Smartphones are an integral part of our lives and they have access to all kinds of sensitive data. As such, the issue of smartphone security is a growing concern among users. Is my data safe? Am I vulnerable because of my device's ecosystem? Well, if you're trying to decide on Android or iPhone, Eric Schmidt says the former is more secure.
Of course, Schmidt, a long time Googler, is somewhat biased, but it's a bold statement nonetheless. ZDNet reports that Google's chairman on Monday told attendees at the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo that Android was more secure than the iPhone. This statement was made in response to Gartner Analyst David Willis's point that many people believe Android is not secure.
"Not secure? It's more secure than the iPhone," Schmidt is quoted as saying.
Though he didn't go into much detail, Schmidt said that with over a billion users, the Android platform goes through rigorous real-world security testing. Of course, such a wide userbase means Android is an attractive target for cyber criminals (where users are or aren't users aren't downloading the malware). In August, a report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revealed that malicious hackers have designed 79 percent of all mobile malware to target Android systems. Rather surprisingly, iOS wasn't in second place, despite its popularity. Instead, the second most targeted system was Symbian.
Regardless of the platform you use, there are certain ways you can keep your data safe. For one, you should keep WiFi and Bluetooth turned off unless you're using them. You should also install a mobile security suite. Our own Marshall Honorof cites chief technology officer of AVG Technologies, Yuval Ben-Itzhak, as saying customers should also uninstall social networking applications. The HTML versions are easier on your battery and more secure.
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