Android S Head Of Security Claims Platform Now As Secure As Ios If Not More So

Android’s head of security has claimed that Google’s mobile operating system is now as secure as iOS – if not more so …

In the introduction to the 2017 Year in Review of Android Security, Google claimed to be leading the way.

Android security lead David Kleidermacher effectively told CNET that Android now rivals iOS security.

He acknowledges the big problem with Android security, which CNET’s Laura Hautala summarizes.

But Kleidermacher claims that ‘retrofitted’ security can be just as effective. As 9to5Google notes, this is the approach Google is taking with Play Protect, seeking to identify and remove harmful apps after the event.

Google’s report suggests that Android’s open-source approach can be safer than Apple’s closed-source code.

Android’s biggest security challenge, however, is that security updates often fail to make it to consumer devices. A recent comparison showed that only two Android brands push security updates directly, and even those only do so for a maximum of two years, compared to five years for Apple.

Graphic: Chris Goodney/Bloomberg