Apple's iOS unaffected by malware; Android exploits surge by 76% | Hacker News Reader

Apple's iOS unaffected by malware; Android exploits surge by 76%

appleinsider.com

29 pointsrufugee8 comments

I like the installation options on a mac: you have the official app store, but you don't have to use it.

In theory, Android could also offer different marketplaces, one where the apps are carefully reviewed, and another where anything goes. Keeps the choices, but also supports safe downloading to those who want to be careful. (Ok, Android already _does_ have multiple app stores, but I don't think of any particular one as "the official reviewed marketplace," which is what I'm after.)

So it went from 25 to 44 over the last quarter? .00017% malware. Still, no-good if one app gains popularity before it gets noticed. And this will only get worse.

I'd like to see a secure app store from Goog. It'd be easy to grow as they could start with the most popular apps from the current marketplace. Eventually phase out the open marketplace and let users sideload apps if they want to risk it (plus, they could still make "but we're _open!_" claims).

There are definitely downsides to iOS apps not having access to each others' filespace, but the security benefits this brings really are great.

AFAIK, Android apps can store data in either the private data store where it can be accessed via intents published by the app or on the public data store, which is usually the SD card.

So, the ability to root an iOS device via an exploit doesn't count as malware? Interesting.

Is an exploit "malware"? No.

Could an exploit be used to install malware? Yes.

So, no, it doesn't count.

iOS definitely isn't without security issues, but it doesn't have the same malware issues that plague Android.

"plague" is a stretch.

As someone who manages a few dozen android phones throughout my company I have yet to see any malware on any of the devices. If some phones were going to get infected the ones I manage are the ones.

The reports of malware on android phones are greatly exaggerated.

At this point I see both platforms at the same basic risk for getting infected. The possibility is there, but it is not nearly enough to worry about.

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