Do I really need an antivirus app on my new smartphone?

I’ve had lots of smartphones, both iOS and Android, and I've never found a need for antivirus; I think using them as designed minimizes risks significantly.

You probably don’t need antivirus unless you’re doing risky stuff like downloading apps from dodgy sites. Android and iOS both have pretty good security measures built-in to protect against most threats.

Honestly, I’ve been using smartphones since 2009 and never installed any antivirus software. I've never encountered a virus, so I think the built-in protections are usually good enough.

While it’s true that sandboxing on phones reduces risks of viruses, just be cautious about what you download. Stick to official app stores to minimize the chance of getting hit with malware.

As someone who worked at Samsung for several years, I can confidently say that third-party antivirus apps can actually slow down your phone without providing significant protection. The built-in features generally do the job just fine.