Is iOS more secure than Android?

With so much talk about how secure Apple's iPhone is, are all the tales of Android's shortcomings true? After all, it is Apple that is talking about the iPhone's superiority when it comes to security. Is this just marketing, or is iOS genuinely more secure than Android?

It is no secret that Android and iOS devices are battling for the top spot in the mobile market. But which one is more secure? And how can you ensure your mobile security when using either platform? In this article, we will compare Android and iOS security features and provide you with some advice on how to keep your smartphone or tablet safe while using it.

Android vs. iOS: which one is better in terms of security?

Android is not known for being very good at securing its devices. People think that iPhones are much more secure. However, if you are careful and know how to deal with security threats, you can purchase an Android phone and increase its protection to make it safer to use. On the other hand, iPhones are harder to attack, but Apple makes it harder for you to protect your phone. The reason for this is fairly simple. You are totally dependent on Apple for your phone’s security. According to experts, this has become a serious issue.

But before declaring anyone a winner in terms of security, let's talk about the pros and cons of each platform.        

Android

Pros

• In Android, permissions are granted on a per-application basis rather than a per-device basis. This means you can choose which applications have access to your data (such as contacts, messages, and location) rather than permitting all applications to access everything.

• Android apps run in their own protected sandbox environment. Other applications cannot access their data without explicit user permission. This prevents malware from spreading by itself.  

• Because Android is an open-source operating system, there are many more apps available through which you can improve your device's security. Even with the right security apps like Turbo VPN, you can tighten the security of your Android phone to match the level of security iOS offers to its users. 

• With Android 10, users of supported devices can bypass lock screens simply by looking at their smartphone's front-facing camera, a feature known as face authentication. This option allows your face to act as your ATM pin or your house key, eliminating the need for a password or physical keys. This increases security and privacy.  

• Android devices are now encrypted by default, which means that all data on the device is protected with a strong encryption key. This helps to protect your data if your device is lost or stolen.

Cons

• Typically, Android devices are targeted more than iPhones because of the sheer volume of Android users and releases, so it makes more sense to target a larger audience by targeting the Android OS.

• Open source system of Android can be difficult to deal with. . Anyone can access the source code, even the hackers. As being an open-source system, anyone can find out how the Android OS works. Many smartphone developers get easy access to the OS and customize it in various ways, leaving security vulnerabilities that could be exploited.

• Less frequent updates make the Android OS more vulnerable to security breaches. This is because Google has a lot of Android phones to update. They can't update all of them at the same time and with the same security level. It is really hard to provide software upgrades to various manufacturers and devices.     

iOS

Pros

• iOS is a closed source system, which makes it superior in terms of security. Only Apple can play with its operating system, and only it knows how its system works. This gives Apple complete control over its OS, making it harder for hackers to find security flaws and attack the system.

• Constant OS updates from Apple make their operating system more secure. The reason for constant updates is the total control of Apple over iOS. This helps Apple to create and distribute updates easily.     

• Apple's App Store has less number of apps because it closely looks into every app that is being published on its app store to ensure that it will work properly and not include any corrupt or malicious codes that may harm the phones.  

• Face ID is superior to Android. Apple uses an advanced TrueDepth camera that makes the Face ID feature more secure.   

• VPN encryption is essential for smartphones, and iOS fully supports it.  

• Apple's sandboxing prevents apps from accessing data they shouldn't have access to.

• All iPhone data is encrypted by default. That means even if your device is lost or stolen, the data can't be accessed without a password.

Cons

• Jailbreaking on an iPhone can make the device open to security threats. Jailbreaking your device is like bringing in the black market. It allows you to install unofficial applications and tweaks onto your phone that Apple would never approve of since they are potentially detrimental to their products and provide users with limitless opportunities which go against the company's goals.

• Although Apple offers highly respected security software, recent instances indicate that their applications are not fully impervious to malware and still require additional security measures. Apple products are more expensive than Android, but this does not guarantee 100% protection from cyber-attacks.

How to ensure your mobile security?

The following things you can do on your Android and iPhones to ensure mobile security. 

Check apps' permission

Always monitor what permissions any apps have when they are downloaded onto your phone. One such example is the number of apps that track your location and keep a record of where you go and when you were there.

Use a reliable and secure VPN

Using a VPN on your phone is another way of protecting your data and information. Turbo VPN is available for both iOS and Android platforms. A VPN helps you keep your internet browsing safe and hidden by hiding your IP address, encrypting your data, and masking your traffic. In addition to assigning you a new IP address every time you connect, VPN on your phone can also block all of the ads on untrusted hotspots so that cybercriminals can't infect your mobile with malware while they pretend to offer free Wi-Fi.  

Download apps from authorized sources

Another thing you should do to make your devices more secure is to download apps only from Google Store or Apple Play Store. Never try to access third-party websites to download any app. There are chances you can download a malicious app.

Update softwares regularly

Whether you are using an iPhone or Android, always keep your device's software updated. Both the iOS and Android release updates every year to counter bugs and security issues. However, when one postpones updates, they put themselves on a path to more security vulnerabilities - functionality issues that can easily lead to malware infections without your knowing.    

Use complicated passwords

Using strong passwords is another way to counter security issues. Always create unique passwords for every account on your phone to make sure it is protected.

Make sure your accounts are secure

If you are an Apple user, keep your Apple ID secure. Also, when setting up accounts for different apps, sign in with your Apple ID if allowed to limit information sharing about you. Also, never use your Facebook profile to log into different apps. This is because hackers can easily access all the accounts linked to your Facebook ID.   

Conclusion

To sum up, the Android operating system is more vulnerable to attacks and threats. The iPhone is more secure than Android in most aspects, but there are still some concerns about iPhone security. Therefore, it is necessary to get a Turbo VPN to add an extra layer of security to your phone to use it without worrying about identity theft and other malicious attacks.  You may also take more steps to protect your data and device.