Does iPhone offer higher security than an Android/Google Smart Phone?
iPhone v Android. Which Smartphone OS is the most secure.
Most Smartphones are either Apple iPhones (using Apple iOS Operating System) or Samsung, Huawei, Google, LG, Nokia, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo etc. (using Android Operating System)
There is much debate about which OS (Operating System) iOS or Android offers the best security to prevent hacking and protect your privacy.
Neither OS is 100% secure but the general rule of thumb is that you MUST continually make sure your phone has the very latest updates installed and only install Applications (Apps) from official sources such as Google Play or Apple App Store to keep them as safe as they can possibly be,
When choosing a new SmartPhone many points come into consideration:
- The Apple iPhone range tends to be much more expensive than a similar Android equivalent smartphone.
- An Android user is unlikely to move to a new iPhone and an iPhone users is unlikely to move to a new Android phone, irrespective of which phone offers the best security and is less likely to be hacked or compromised.
- Existing non-phone devices may influence purchase decisions. Microsoft Windows Devices will happily communicate with both iOS and Android Apps however, Tablets, laptops, Home and Personal Devices may only work with one OS or the other.
- iPhones work well with Windows devices, Apple iTunes, Apple Music, iPad, Apple TV, MacBook, Air, Mac Mini etc
- Android phones work well with Windows devices, non-apple devices such as Chromebooks, Google Home, Alexa, Google and Samsung Tablets, Google Play etc
- Apple iOS devices can ONLY have apps installed from the office Apple App Store. All Apps are tested by Apple for security flaws and OS compatibility before being allowed onto the App Store. This means iOS devices tend to be more locked-down, unable to be customised or run unofficial apps. Apple claims this is why iOS has higher security than Android.
- Android Apps can be downloaded and installed from the official Google Play store but also from multiple 3rd party sites, some legitimate but others that are highly dubious. Android has the ability to be highly customised and personalised with a wider range of Apps. With this flexibility comes a reduced security regime that hackers and fraudsters are constantly compromising
- Then there are the social engineering attacks in which cybercriminals attempt to trick users into giving up log-in information, access to bank accounts, and other personal data. It doesn’t matter what mobile operating system you are using: both iOS and Android can be equally vulnerable to these types of phishing attacks.
Up until recently Apple had an almost unblemished security reputation which has frustrated law-enforcement agencies and Governments across the globe. See
https://www.zdnet.com/article/texas-shooter-fbi-cannot-access-texas-gunman-iphone/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBI%E2%80%93Apple_encryption_dispute
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/29/apple-vs-fbi-all-you-need-to-know.html
Recently, Google Researchers discovered that the Chinese Government had managed to compromise a number of iPhone used by a Chinese Ethic minority, a fact that Google made much fanfare over but Apple subsequently claimed was a minor and isolated incident rather than widespread exposure.
Conclusion
In the end, it comes down to a matter of personal choice and budget …… however, a second-hand older-model iPhone is probably a better and more secure choice than a cheap new Android phone.
WARNING – We advise against buying iPhones from sites such as Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace, try and purchase refurbished models from trusted sites such as Kogan for as little as A$199 or from trusted friends and relatives, making sure they sign out of iCloud and put the phone back to factory settings before handing it over. If someone is selling relatively new iPhones for prices much cheaper than Apple are offering, be very wary, they could have been stolen and hence locked by Apple and unusable.