8 top-rated anti-spyware apps for iPhone and iPad

One of the greatest concerns today for many iPhone and iPad devices is the possibility of being spied on by someone or an app without them knowing. The key target for these unauthorized surveillance is the sensitive information and personal data which can otherwise compromise privacy if it lands in the hands of these crooked entities. The use of anti-spyware for iPhone and iPad has proved to be effective in mitigating the risk of being spied on.

Remember, spying can occur in different ways such as compromised WiFi networks, malicious apps, and even advanced hacking techniques and that’s why you need effective anti-spyware apps for your iPhone or iPad.

What makes spyware so dangerous?

Spyware poses significant threats particularly due to its invasive native, unauthorized data access and collection, and potential for victim’s privacy violations. We’re explaining below:

Invasion of Privacy: It could be your web browsing history, keystrokes, email content, and even personal information such as credit card details, login credentials, and more.

Unauthorized data collection: The collected personal data can be used to generate targeted advertising, sold to third-party entities, or even used for malicious purposes.

System performance issues: Spyware programs consume substantial system resources such as your iPhone’s memory or CPU thus slowing down its performance.

Security Risk: Spyware includes multiple vulnerabilities that are prone to other malicious actors which can worsen the situation in terms of unauthorized access to your sensitive data.

3 reasons why use anti-spyware for iPhone&iPad

Using anti-spyware applications for iPad and iPhone is important for various reasons namely:

1. Protection against Malware and Spyware: Anti-spyware apps help detect and get rid of any malicious software that might infiltrate your device thus providing an additional layer of protection.
2. Privacy Safeguards: Our iPad/iPhone stores a lot of your personal information including messages, photos, contacts, and even your financial data. Anti-spyware apps help safeguard your data by detecting unauthorized access or collection of data.
3. Ongoing Monitoring: Anti-spyware apps provide a continuous monitoring of your iPhone or iPad by checking for suspicious activities on your device. 

While Apple‘s built-in security feature is quite robust, using anti-spyware to reinforce the existing security feature can significantly enhance the security of your device thus ensuring your personal data is well protected.

8 top anti-spyware apps for iPhone and iPad

All in all, you are in the right place if you are looking forward to trying anti-spy apps. Here are the best 8 anti-spyware apps for iPhone and iPad in 2023.

Norton

Norton, also known as Norton 360 is a popular and comprehensive security software suite that offers anti-spyware features along with other security capabilities.

Features

• Phishing protection.
• Secure calendar.
• VPN with unlimited data.
• WiFi security scanning.
• Malicious SMS message protection.
• Advanced Identity theft protection and monitoring. 
• Real-time scanning.
• Automatic Updates; the software updates itself to ensure updates on its threat database and hence stay ahead of malware threats and spyware.

Pros

• Comprehensive protection.
• User-friendly interface.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility.
• Regular updates.
• 24/7 Customer support.

Cons

• Subscription cost.
• Resource intensive.
• Limited free version.

Avira Mobile Security

Avira Mobile Security is a powerful and feature-rich mobile anti-spy application designed to safeguard your tablets and smartphones. It includes a robust suite of protection features such as antivirus scanning, privacy protection, anti-theft capabilities and more.

Features

• Protects your iPhone from millions of mobile threats.
• Conceals your device’s activities from spies, advertisers, and others.
• Frees up chunk space and memory on your iPhone.

Pros

• User friendly.
• Ensure a secure and safe mobile experience.

Cons

• Limited free features.
• Resource Intensive.
• Privacy concerns.
• It’s a complex app to use for the first time.

Panda Dome

Panda Dome Security Suite is a app launched by Panda Security. It offers real-time protection against numerous forms of malware including, spyware, viruses, ransomware, and Trojans among others. Regular updates help keep the software virus forms current.

Features

• Antivirus Protection
• Firewall
• VPN Service:  Encrypt your device’s internet connection as well as hiding your VPN service.
• Identity Theft Protection. Device optimization Tools.

Pros

• Locate a Smartphone in real-time.
• Remotely lock and wipe out all information from a lost distance.
• Anti-theft alarm can capture the thief’s photo after three unsuccessful attempts to unlock a stolen or lost device.
• Improve your device’s performance and extend its battery life.

Cons

• Limited free features.
• Resource Intensive.

Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes is a popular anti-malware software that provides robust protection against different types of malicious software including ransomware, viruses and adware. I’s best known for its real-time scanning and robust malware detection and removal abilities.

Features

• Anti-malware: Real time protection.
• Web protection: Blocking malicious websites and potentially malicious downloads.
• Scheduled Scans: You can easily schedule regular scans.
• Chameleon Technology: The feature is designed to allow Malwarebytes to keep running even when malware programs try to prevent its operations.

Pros

• Effective Malware detection abilities.
• Light on system resources.
• User-friendly interface.
• Free version.
• Compatible with various operating systems.

Cons

• Limited real time protection when using the free version.
• Not a standalone antivirus program.
• It has no firewall.
• Occasional false positives.

Bitdefender

Bitdefender is an effective antivirus and cybersecurity solution and is known for its robust anti-malware abilities. Moreover, it provides real-time protection, a user-friendly interface, and a password manager.

Features

• Real-time scanning.
• Anti-malware. 
• Web protection: The app includes web filtering and anti-phishing abilities to safeguard your online activities.
• Firewall: Bitdefender includes a firewall of intrusion prevention and network protection.
• Vulnerability assessment: It checks any system vulnerabilities and offers improvement suggestions.

