Apple's iOS More Secure than Google Android
A recent analysis by security experts at Symantec found that both Apple’s iOS and Android are inherently more secure than Windows-based PCs. When put head-to-head, Apple topped Google in all but one category.
Symantec found that iOS offers superior protection against web-based attacks and malware while protecting your data from unauthorized access and manipulation. It received high marks for built-in data encryption and Apple’s highly-regulated App Store scored well for vetting applications in order to protect customer’s privacy and data.
Only Android’s permissions-based model for applications gave it an edge over iOS in the area of application isolation. Google’s OS gave users fine-tuned control over how applications interact with other applications and their data. However, this flexibility comes at a cost, since setting these preferences can be more intrusive to the user than Apple’s model.
Both received very low scores for protecting against social engineering attacks, a form of hacking that involves manipulating people to provide access rather than more technical cracking techniques. The lesson? Guard your passwords well and be sure to utilize Apple’s free Find my iDevice service to locate and remotely wipe your device should you ever find it outside your control.
The study further confirmed Apple’s warnings towards users that jailbreaking their iDevices undermines much of the security they have put in place, making users nearly as vulnerable as traditional PCs.