Just use different OS then
On mobile, the only realistic alternative is Android, which is a privacy and security nightmare.
On general purpose computers, Linux is better from the perspective of privacy. But for large parts of the general population, Windows is the only realistic alternative. And we know how important privacy is to Microsoft these days :(.
Only if your only source of information about Android is WWDC keynotes.
But did Phil Schiller tell you about the Korean "malware" that was very quietly purged from App Store last week?
This comes up every time security discussed. But it is not as black as white as you think:
1. Security patches are separate from OS upgrades [1]. Many vendors incorporate security patches without upgrading the OS.
2. Many core Android components are upgraded via the store.
3. Google scans and remove bad apps from your device no matter Android version [3]
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[1] https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-06-01
[2] https://www.howtogeek.com/179638/not-getting-android-os-upda...
[3] https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/2812853?hl=en
Huw many iOS?
Both platforms can always do better of course, and should learn from each other. But to pretend device security hasn't been a genuine focus for Apple is blinkered.
I am not sure what you mean.
Don't be silly. Google's own dashboard shows that the vast majority of devices are running old versions of Android with known security vulnerabilities:
https://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html
Besides that, most likely >99% of the users are using a device with Google Play Services and other Google applications. It is no secret that Google mines pretty much all data available for advertising purposes (as outlined in their privacy policy).
Moreover, most Android devices use no or weak device encryption. The Google App Store has a rich history of applications slurping all kinds of data (though things will probably get better with fine-grained permissions).
And then we haven't even talked about Asian and American vendors that 'accidentally' install third party spyware:
https://www.cyberscoop.com/android-malware-china-huawei-zte-...
You use your iPhone but disable iCloud.
If photos are important to you, use a dedicated camera and upload to your home NAS.
If you're willing to pay the premium, they sell the Pixel and Pixel XL with CopperheadOS loaded.