Skip to main content

Do you need antivirus software on an iPad?

Security symbol on an iPad in a stand on a table.
Geralt / Pixabay

Did you just buy an iPad for yourself or family member? If the plan is to use that iPad for emailing, web browsing, gaming, and similar activities, then you’re wondering if you should install antivirus software like you would on a full-sized computer.

Recommended Videos

The short answer is no, you don’t need antivirus software on an iPad. But why not?

We’ll explain the security and privacy features that come with iPadOS and how you can use them to stay safe when using your iPad.

Security and privacy on an iPad

Security symbol on an iPad on a table.
Geralt / Pixabay

You may use your iPad instead of a laptop or desktop computer, and while it can do many of the same things those devices can, an iPad isn’t vulnerable to threats in the same way.

Apple’s iPadOS is a compartmentalized system. Unlike other operating systems, apps do not have direct access to files of other apps. This means that infections and viruses can’t spread like they can on other operating systems.

With this in mind, don’t think that your iPad is immune from other kinds of cyber threats. This can include unauthorized access to your device, phishing, or even adware.

The biggest danger on your iPad can come from your own actions or lack thereof. By not taking precautions, ignoring the built-in security features, or even jailbreaking your device, you can open yourself up to potential danger.

So, while you may not need specific antivirus software on your iPad, you should be aware of, learn about, and enable the features Apple provides on iPads to protect yourself and your device.

Take precautions against potential threats

Even though Apple’s security features can protect you, you must be willing to use them. You should also be cautious when doing things like visiting websites and sharing information. Here are several precautions you can take:

Prevent access to your iPad

Allow When Locked list of apps on an iPad.
Digital Trends

Protecting your data starts with preventing physical access to your iPad and items on the Lock screen.

Use Face ID, Touch ID, and a strong passcode. By using your face or fingerprint to unlock your iPad, you can lessen the chance that anyone else can unlock the device or make unauthorized purchases or payments. Also make sure that you have a strong passcode set up for the device.

Enable Find My iPad. If you should lose your iPad or if it’s stolen, you can not only track it down but control access to it using the Find My app.

Control access from the Lock screen. You can decide which iPad features can be accessed from your lock screen, including Control Center, recent notifications, widgets, and missed calls. Head to Settings > Touch ID (or Face ID) & Passcode to control access.

Sign in securely

Passkey to Sign in with Apple on Kayak on iPad.
Digital Trends

When you sign in to websites and services, you can use a few measures to protect yourself.

Use Sign in with Apple. Introduced in 2019, Sign in with Apple allows you to set up or log into apps and services using your Apple ID. This option also uses two-factor authentication and limits the data shared.

Sign in using passkeys. With passkeys, you can log into websites and apps using Face ID or Touch ID instead of a password. Passkeys remain on your iPad when signed in with your Apple ID and are specific to the site or app where you create it, keeping it protected.

Use the Create Strong Password tool. If you can’t use either of the above options for a certain site or service, you can use Apple’s built-in tool for creating a strong password for you when prompted. That password can be saved to iCloud Keychain.

Stay safe when browsing the web

Privacy Report in Safari on an iPad.
Digital Trends

Even though you may prefer a different web browser, Safari comes with iPadOS and offers protection and tracking to keep you safe when browsing the web.

Manage your online privacy. You can adjust the Safari settings to keep your browsing private. Additionally, Safari prevents website trackers and provides you with a Privacy Report for a summary of what it detected.

Use iCloud Private Relay. By subscribing to iCloud+, you can take advantage of the iCloud Private Relay feature that prevents sites and services from seeing who you are and which website you’re visiting.

Beware of pop-up ads: If you do use another browser on your iPad or come across a website that contains pop-up ads, don’t play along. You never know where a web link might lead you or what the intent behind it is. The best thing to do is exit the website, especially if the ad tells you that you have a virus.

Keep your email private

Protect Mail Activity enabled on an iPad.
Digital Trends

Some threats come directly to your inbox. Using the email privacy features on iPad, you can keep your activity and email address to yourself.

Turn on Mail Privacy Protection. By enabling this feature, email senders cannot track your activity in the Mail app. This feature hides your IP address and prevents senders from seeing if you opened their email.

