Apple's iOS operating system beats main rival Google Android in online security rankings

(Daily Mail - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2009583/Apples-iOS-operating-beats-main-rival-Google-Android-online-security-rankings.html?ITO=1490) Apple's iOS mobile operating system is more secure against hackers and other online threats than its main rival, Google's Android, a new study has found. And both are more secure than PCs.

Chief among the findings from computer security specialist Symantec is that while the most popular mobile platforms in use today were designed with security in mind, these provisions are not always sufficient.
The iPhone developed by Apple is limited to running software that is Apple approved, which may be frustrating but has security benefits

Safety first: The iPhone developed by Apple is limited to running software that is Apple approved, which may be frustrating but has security benefits

Siân John, Symantec's UK security strategist, said that both Apple i devices and Android phones are open to many established attacks even though 'mobile devices have more security baked in'

But the security features of Apple’s software, which powers the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, are better implemented than those of Android.

Complicating matters, today's mobile devices are increasingly being connected to and synchronized with third party and desktop-based services


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While offering improved security over traditional desktop-based operating systems, both iOS and Android are still vulnerable to many existing categories of attacks.

iOS's security model offers strong protection against traditional malware, primarily due to Apple's rigorous app certification process and their developer certification process, which vets the identity of each software author and weeds out attackers.

Google, which owns and helped develop the Andoid operating system, has opted for a less rigorous certification model, permitting any software developer to create and release apps anonymously, without inspection.

This lack of certification has arguably led to today's increasing volume of Android-specific malware.
Android-based mobile phone

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Users of both Android and iOS devices regularly synchronize their devices with third-party cloud services such as web-based calendars and with their home desktop computers.

This can expose sensitive business data stored on these devices to outsiders.

So-called 'jailbroken' devices, which have Apple's systems bypassed so as to run non-vetted software or devices whose security has been disabled, offer attractive targets for attackers since these devices are every bit as vulnerable as traditional PCs.

John added: 'The main danger still comes from people leaving devices on a train or on the back seat of a taxi rather than malware, but that's not to say malware isn't a problem.'

Carey Nachenberg Chief Architect at Symantec Security Technology and Response said: 'While more secure than traditional PCs, these platforms are still vulnerable to many traditional attacks.

'Moreover, enterprise employees are increasingly using unmanaged, personal devices to access sensitive enterprise resources, and then connecting these devices to thirrd-party services outside of the governance of the enterprise, potentially exposing key assets to attackers.'