Are Android phones more prone to security flaws than iPhones?

While iOS device features are more restricted than an Android device, the iPhone's integrated design makes security vulnerabilities far less frequent and harder to find. Android's open nature means it can be installed on a wide range of devices.

Winner: iPhone

Apple devices’ integrated design makes security vulnerabilities less frequent and harder to find.

Apple’s mobile devices and their operating systems are inseparable, giving them far more control over how they work together. While iOS device features are more restricted than an Android device, the iPhone’s integrated design makes security vulnerabilities far less frequent and harder to find.

Android’s open nature means it can be installed on a wide range of devices. Depending on the manufacturer and the model, this can be a good thing or a bad thing. Some mobile devices integrate perfectly with Android while others leave significant security vulnerabilities.

Device-based security across Android devices also varies – some offer retinal and fingerprint scanners while others are limited to passwords and patterns.

Updates to patch vulnerabilities

Winner: iPhone

Apple updates are easier to control across devices, promising consistent security.

Android and iOS software updates and security updates are some of the main ways that Apple and Google can keep their devices secure. Because Apple strictly controls the devices in its ecosystem, updates are easier to create and distribute. This also means that Apple can usually keep iOS devices updated for longer, generally withdrawing official support after 5 years.

The number of Android devices Google has to serve makes it virtually impossible to keep all of them updated to the same level of security and for the same amount of time and frequency.

It also makes it harder to roll those updates out, as they have to be distributed across multiple manufacturers and devices. Updates come out less frequently and mobile devices are supported for less time.

Support for third party security apps

Winner: iPhone and Android

These two operating systems support a wide range of security apps, including VPNs.

Useful as a device’s built-in security features can be, it’s also important to be able to integrate third party services like antivirus software and VPN applications into the operating system.

Thankfully, iPhone and Android smartphones both support the most popular and useful security apps, including NordVPN. With the NordVPN app on your device, you can protect your iOS or Android device against hackers, Wi-Fi snoopers, and data brokers.

Ready to supercharge your security with layers of powerful encryption?