Pros

• Highly effective.
• Minimal system impact.
• User-friendly.
• Frequent updates.

 Cons

• Notification pop-ups which can nuisance.
• Resource intensive.

Certo AntiSpy

With many years of experience in spyware detection and mobile security, Certo AntiSpy has helped countless people safeguard their devices and hence enjoy peace of mind.

Features

• Scans for Malware and Spyware: Certo AntiSpy scans your iOS device in case of signs of malicious spyware thus providing you with timely alerts.
• Jailbreak Detection. Identify if your iPhone device has been jailbroken which can otherwise compromise your security.

Pros

• User-friendly interface.
• Jailbreak detection ability.

Cons

• Only for iOS devices.
• Annual subscription cost.
• Some features require extra payments.

Lookout Mobile Security

Lookout Mobile Security is a cross-platform mobile security application designed to safeguard your device against malware, Lookout Mobile Security can also help you locate a stolen or a lost device, backup your valuable data, restore it and receive alerts in case of suspicious activities.

Features

• Anti-Malware. 
• Locate a lost device.
• Backup and restore your valuable data in case your device gets lost or stoles
• Identify privacy risks in your installed apps.

Pros

• Valuable anti-theft features.
• App privacy scanning.
• Convenient backup and restore.
• User-friendly interface.

Cons

• Limited iOS support.
• Premium features require a subscription.
• Mixed malware detection results.

ESET Cyber Security

ESET Cyber Security is an effective software designed to safeguard your Windows, Android or Mac devices against a wide range of threats and hence ensure your online safety.

Features

• Anti-Phishing: The software detects and blocks any phishing attempt and hence protect your personal information
• Anti-Malware: Protects Against Ransomware, viruses and other types of malware.
• Firewall: The software monitors and filters your network traffic.

Pros

• Robust firewall.
• Online banking protection.
• Device control for added security.

Cons

• Resource-intensive during scans.
• Some advanced features are only available in premium versions.
• Prices can be relatively high.
• No VPN service.

Comparison of the 8 anti-spyware apps

The following table simply shows the compatibility, pricing, need for jailbreaking, and free trial availability of the above 8 apps. Kindly note that the availability of free trials and prices may vary depending on the specific subscription and the app versions you’re using.

How to choose the right anti-spyware app for iPhone&iPad?

Certainly, when choosing the right anti-spyware app for your iPad or iPhone, you need to consider several factors such as your personal factors and also the key features of the app. 

1. Real-Time Scanning: This feature ensures proactive protection of your device
2. Privacy Monitoring: Consider investing in apps that provide privacy monitoring thus allowing you to keep track of data permissions and app activities that may compromise your privacy.
3. User-Friendly Interface: A user-friendly app with intuitive controls and easy-to-understand features will enhance your online experience.
4. Budget: There are apps that offer free versions but with limited features while others only offer a paid subscription but with detained features. It’s highly recommendable to invest in a comprehensive protection for your device.
5. Number of Devices you want to have protected: If you own multiple iOS devices, then you better consider an app that provides a multi-device.

How to know if you need anti-spyware for iPhone/iPad?

Detecting potential spyware on your device is very critical for your security. Here are three signs to consider:

1. Unexplained Battery Drain. If your iPhone’s battery has been draining rapidly, it could be a spyware app running in the background.
2. Sudden Data Usage Spikes since some Spy apps can result in increased data usage.
3. Unexpected device behavior such as unexplained freezes, frequent crashes and sluggish performance.

Regular ways to remove spyware from an iPhone/iPad

iOS update

Updating your iPhone device is an effective way of removing impeded spyware and also ensuring that it has the latest features for security implementations. Here’s how to update your iPhone device.

Update iPhone manually

You can update your iPhone at any time and install software updates.

Step 1: Navigate to “Settings” > “General.”

Step 2: Open “General” and tap on the “Software Update.”

Update iPhone/iPad automatically

Step 1: Navigate to “Settings” then to “General” then “Software Updates” and finally to “Automatic Updates.”

Step 2: Turn on “iOS updates” under the “Automatically Install” and “Automatic Download.”

When a new update is available, your iPhone will automatically download it and install it.

Delete suspicious apps

We’re all familiar with how to delete apps from your phone’s screen: First, press and hold the particular app icon you want to delete. And then, choose “Remove app” or “Delete app.” Finally, tap the “Delete app” to confirm.

Reset your iPhone

Resetting the phone means erasing the information from your iPad or iPhone and restoring it to the factory settings.

Step 1: Back up information in your device so that you can use it later to restore after factory settings.

Step 2: Open “Settings” > “General” then “Reset” or “Transfer” (Device). If prompted, key in your Apple ID password or passcode.

Step 4: Confirm your decision to erase your device. You can erase your eSIM too if you’ve one on your device.

Step 5:  Wait for the device to finish erasing your device. It might take a couple of minutes to complete the process.

Conclusion

These eight top-rated anti-spyware apps offer a range of features to protect your devices from potential threats. Additionally, when it comes to monitoring and safeguarding the usage of your devices or ensuring the safety of your loved ones, use a secure tracking app if needed, such as “FlashGet Kids” with its strong privacy policy and commitment to not selling or sharing your information, can be a valuable choice.

FAQs