Android versus Apple is a never-ending battle. Ever since smartphones invaded the world, people can’t stop arguing about whichever one is better. It’s a rivalry like that of Adidas and Nike or McDonald’s and Burger King. The truth is each platform has its perks and downsides, and it’s hard to define or set parameters on what makes a mobile device “the absolute best.” The best we can do here is to compare individual features, and one of them is security. There’re a lot of opinions about Android’s overall virtual security, and it seems there’s a widespread consensus that perhaps iOS surpasses its competition in this sense. Let’s take a look at some of the things or myths concerning Android’s security issues.
Android phones are bloated with malware
Google’s Play Store has more apps than Apple’s, and it’s also true that it’s easier to get an app listed with Google. For Google, this enhances a user’s experience and gives them more options. However, some tend to believe that the Google Play Store is filled with malware. The truth is, Google knows what they’re doing, and they have software that scans all the apps on the Play Store and on your phones to make sure they aren’t malicious.
You’ll also find plenty of headlines that mention how millions of Android users have been infected with a particular malware when that’s not the case. Most of these reports come from companies that make antiviruses for Android as a part of a marketing campaign.
Android isn’t good for business
People like to claim that if you want a smartphone for business-related activities, then you should automatically choose Apple. It’s portrayed that way in the media giving people the false impression that iOS is more secure and suitable for business-oriented users than Android. The numbers from the real world, however, say otherwise.
When it comes to commercial smartphone shipments, Android’s share continues to grow. Android’s share was 66.7% in the first quarter of 2017 which is 9% higher than its share in the first quarter of 2016. Commercial shipments are those purchased by enterprises either using corporate funds or through employee purchases.
Android phones are more secure when connected to public wifi
Well, this one’s simply false. By connecting to public networks that aren’t secure you’re exposing yourself to the risk of being tracked and potentially hacked. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to connect to a public network, use a VPN for Android in order to avoid these potential threats.
Computers are more secure than Android
Yes, computers have been around for longer than smartphones, but that doesn’t automatically mean that smartphones aren’t as safe. Statistically speaking, over 75% of data breaches over the past two years have been due to computer security faults.
It may be true that developers have been working on improving computer security for a much longer time, but this also means that hackers have been working on breaching computer security for a much longer time as well.
All Android phones have the same security
Google makes Android phones (first the Nexus and now the Pixel), so it’s not at all surprising that these mobile devices are much more secure than those made by other manufacturers. That’s due to security updates.
Google focuses more on security updates and issues them regularly on their Pixel devices. Meanwhile, other manufacturers such as Samsung don’t always pay great care in making sure their users get all the recent security patches and updates.
If you’re looking for the best security, then go for the Google Pixel.
Software is the biggest threat to Android phones
A person’s chances of being hacked or receiving malware out of nowhere are relatively low. The real threat is usually due to users being reckless with their phones. It’s important for people to be careful when it comes to how they use their phone.
Make sure you’re accessing a secure network and don’t download anything that doesn’t look safe. If you follow these simple tips, you’ll lower the odds of getting hacked or breached significantly.
Wearables are impregnable to security breaches
No one worries about their smart-watch being hacked when they should be. If your Android device is connected to a wearable device, you need to make sure that both are adequately secured.
Unfortunately, less than 60% of wearables are protected. Taking the necessary action to secure your wearable Android device can lower the risk of exposing it to malware significantly.
People like to claim that the Android operating system is less secure than iOS as well as computers whether its a desktop or laptop. However, that’s simply false. The truth of the matter is that there’s a lot more going on with Android and it’s somewhat open-source nature might influence people to believe that it’s a more susceptible to malicious attacks than its competition. All in all, just remember that if you want to keep your phone safe the most important thing is to use it responsibly.
