Norton Mobile Security for iOS missing AV

[SK]

I have just installed NMS for iOS using one of my N360 licenses; however, it only seems to have anti-theft and backup, even though the feature list on this products website lists threat protection.

Does anyone know why this is, as I bought N360 so that I can have AV for iOS?

 

[SK]

The following answers my question:-

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/06/04/apple-explains-why-ios-dont-need-no-steenkin-anti-virus/

Which is all well and good; however, I have to agree with this one in that it is inevitable that iOS will some day have viruses (especially as the Apple Store has already had an instance of malware detected):-

http://readwrite.com/2013/09/05/kaspersky-the-ios-malware-dam-will-break#awesm=~ouEJSIhwQNMoBE

 

The reason why I am dissapointed at Symantec's iOS offering is because their competitors do provide this functionality, which means that I will be switching vendors in order to be proactive:-

http://www.i4u.com/2013/10/56431/best-3-antivirus-apps-ios

http://netlabelsnews.org/top-4-best-antivirus-for-iphoneipad/

http://www.bestantivirus.com/blog/773/5-best-antivirus-ios/

[Migration User]

Hello Scott,

If you are switching vendors, which ones have device level anti virus scanning on IOS? The answer I am afraid is none. This is not Symantecs fault, this is the decision from Apple.

As you are probably aware Apples apps are sandboxed from one another, hence a device level AV wishing to scan apps and data on the device will not be able to. So to fix this apple would have to open up their IOS source code to AV developers so they can develop a solution, Of course this means so can the malware / virus writers and apple do not want to do this.

You can learn about Kaspersksy attempt to ask Apple to do this so they can write an AV app here. It was of course denied.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/kaspersky-denied-ios-app-apple-buries-its-head-in-the-security-sand/77648

Apple secure their devices from malware through limiting the types of files that can be opened on iOS devices, securing their app store (yes you pointed out that app got through the check, but that is only one compared to >1million android apps with malware) and finally sandboxing apps. If a vulnerability is identified like the PDF issue last year, then Apple fix this with a security update to IOS

Of the links you posted, none have device level AV scanning, the only one that seems slightly different is the virus barrier app, this will do a scan, but ONLY attachments within the IOS mail app. 

 

So at the moment there is no demand for an IOS AV, but more importantly, its not event technically possible. So switching your AV from Norton 360 would not be necessary

Thanks

 

Rich