Privacy and security are two of the major aspects that have been haunting technically-savvy or professionals for quite a long time. And it is quite obvious due to the prevalence of advanced security threats and cyberattacks. In addition, the current generation is witnessing the expansion of the execution of the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy along with others. It signifies the demand for stringent privacy and security practices in devices to keep data exploitation and unauthorized access at bay.
The convenience of smartphones has brought a number of loopholes, which if unattended, can wreak havoc on both the personal and professional life of a user. Many professionals nowadays leverage the powerful features of smartphones to lighten some of their workspace loads.
However, it may be susceptible to threats to the confidentiality and privacy of the company data. Hence, what may be a possible solution to have peace of mind while working on smartphones? It might be the use of a smartphone powered by a highly-secure OS. However, out of the most popular operating systems (iOS and Android), which one deserves to get the tag of the most secure one? It needs a detailed discussion regarding the security features of these mobile operating systems. Moreover, many people support iOS being the most secure OS to ensure more privacy than others. Is that true?
You would get to know from this post itself.
At the end of this post, you may conclude the winner of the iOS and Android operating systems to be providing more privacy than others. Let us start the discussion now:
iOS Operating System:
One of the key reasons for many people to support iOS is its restricted operation. In other words, iOS is meant for Apple’s proprietary devices. Furthermore, Apple has already put stringent conditions in place when it comes to including an application in their store. To put it in other words, Apple leaves no stone unturned to verify the authenticity and legitimacy of a business.
Note that it is a must for app developers to be a member of the apple developer program (sign up is mandatory) for which Apple charges some fee. And the amount is on the high side when it is compared to that of Android. Hence, a higher sign-up fee is more likely to be a sign of exit for illegitimate app developers. What’s more? Apple has a team of real human beings to get each app tested before submission.
As they say nothing is perfect in this world, iOS also sports its flaws. A security flaw has already caught the attention of the public ever since the iOS 10 (initially released in 2016) hits the market. Due to the incorporation of alternative password verification into iOS 10 by Apple, iTunes local backup security has been lessened. And it has directly influenced Apple’s password manager. In other words, the exploitation of the security may invite attackers to decrypt Apple’s password manager or keychain. The situation has further aggravated due to the fact that many mobile users also use Apple devices, which has increased the risk of getting attacked by cybercriminals.
Android Operating System:
Do you believe Android is the most vulnerable OS than iOS? Well! There might be some valid reasons behind this thought. And one of the key reasons is the susceptibility of malware attacks in Android OS due to its open-source code.
When it comes to submitting and getting the approval for an app to be included in Google Play, the developer does not go through stringent verification practices, unlike iOS. Moreover, other factors that make Android be prone to cyberattacks are no human testing feature and nominal submission fees. In addition, no one is liable for verifying whether or not an entity is a genuine business before approving an app for Google Play.
Although Google introduced a malware scanner, called Google Bouncer, to keep track of and scan Google Play apps, many people are still conscious of the Android OS.
However, you cannot deny that Android has a large base of smartphone users. Hence, it becomes a choice for attackers to fulfill their malicious intentions.
File-based encryption comes as an advantage for Android OS to help keep users’ personal information safe. It is true Android OS comes as a preferred option for running various devices in the market. But, since not every device is compatible with the latest OS, they stop receiving critical updates to keep up with the latest security practices.
Who is the Winner?
iOS is definitely the winner among the two mobile operating systems. On the other hand, Android is the most preferred choice for cybercriminals making it the least secure one in this regard.
Would the security of iOS stand the test of time even in the future? We need to wait for that to get the answer!
