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Accountability, Not Code Quality, Makes iOS Safer Than Android

Posted by timothy on from the well-it-isn't-obscurity dept.

chicksdaddy writes "Threatpost is reporting on a new study of mobile malware that finds accountability, not superior technology, has kept Apple's iOS ecosystem free of viruses, even as the competing Android platform strains under the weight of repeated malicious code outbreaks. Dan Guido of the firm Trail of Bits and Michael Arpaia of iSEC Partners told attendees at the SOURCE Boston Conference on Thursday about an empirical analysis of existing malicious programs for the Android and iOS platforms which shows that Google is losing the mobile security contest badly — every piece of malicious code the two identified was for the company's Android OS, while Apple's iOS remained free of malware, despite owning 30% of the mobile smartphone market in the U.S. Apple's special sauce? Policies that demand accountability from iOS developers, and stricter controls on what applications can do once they are installed on Apple devices."

2 of 210 comments (clear)

  1. Re:You have to be kidding by mysidia · · Score: 5, Informative

    Since when is the iOS more secure? The latest Android has a very stable code and a solid permission system that allows the user to set exactly what an app can or can't do.

    The reason there are fewer iOS malware infections has to do with something totally separate from security of the device.

    There is a 'more efficient' distribution channel for Android platform malware.

    Developing for the Apple platform requires a security certificate from Apple to sign applications, paying money to apple, signing a contract, and approval from Apple and review to be listed on the pap store, which makes the app store a less efficient means of distributing malware than the Android marketplace.

    An operating system can be extremely insecure, but if there is no useful distribution channel, or no network connection, it is not likely to be infected.

  2. Re:You have to be kidding by BasilBrush · · Score: 5, Informative

    Since when is the iOS more secure? ...an OS that can be rooted by a fucking website.

    If that is your measure, the answer to the question you pose is July 15th 2011. That was when the last version of iOS that could be rooted via a website was replaced.

    4.3.3 could be jailbroken via website, 4.3.4 would not.

    5.x has been out since Oct 2011.

    Personally I'd say a better measure is the amount of malware. And on that measure, Android has always been many times worse than iOS.