The thing we need to understand about viruses is that some platforms are more prone to viruses than others. This is simply because it’s easier for the virus makers to get a return on their investment if they make it for platforms that most people use or the ones easier to get into and get people to download these viruses. So, the reason that Apple faces fewer viruses is mostly because there are fewer people using Apple computers compared to the large population using Windows and other operating systems.

Different operating systems
On phones with Android and iOS, the types of viruses are different because you have to download any software through an app marketplace. On iOS you have to download it from iTunes and on Android, you download apps through Google Play, but that is not always the case. You can also use the Amazon app marketplace on Android. Either way, these app stores are restricted because every app is supposedly vetted before being available for purchase and download. And if it is found that it does not do what it is supposed to do or it’s risky, then it could be taken off the marketplace before one can download it. You cannot just send an email to an Android or iPhone device and make it install the malware. That is just not how it works, so there is a lot less risk of getting a virus or malware on your phone, however, some amount of risk always prevails.

Is it advisable to get an antivirus software for your smartphone?
A recent study showed that a very less percentage of the population in the country has some sort of malware or viruses as compared to the other regions of the world. You might want to consider getting an antivirus based on your region. Also, if you are living in Eastern Europe and Asia, then you should probably consider installing a stronger antivirus.

Features of antivirus
Mobile antivirus software have extra features built in because the creators of the antivirus know that it is not worth to have a simple antivirus with basic features. So, they throw in extra features like password backs, phone theft prevention, class log blocking and more. Each company adds different features to their selling point. This is because the antivirus aspect is not considered as valuable as on computers and laptops.

Which operating system is more inclined to threats?
There is another study that came up with an interesting statistical information. It said that 97% of the viruses and malware occur on Android phones. Therefore, if you are using an iPhone you are probably safer from these malware threats as the iTunes and app marketplace is very strict about the apps that are made available. Google Play is a lot more lenient, so there are chances where they fail to catch malware until later and by then the damage might have already been done. Apple is a lot stricter when it comes to allowing apps and they have tight parameters about the usefulness of any app.

If you are over conscious about your mobile security, you can purchase antivirus software like Avast mobile security, Bitdefender, AVL, McAfee, Kaspersky, etc. – whichever suits you the best. Nevertheless, you need not necessarily have an antivirus on your phone if you make sure to download apps from the right store. If not, you should probably have one installed.