Despite the small amount of malware targeted at Apple's iOS, the operating system isn't inherently more secure than Android. This conclusion comes from researchers of Marble Security who do conclude that Apple distributes apps in a more secure environment on iOS than Google does on on Android.
The risks for companies that allow their employees to bring their own phone doesn't differ much between users with an iOS or Android based phone. Both operating systems were compared on 14 attack vectors for mobile devices. Besides the distribution of apps, iOS and Android were similar vulnerable.
The tested vulnerabilities were different ways of phishing, unencrypted email attachments, SSL vulnerabilities, ransomware, backup hijacking, harvesting of phone call and SMS data and root access to the phone.
The researchers also observed the behaviour or a large amount of apps. They found that on Android the categories with the most variable risky behaviors were social networking, productivity and business apps. On iOS the app categories with the most variable risky behaviors were games, news, productivity and health & fitness apps.
“Enterprise security managers need to know that Apple’s vaunted iOS mobile security reputation hinges on its app distribution control, not on any inherent superiority of its operating system,” said Marble Security Founder and CTO David Jevans.