Hide your email address. Another feature for iCloud+ subscribers is the ability to hide your email address when filling out forms or signing up for services. This feature generates a random email address for you so that your personal email address stays private.

Don’t open links or attachments. You’ve probably heard this a number of times, but if you receive an email with a link or attachment from an unknown source or with a suspicious message, don’t fall into the trap. Don’t open the link or the attachment as they can each be dangerous to your data and device.

Protect your information

Privacy Report on the App Store.
Digital Trends

Getting your information is exactly what malicious email senders, websites, and other privacy invaders want.

Manage app tracking. Some apps want to track you or your activity to provide information to advertisers. For this reason, apps are required to ask your permission before tracking you. If you do grant permission, you can change it later by opening Settings and going to Privacy & Security > Tracking.

Control what you share. You may be asked to share data like your location details or access to your microphone, camera, or Bluetooth to use an app. You can review and adjust these permissions in Settings > Privacy & Security.

Review App Privacy Reports. When you review or download an app from the App Store, you can view the App Privacy Report to see what information the app collects and which permissions you must grant to use it.

Stay up to date and safe on your iPad

Software update available on an iPad.
Digital Trends

One final action you can take to keep your iPad safe is updating iPadOS whenever there’s a new release. Like other operating systems, iPadOS receives updates that can include security patches for continued protection.

You can enable automatic updates so that when your iPad is charging, it’ll download and install the update. Alternatively, open the Settings and select General > Software Update to see if there’s a new version to install.

Antivirus software on iPad

While you may not need to purchase antivirus software for your iPad, you should still take the necessary precautions to keep your device and data safe.

Take advantage of the built-in security and privacy features, and update your device when a new version of iPadOS is released.

Sandy Writtenhouse
Sandy has been writing about technology since 2012. Her work has appeared on How-To Geek, Lifewire, MakeUseOf, iDownloadBlog…
Why new antivirus software may have just installed itself on your PC
A person compares Bitdefender and Norton antivirus software pricing on a Windows PC.

Late last week, cybersecurity company Kaspersky started deleting its anti-malware software from computers located in the United States. As a replacement, the company automatically downloaded antivirus software from UltraAV instead.

If you use Kaspersky antivirus software, you may know the Russian company was added to the U.S. government's Entity List and subjected to a ban on sales and updates within the United States earlier this year. As a result, the company told BleepingComputer in July that it had decided to shut down its U.S. operations and lay off its American employees.

Read more
Apple Intelligence: Everything you need to know about Apple’s take on AI
Type to Siri being used with Apple Intelligence in macOS Sequoia.

Apple Intelligence is Apple's take on AI, and it looks to fundamentally change the way we interact with technology, blending advanced machine learning and AI capabilities into everyday devices.
Promising more conversational prose from Siri, automated proofreading and text summarization across apps, and lightning-fast image generation, Apple's AI ecosystem is designed to enhance user experiences and streamline operations across its product lineup. Here's everything you need to know about Apple's transformational new AI.

Apple Intelligence release date and compatibility
Apple Intelligence was originally slated for formal release in September, coinciding with the initial roll out of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. However, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported, Apple subsequently decided to slightly delay the release of Intelligence.
It was made available to developers as part of the iOS 18.1 beta release on September 19, and officially launched alongside the 18.1 roll out in October. However, it wasn't until the release of iOS 18.2 in December 2024 that many Apple Intelligence features such as Genmoji, Image Playground, and Visual Intelligence finally arrived for all users. The company also released a bug fix addressing the "Apple Intelligence causing devices to overheat" issue.
https://twitter.com/markgurman/status/1817632719175901531
These new AI features are available for users on the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16, as well as iPads and Macs with M1 or newer chips (and presumably the iPhone 16 handsets as well, since they'll all be running iOS 18).
Currently, the features are only available when the user language is set to English, though the company plans to add support for Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese in an update scheduled for April 2025.

Read more
This is the one password manager I recommend using over 1Password
Keeper and 1Password websites appear in a split-screen view on a PC monitor.

The best password managers simplify sign-ins while keeping your account information secure. Two of the best solutions come from Keeper and 1Password.

I recently reviewed both solutions, comparing login organization and sharing features, support responsiveness, and overall ease of use to find out which offers the best value for you.
Tiers and pricing
Prices for Keeper and 1Password are shown above in a split-screen view. Digital Trends

Read more