Security has become a paramount concern in mobile devices, and it has even launched a debate among billions of users worldwide about which operating system (OS) works best against mobile threats. Is it Google's Android or is it Apple's iOS?
According to a post in Yahoo.com, the biggest factor that differentiates the two is that one is an open system and the other is closed.
The article goes on to explain that Android is by nature open to customization by other developers and app makers. This key feature has allowed Google to make money off phone makers and wireless carriers. It practically gives everyone easy access to put in whatever apps they have in mind. In the Apple iOS, on the otherhand, things are quite the opposite. All apps and software updates must go through its proprietary iTunes and App Store for vetting, and this is not an easy process, given the rigid requirements of Apple.
But the iOS is by no means invincible, as the same post mentioned that Morey Haber, vice president of the software security company BeyondTrust, reported that there were 127 flaws discovered in Apple's operating system in 2014 alone.
Apple has been successful with its Touch ID security, which not only protects mobile devices from unwanted physical access but also from unauthorized purchases. According to tech site gizmodo.com, Android, with its various iterations, is still trying to perfect its version, and with only Samsung being able to field a device with fingerprint sensor technology.
In light of the recent "Stagefright" mega-bug discovery on roughly 950 million Android devices, this is where Google's best feature becomes its worst nightmare. It has provided a security patch for the bug, but the onus is now on phone manufacturers like LG, Samsung and other Android brands to deliver the patch to their respective consumers. And it is safe to say that in this round of the OS battles, the Apple iOS wins by a tiny margin.
