I’m an Android user from a family of Apple users. 

Although I commonly engage in the classic “Apple v. Android” fight, the truth is both are good for different reasons. My Samsung phone cost just over $150 and it works just as well as my mom’s new iPhone. It has a good camera, a high resolution screen and can use mobile data in the middle of isolated deserts. 

But in terms of security, the iOS system wins the round. 

To clarify, the iOS system is Apple’s unique operating system. All devices such as mobile phones, computers, and servers require operating systems (OS) to manage the hardware and applications. In other words, your OS allows you to interact with your computer and do basic tasks like connecting to the network or running the Chrome browser. iOS is only available for iPhone and cannot be downloaded anywhere else. 

Android is a type of OS developed by Google and is considered open-source software. Open-source software means the source code of the software is publicly available. To put that into context, that means anyone can see or modify Android’s code which creates a potential security risk since anyone can analyze the code for vulnerabilities and exploit them. 

There is also the app store security for both systems. Since Android dominates around 72.04% of the global market, it is constantly developing new apps that increase customization, but also increase risk. On the other hand, iOS offers a smaller selection with tighter security, but fewer options. 

One of the most important discrepancies between these two operating systems is the regularity of security updates. Updates often patch security vulnerabilities and lower your risk of being hacked. If you own an Apple phone, you would know that you constantly receive security updates, but for Androids, updates come much less frequently and irregularly. Though all Android updates come from Google, it’s up to your phone manufacturer to apply the new updates to their software. This means they often come late or untimely, from anything to days or even months after the initial update. 

However, this doesn’t mean that iOS isn’t susceptible to cyberattacks, and sometimes the difference between these two systems comes down to your phone’s age and model. For instance, an older phone may not be compatible with newer updates and doesn’t have the same security features. Different models may also have the same issue. 

Although I believe Apple has better inherent security practices, most of the safety risks can be fixed by the user. 

The simplest one is to keep your phone up-to-date with security updates. When you see a pop-up that tells you a new software is available, don’t ignore it, and instead wait those few minutes getting the security holes patched. In addition, use strong passwords that aren’t Password123, enable two-factor authentication whenever possible, back up your data with an external hard drive or a cloud-based subscription and install anti-virus software. 

These small changes can make a huge difference to your security.