“iOS, the mobile operating system that powers Apple’s popular iPhone and iPad devices, offers more protection than its Android counterpart, the security experts at Symantec have concluded in a newly published report,” Blake Steven reports for AppleInsider
“Symantec this week published ‘A Window Into Mobile Device Security,’ a 23-page document that details the security approaches employed by Apple and Google in their respective mobile operating systems,” Steven reports. “It also offers a closer look at past and possible future security holes found in the iOS and Android platforms.”
Steven reports, “In a head-to-head comparison, Symantec found that Apple’s iOS is more secure than Google’s Android. Specifically, iOS was characterized as having ‘full protection’ against malware attacks, while Android was deemed to have ‘little protection.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: And water is wet.
Related articles:
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Google forced to pull several malware-infested apps from Android market – June 8, 2011
Android malware sees explosive growth; even faster than with PCs – April 27, 2011
Virus-laden apps infest Google’s ‘open’ Android platform; iPhone unaffected – March 3, 2011
Security firm warns of new Android trojan that can steal personal information; iPhone unaffected – December 30, 2010
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Millions of Android phone users slammed by malicious data theft app – July 29, 2010
Unlike proactive Apple, reactive Google doesn’t block malware from Android app store – June 4, 2010
Malware designed to steal bank information pops up in Google’s Android app store – January 11, 2010
Get Malware and the users have to Google the fix and the information sent from the user helps Google web count.
Win win- uh….. User- ummmm….
Open or closed isn’t the issue. Its the quality of the software. iOS has it, and Android does not.
We should not forget the saying … ” an open gate is an Invitation to intruders !!! “
Remember that Darwin, the foundation of OS X, is open. I don’t have intruders wandering around in my Mac.
I love reading Apple positive comments (negative to other companies) on a website dedicated to all things Apple…
Do you go to a Chinese restaurant expecting to get spaghetti and meatballs?
If you dont like the content any sane person would expect to find here, then why do you bother?
Seems idiotic to me.
You won’t see this reported on the nightly news, nor just about anywhere else that isn’t an Apple fan site. It would be nice if I were proved wrong.
Lest we get carried away, this is Symantec’s finding; even when spoken truly it should be taken disdainfully and well salted. Many consider Symantec products themselves to be malwares. They are reporting a relatively positive news today, but soon they may change their tune as it serves them. A true Apple admirer would do well to give this as much credence and notice as the breaking news gained from MDN’s take, “water is wet,” and move on.
One certainly can’t use the ‘security through obscurity’ argument with iOS.
Security through obscurity is an epic failure of an excuse for anything.
I agree however that it does not fit iOS as an argument.
I think for iOS the big defining element is the appstore and approval process. The only exploits that have been demonstrated on any version of iOS have been on jail broken devices where a non-approved service could be started, such as telnet in the background.
Unless you find a major exploit that is in all shipping copies of iOS and can inject your payload its going to be hard to even ‘get into the device’.
You can’t fool the user with an app, because your app will likely not live through the approval process to even reach the store.
Its a double edged sword in opinion. On one hand it gives you a greater gatekeeper and a more secure environment. On the other hand you are limited completely to one vendor for all your needs.
I think that so far its been a success and the customers are happy. Really if Apple can keep that train rolling smoothly its a good model for them.
I wish Google would do the same thing with the Android Market. That way Android would have that level of security for everyday user’s and those of us who want to muck about with the OS can allow untrusted sources and root our devices. Much like some iOS user’s like to do when they jailbreak their iPhones.
I believe the Amazon store is going to be screening applications to some degree. Maybe they will end up being the main android shop at some point.
Exactly. Scumbag analysts AND Scumbag virus S/W companies like to build credibility first and then later move in with lies and capitalize with some unsuspecting members of the public. It’s a common trick in the media world, I have seen it many times,,,,especially with so called analysts.
Bizzare as it may seem, there are websites poping up that say
“How to Create an Andorid Trojan in Five Easy Steps”
It was over a month ago it was revealed that among the consumer OS that Apple iOS was by far the most secure. The same study mentioned the good points Android had but in the end said that i was a vey insecure platform.
Android users who a truthful will tell you that only a fool runs Android with out a constantly updated AntiVirus Anti Malware program. I figure if I have to pay for stuff like that I must just as well pay more for Apple and be done with the worry.
“I figure if I have to pay for [anti-malware software on android] I must just as well pay more for Apple and be done with the worry.”
Pay MORE for Apple? An iPhone 3gs on contract is $49.
This isn’t the world of notebook computers, where you can get one for $400 with windows and the cheapest mac notebook is $999.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR THE IOS EXPERIENCE.
There is no “incredibly cheaper but sucky alternative,” like there is on the desktop. I’m not sure what you mean by “might as well pay more.”
I’m an Android user and truthfully I do not run any anti-malware or anti-virus software on my Android Phone.
I guess its *possible* I’m missing out on something big by not installing “Hilton Sex Sounds”, “Pew Pew Bang” and simple named apps with no reviews 3 miles deep in the market called stuff like “Power Meter” or “Battery Optimizer”…
Depending on where and how you get your iPhone , it may be roughly the same price, a little more or possibly cheaper than an Android device. I wouldn’t just assume the iPhone is going to cost more.
A Window Into Mobile Device Security
Symantec just can’t resist getting “Window” into the report name. Although, they would probably prefer “Windows”.
They’re probably pissed off as hell for being shut out of iOS.
MDN out to lunch as always!
“Symantec report on mobile security concludes iOS and Android both vulnerable to attacks”
Where MDN gets its info and why they cut out the most important information always is QUESTIONABLE!
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/symantec-report-on-mobile-security-concludes-ios-and-android-bot/