Do I need antivirus on my phone?
On iPhone: no, real antivirus does not exist there because iOS sandboxing prevents it; "security" apps on iOS are mostly VPNs and web filters. On Android: usually not, if you stick to the Play Store and keep Google Play Protect on, but a reputable security app adds useful web protection and anti-theft on devices used carelessly or bought outside official channels.
The two platforms need different answers. On iOS, apps cannot scan other apps; Apple’s sandboxing makes traditional antivirus technically impossible. Anything sold as iPhone antivirus is actually a bundle of VPN, web filtering, breach alerts, and scam-call tools. Some of those features are useful, but you are not buying virus scanning, whatever the name suggests.
Android is more open, which cuts both ways. Google Play Protect scans apps by default, and a user who installs only from the Play Store and runs current Android is reasonably safe without extra software. The real-world risks are sideloaded APKs, fake banking apps, phishing links in texts and WhatsApp, and cheap devices that shipped with old Android versions. Security apps from the established labs (Bitdefender, Norton, ESET) add web protection that catches phishing links in any browser, plus anti-theft tools.
Our advice: secure the behavior first, software second. Install from official stores, keep the OS updated, use a password manager and two-factor authentication. Then, for Android users who want a safety net or manage a family member’s phone, the mobile tiers included in multi-device suites are worth enabling; you often already pay for them.