If you’re planning to buy a new smartphone, there is a chance that it will run on one of two operating systems which is Google’s Android or Apple’s iOS and they both are excellent with good security features and provide different levels of security. So If you are security-conscious and value mobile security, or want to compare Google’s Android vs Apple’s iOS security. Read this article.
Android vs iOS: Which Is More Secure?
Updates:- When we think about mobile device security. The easiest and first line of defense is to keep your OS up to date. When it comes to getting updates and security patches from time to time, Apple still maintains a kind of control over its manufacturing chain. If your iOS device qualifies for the latest update it will get it as soon as it launches. Apple typically provides updates on their iPhones for 5 years after release. Whereas Google only committed to 3 years of direct OS updates on its pixel phones and this is the fact that handset manufacturers can customize the Android OS they get the update, work on it, optimize it for your device, and then send it out that's why these manufacturers may not release updates in as timely a manner as Google does on its flagship phones.
Threat Level:- Threats exist for both the platforms but research says that a far higher percentage of mobile malware targets Android than iOS. Because of the huge distribution of Android devices and an open system for the distribution of apps. Android is the almost exclusive focus of mobile malware developers and on Another hand, Apple tightly controls which apps are available on its App Store, and not give an option to install apps from unknown sources but both OS are equally vulnerable from social engineering, where attackers use more personal methods to target you.
Open Source Software:- Both operating systems use good security features to keep their users safe, but Apple closely guards their source code, where Android has an open-source system. The code is even called AOSP (Android Open Source Project) this open-source nature of Android makes it more easily accessible to developers, but it also makes it easier for hackers to search the source code for vulnerabilities. This makes Android devices easier to "root" and removing the manufacturer's software restrictions.
Privacy measures:- Privacy and security both are different things. Privacy is about the safeguarding of user identity whereas security is about the safeguarding of data. Android mobile devices data like your email content, web browsing habits, etc. be transmitted to Google servers and for targeted advertising and building a user profile. Alternatively, Apple storing more data locally on the device and sending less to its servers for ad targeting.
The Winner is
After reading this article you already know that iOS devices are better when it comes to security against cyber threats. While Android is not as secure as iOS, there are a few things that can help you to enhance the security of your device. Like, Always install apps from Google Play Store, never enable unknown sources option, and always read the permissions of the apps to understand how much access you are giving.
Conclusion:- This article is based on a comparison of iOS and Android security. Feel free to ask in the comment section if you have any queries.