Nowadays, almost every individual uses a smartphone either Android or iOS. The users store a lot of confidential data in their smartphones, such as identity proofs, passwords, bank account details, and so on. If a hacker hacks your smartphone, he will gain access to all these details. This can lead to significant threats to the user. Therefore, a smartphone user should prioritize the safety and privacy of his device above all.
Therefore, it becomes crucial for an individual to choose a device wisely that will offer him the utmost security in every situation. If safety is your main concern, and you want to keep your Android or iOS device free of viruses and malware, which operating system should you choose?
Also Read: 8 Ways to Secure an Android Application
Threats Imposed on a Smartphone
Smartphone manufacturers are emphasizing mobile security immensely, and they are introducing new protocols regularly. The world is witnessing better smartphone security features with every passing year, and hackers face more difficulties.
Today, IoT or the Internet of Things plays a significant role in the lives of people. Everything is connected to the internet ranging from home safety to bank accounts. This demands more security and confidentiality of smartphones for ensuring the safety of users.
Some of the common security risks that mobile users face often are given below:
1. Malware attacks: Malware is the short name used for malicious software and is highly dangerous for a device. Cyber-attackers implant malware in the form of Trojans, spyware, and viruses into a smartphone and steal confidential data from it
2. Data breaches or leakage: Hackers impose brute force attacks and other attacks on a device for extracting sensitive data from it. They will further use it for conducting malicious activities and having financial gains
3. Internet frauds: This includes data phishing and other social media frauds that can lead to losing a person’s identity. Here, hackers use the identity of a genuine device owner for conducting fraudulent activities
4. Security loopholes in hardware and software components: Zero-day Vulnerabilities is a standard security drawback present in the hardware and software components of a device. It can affect the safety and privacy of a user immensely and make him prone to cyber-attacks
5. Weak security features in a device: If users do not configure their smartphones thoroughly, they tend to expose their devices to security attacks. Besides improper device configuration, inappropriate security settings and weak passwords are other reasons for initiating privacy threats
Risk Levels in iOS and Android
Each device, be an iPhone or an Android phone, is exposed to specific threats. However, if a user compares iOS with the Android platform, the former one is in a better position. Research shows hackers target Android devices more than iOS devices, as the latter has stringent security features.
Moreover, the number of Android users is far more than the number of iOS users, which instigates attackers more towards hacking Android devices. Android has an open approach that makes it easy for hackers to implant malicious software. On the other side, Apple monitors its app store closely, and thus, malware does not get an easy route to users’ devices. This has managed to keep iOS devices ahead in the security race with Android. However, iOS does have several security loopholes that makers cannot deny in any instance.
A powerful iOS malware can be a massive blow for millions of devices, and its effect will be more potent than many Android drawbacks. Therefore, to sum up, both iOS and Android platforms have several security loopholes that developers should consider addressing. These loopholes give rise to significant threats that can affect a user immensely by robbing his sensitive data.
Software and Security Updates
The Android platform is subjected to a large number of security threats. However, a user can avoid the maximum of them by updating his device with the latest version of the operating system. Developers modify the existing security standards and bring forth the best ones in the latest versions.
Thus, Android users should not miss updating their smartphones on time for eliminating numerous security loopholes. Hackers have total control over the older versions of the Android operating system available in devices earlier.
Therefore, they can create malware easily and inject them into those smartphones that are not up to date. However, a user will be safe from cyber-attacks if his device has the latest version of the OS, loaded with robust security features.
On the other hand, iOS users can avoid this problem effectively as the latest releases of iOS are very handy. Apple users get quick access to the newest release of iOS, and they can upgrade their phones conveniently.
The company motivates each user to install the latest iOS version that offers better security. Thus, one can hear fewer instances of security breaches taking place in iOS smartphones and tablets. Apple has been facing several technical limitations, but the efficiency of this platform remains undeniable.
Effective Integration of Hardware Components
One of the downsides of the Android OS is that it runs on a wide range of smartphones and tablets. A vast variety of device manufacturers integrate Android in their products, which increases the vulnerability of Android. The safety of the OS largely depends on the hardware components it is running on. Some devices have robust safety standards, while others lack it.
Top smartphone manufacturers offer Android OS, and thus buyers get many options. However, they must evaluate the safety features present in the hardware components before buying a device. Big brands incorporate powerful security features that can avoid privacy breaches effectively. However, various brands overlook the safety standards for alluring customers with lower price tags. This is where the blunder happens as people purchase a handset that can be highly vulnerable to external attacks.
On the other hand, iOS is more secure in terms of hardware components. Apple manufactures its handsets and integrates them with iOS. Therefore, the chances of security attacks are minimized to a significant extent. Users can rely on this platform as the manufacturer has configured the device as per the safety requirements of the operating system. Thus, iOS scores higher marks in offering device security in comparison to Android.
How iOS Ranks Higher in Offering Device Security?
iOS has emerged as a winner in the segment of device security with its exceptional features. Apple has introduced some of the best safety measures that Android went on to follow with time. It offers easy access to the latest updates of the OS to users along with other security improvements.
Therefore, iPhone and iPad users need not hunt for the newest version of the operating system for staying up to date. They will receive software updates on their device that are very easy to install.
This feature is not available on Android devices as users have to search for new updates and install them independently. Moreover, Apple monitors its hardware components thoroughly and ensures they do not compromise on-device security. This has helped iOS in maintaining a malware-free application store, which is a blessing for users. iOS is end-to-end encrypted, and one can expect to receive the highest amount of data security.
Conclusion
Both iOS and Android have some significant shortcomings, but the latter manages to pull the winning hat with robust security standards. However, besides focusing on the safety features of an operating system, buyers should also emphasize the security of the hardware. Moreover, smartphone users should ensure that they use a device cautiously to avoid cyber-attacks. Robust passwords and proper device configuration can help them invariably.
