitor your:

• Email addresses
• Home addresses
• Phone numbers
• Credit cards
• Bank accounts
• Insurance information
• Driver’s license
• Mother maiden name
• And even your Gamer tag

Device Security

Norton will check whether you have updated your iPhone or iPad to the latest iOS version. As newer versions are frequently security updates, they are critical. Interestingly, we often learn about a new update for iOS from Norton and not from our iPhone itself. So it’s a helpful feature.

Wi-Fi Security

Norton will check whether your Wi-Fi connection is password protected and encrypted. If you have the Auto-Connect feature of your VPN activated, it will automatically start the VPN if you connect to a compromised network.

SMS Security

Norton can filter dangerous text messages containing phishing links to malicious sites that attempt to steal your personal information.

Secure Calendar

Norton will identify iOS Calendar invites that contain dangerous links.

Is Norton Mobile Security for iOS the best antivirus for iPhone?

Yes, we believe it is. Unfortunately, most antivirus apps for iOS devices offer minimal benefit to Apple’s highly secure mobile operating system.

Norton is different. By combining an Unlimited VPN with Web Protection, Anti-Tracking, Identity Theft Protection, and a range of bonus features like Device Security, it is a truly valuable addition to the native security of iOS.

If you also want to protect a PC or Mac, you could read our review of Norton 360 Deluxe, which you can install on any operating system. It is also our pick for the best all-round antivirus software of 2022.

McAfee for iOS – Summary

McAfee Mobile Security for iOS has the best design of all antivirus apps for iOS that we’ve tested. On top of that, by combining a VPN, Safe Browsing, and Identity Protection, its feature set is very similar to that of our test winner Norton.

However, McAfee’s VPN is limited to 500 MB / day unless you opt for the very expensive McAfee Total Protection. On top of that, McAfee’s privacy policy, which allows the company to collect your IP address and browsing history, is one of the worst we have read.

Until McAfee updates its privacy policy and makes the unlimited VPN available at a lower price, we will stick to Norton.

McAfee Mobile Security for iOS Review

McAfee’s iOS app has one of the best designs we’ve seen. We like it even more than Norton’s. Feature-wise, the two American brands are pretty similar. Upon testing, however, we noticed some important differences.

VPN

By activating McAfee’s VPN, you encrypt your internet connection and hide your IP address. This makes you untraceable and anonymous online. If you frequently surf on Public unsecured Wi-Fi networks, this is a crucial feature.

If you buy McAfee Mobile Security ($ 29,95 per year), you’ll get a VPN limited to 500 MB / day. However, if you opt for the premium version, McAfee Total Protection ($ 99,95 per year), you’ll be able to access the unlimited VPN. 

Because Norton already includes an unlimited VPN with its Mobile Security software, at $ 29,95 per year, McAfee looks quite expensive. On top of that, during our test with McAfee’s VPN, we ran into several issues:

1. The VPN was limited to 500 MB / day, even though we had signed up for the expensive McAfee Total Protection, also known as McAfee LiveSafe. This might have been a temporary bug, but we could not fix it.

2. McAfee’s privacy policy is terrible. Amongst others, McAfee can collect:

• Your IP address and geo-location
• The websites you visit and the applications you install
• Your interests, purchases, demographics, photos, videos, and biometrics
• Device ID, language preference, ISP, and so much more

3. If you turn off auto-renewal, the VPN will be limited to 500 MB / day, even if you bought the expensive Total Protection package. We think this is a rather dirty trick to lock people into their subscription.

All of this is simply not acceptable from a company that claims to “care deeply about your privacy” (McAfee’s exact words). Therefore, we would advise sticking with Norton until McAfee fixes these issues.

Safe Browsing

McAfee will block malicious websites, known for phishing attacks, when you surf, shop, and socialize online. 

Identity Protection

Identity theft is a significant security threat. McAfee can monitor the Dark Web to see whether hackers got a hold of your email addresses, phone numbers, passport numbers, bank accounts, credit cards details, and more.

Like the VPN, this feature becomes limited when you turn off auto-renewal. If you ask us, that’s not the way to treat a paying customer.

Wi-Fi Scan

McAfee scans the encryption strength and password of your Wi-Fi network.

System Scan

McAfee’s system security scan will check whether your iOS version is up to date. 

Is McAfee Mobile Security for iOS the best antivirus for iPhone?

No, it’s not. Although its design is excellent and its feature-set similar to that of Norton, there are too many red flags. 

As long as McAfee does not fix its privacy policy, VPN data limit, and auto-renewal tricks, we recommend sticking with Norton.