Android does not stand out mainly for being considered one of the safest in the world operating systems. In fact, it is one of the reasons why this system is criticized both when compared with iOS. However, the fact is that, in fact, could be talking about an operating system that is safer than Cupertino.
Eric Schmidt gives headline to this article. Who has been CEO of Google for their golden years, and now holds the position of Executive Director, she said a week ago that “Android is safer than iPhone”. Between disbelief and satire came such statements to the public and specialized media, which did not hesitate to turn against the claims of management of Google. However, after conducting a thorough analysis, we have come to see that, indeed, Android itself could be safer than iOS, or at least be at the same level.
Layers of security
In fact, Android has several layers of security, so to speak. An application that damages the smartphone has to overcome various processes, among which is the safety of the terminal itself and common sense of users. Only a few applications are able to bypass all security phases and damage the smartphone, but we’re talking about such a small percentage, which is likely to have a greater number of such applications on iOS than Android, but more on that late.
All computing devices, as a rule carries a sandbox system, or process isolation and a permit system, which blocks that can perform some functions. And that includes Android devices. For example, those permissions Root of spoken very often, once obtained in Android allow modifications that were previously impossible, are a security measure when we do not. Root permissions are superuser permissions, and when we do, we can perform actions on the terminal that previously could not be done. This allows you to enable some interesting features, customize the smartphone to a greater extent, or delete all applications that previously could not be uninstalled. Actually, there are many positive things. And we can say that its namesake in the world of iOS Jailbreak is so famous. The difference is that Android is legal, because Google and manufacturers do not forbid it. However, no differences regarding the risks, when ‘root’ Android, when we obtain superuser permissions, not only for us but for anything you have on your mobile. What does this mean? Because any malicious application that we have installed now has more power than before, it has virtually all power over our terminal.
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Thus, the first phase of protection we had, when we get permission we delete Root. 100% of Android has the security system permits normal users, if the ‘root’ nullify the security system, like we do if we Jailbreak iOS.
Users are unsafe
But that’s just a sign that most of the time; the Android security is challenged not only by Android, but by users. But we see more evidence. Google has launched not too long ago Apps Verify tool, which allows you to compare applications installed on our smartphone from Google Play an entire malware database that will tell us if that app is malicious or not. It warns if it so if we want to cancel the installation. That tool is present in 95% of Android, but again, it can be disabled. It is up to users, and if they do, they are negating another safety measure.
But there’s more, like download applications only from trusted sources. Anyone who has an iPhone without Jailbreak can download applications from other stores other than the App Store. Android suppose we take the same security measures voluntarily, download applications from Google Play only. The security of our smartphone would be much higher. Most smartphones install apps only from known sources, Google Play, so security is maintained because all those apps go through the verification system applications. Of these, less than 0.5% is notices being dangerous. And what people do to these listings? Less than 0.13% of users install the application after receiving a warning.
Of course, there are always applications that get past security, as with any operating system. In the case of Android, it is less than 0.001% of applications. Nor should we worry too much, because that percentage, although applications will circumvent security does not aim at damaging the terminal. So the percentage of dangerous applications that evades the defenses is still lower. Google refers to it as something indeterminate. Something against which also they are struggling as it is located.
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How to make Android is safe
The main difference between iOS and Android is that the latter can remove the security measures, or disable them. While not iOS, Android is normal, for example, activate the option “Unknown sources” in order to install applications that are not in Google Play. If the app is reliable, we can disable and enable security later, but we’re taking risks and so do the Root permissions, disabling Verify Apps, or the importance we give to the security warnings that appear on our smartphones.
Android is characterized precisely by being a free operating system, and offer more possibilities than iOS, and actually is. But it also carries greater dangers. By being able to make changes to a lower level programming, we also allow a malicious application can make changes with the aim of damaging the smartphone.
Less malicious apps on Android than iOS
The strange thing is that, ultimately, may be less malicious applications on Android than iOS. Obviously, we do not speak of malware in general; we know that there is much more to Android, but applications operating on an equal footing. With all the security systems that we provide the active manufacturers, there may be fewer applications capable of damaging the terminal if it is Android that if iOS. Why? Because in the case of Android it is much easier to find users who have disabled security measures to try to launch an app that mocks all security systems. In the case of iOS, if you want to launch malware, has to be circumventing the security of Apple in almost all cases, making it easier than iOS focus on circumventing the security to do so in Android, because in the latter can attack users without security.