Why Androids are less secure than iPhones

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://gcn.com/articles/2011/12/05/mobile-security-android-iphone-mcafee.aspx

By William Jackson
GCN.com
Dec 05, 2011

Evolving mobile computing platforms offer a target-rich environment to 
hackers and have not fully benefitted from 20 years of experience in 
securing desktop and laptop computers, according to a recent study by 
McAfee Labs.

“Mobile devices are not going to be less susceptible to security 
problems,” concludes the report, Securing Mobile Devices. Even with 
improved security, the devices are likely to remain attractive targets. 
“The overall threat of malware might decline, but the damage to mobile 
devices is likely to be high because smart phones are always connected, 
they always carry some personal data, and they are even equipped with 
small cameras, microphones and positioning devices.”

The problems don’t stem from inherent insecurity of the devices or 
operating systems, said Igor Muttik, the report’s author. Most mobile 
operating systems are built on Unix and Linux and are reasonably secure.

“We shouldn’t be taking about the security of the device itself,” Muttik 
said. “What matters is the security of the entire environment in which 
the device is operating.”

[...]

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