We all use different devices, whether it is for our every day working lives or it is simply something for personal use. Our preferences for the devices we use will change, depending on how easy the device is to operate, the cost, and its security. One of the big factors affecting the security of so many devices is just how prone they are to getting viruses.
For some devices it is a real challenge to get a virus. Others will get them constantly, leaving users very cautious about the things they do on their computer, tablet, or smartphone. They’ll take steps to secure their devices to prevent this. So which devices are the most prone to viruses, and what can you do to protect yourself?
Android vs. iOS
In the third quarter of 2013 we saw Androids make up 80 percent of the total market share of smartphones. They are the most popular devices on the market, which many believe is because they are usually cheaper to buy than other phones.
You’ll also find that there are more apps available from the Google Play Thanks to the Google Play Console it is very easy to add your own app to the store. Google will verify that it is trusted to reduce your chances of being infected with malware before it goes onto Google Play for people to download. However, sometimes the apps available cost money. Sometimes people would rather not pay for them. So they will look elsewhere.
Simply searching for “android app downloads” on a search engine brings up over 55 million results. Some of these sites will be perfectly fine to use, but many aren’t safe. You will download the app you want to use as well as a few surprise extras… like malware and viruses.
The huge difference in results shows that you are more likely to download a malicious app or malware for your Android device than you are your iPhone or iPad.
It is easy to download apps in this way on Android devices. It isn’t as easy on iPhones. iPhones have restrictions in place to prevent this, but you can bypass it with jailbreaking. Jailbreaking your iPhone might seem like a complicated process, but it has been made incredibly simply. All you have to do is to download an app and install it. That’s it. However, iPhones still seem to have the edge of Android, as Android devices are still more prone to viruses than their iOS counterparts.
There are, of course, ways you can protect your phone, but many won’t want to download an antivirus onto their device. They’ll trust the device to keep them safe… and that’s where the problems occur. Your device might not have the security in place to keep you safe, and so you are vulnerable. This is why it is essential you download an antivirus on your phone to help protect yourself.
Windows vs. Macs
Most of us remember the “I’m a Mac, and I’m a PC” adverts from Apple. One of the popular adverts stated that Microsoft machines were more vulnerable to viruses than their Apple counterparts, as there were far more viruses out there targeting PCs than there were Apple products.
The reason for this is because of the number of Mac devices being used. When you compared Windows PCs to Macs, there were far more of them. For hackers and those creating viruses and malware, attacking PCs was a far more lucrative business. There were more PCs out there, therefore more computers to infect. The low number of Apple products meant that attacking them wasn’t as appealing.
But now the gap has closed, meaning that Mac users have become bigger targets. After all, there has been research to show that Apple users have money to spare. This means that the creators of devices are keen to get into Apple products to make them more money. However, the challenges presented by Mac products means that they are far less likely to be a target.
On a Windows PC it is surprisingly easy to download something malicious and install it on your device. Sometimes you won’t even have to click anything to initiate the download. This isn’t the case on Apple devices. Apple devices require you to type in your password before it installs anything, so you can spot malicious content before it is on your system.
What Should I Do?
This doesn’t mean that you need to throw your Android or Windows devices out of the window. It just means you need to think more carefully about your security. Thankfully there are a few basic security tips you can learn to help keep your devices safe. By following these tips you’ll be able to keep your devices secure and safe.
Instead of relying on the basic features of your device to do the work for you, take that extra step. Make your devices as secure as you can and you won’t regret it.
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