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Apple has earned a reputation for strong hardware security, but reputation alone can’t protect data, because smartphone security comes down to good management.
Reliable and secure mobile communications are essential for any user. In light of the current situation, the choice is mainly limited to Google’s Android system or Apple’s iPhones running iOS.
The illusion of safety
At first glance, the iPhone seems more secure. But let’s dig deeper to see if this is really the case, especially since news of Apple devices being infected with malware has become common in recent years, thanks to the legal monitoring program Pegasus.
Ironically, the repeated emphasis that iOS is more secure than Android only makes the situation worse. Public denial of a threat makes people turn their eyes away from the threats. Some even have to be persuaded to check their iPhones for traces of malware, only to be surprised to learn they have been targeted.
At the same time, it cannot be denied that Apple engineers have built in very good foolproof protection. A user cannot accidentally go to a malicious site and download a file infected with a Trojan virus, for example. But in the event of a hack of iPhones, which as practice shows is within the capabilities of sophisticated attackers, victims can only hope that Apple itself will come to the rescue assuming the hack is detected in time.
Vulnerability market
A closer look at the vulnerability market, whether it’s the Darknet forums or some grayscale platforms like Zerodium, reveals that iOS and Android exploits are now roughly equal.
This indicates how the attacker market views the security level of these systems. In any case, both systems are tempting targets for hackers.
If attackers exploit a vulnerability to bypass Apple’s vaunted security mechanisms, there’s nothing you can do about it. And you probably won’t even find out that this ever happened.
Due to the system’s limitations, even top professionals would have difficulty getting to the bottom of exactly what the attackers were looking for. The well-known advantages of iOS in the event of an attack actually turn into disadvantages due to the closed nature of its system, which is blocked from external security experts, and this only serves the attackers.
The size of the threat
The argument that all attacks on iOS so far have been part of targeted campaigns is also not reassuring, because even Apple’s market can no longer be considered invincible. Security experts have found a number of scam apps in Apple’s App Store that, under certain circumstances, phish personal data from the user.
Although it does not represent a major threat yet, it sets a precedent. Malicious applications were able to bypass Apple’s strict controls and enter its official market.
Bottom line
Apple has a good reputation as the most secure option due to its focus on privacy, security, and user experience.
But while Google hasn’t always had the same reputation, the company has also implemented some robust modern Android security measures like data encryption, as well as adding mobile device management commands to enforce passcodes and secure authentication.
We can say that no operating system is inherently more vulnerable. Both Android and iOS have made great strides in improving security. However, the widespread use and open source nature of Android often results in users facing more threats.
Likewise, iOS typically provides stringent app scans, and is not immune to high-value security threats.
As with any other cybersecurity concern, thinking twice about every smartphone interaction is most important.
Hence, remember that it could always be a malicious attempt, whether it is an unfamiliar app or a text message from an unknown number. Choosing the best operating system for you is just a personal preference. Likewise, the level of security you’ll experience depends on how you use your smartphone. As long as you are aware of the threats, do not jailbreak your phone and only use reputable apps.
