When it comes to smartphone security, Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy devices are two of the most popular options. With regular headlines about hacking and data breaches, security has become a major concern for smartphone users. But which phone is actually safer – iPhone or Samsung?
Encryption
One of the most important security features on any smartphone is encryption. Encryption scrambles data stored on the device so that it cannot be accessed without the proper passcode or fingerprint. Both iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models use encryption to protect user data.
iPhones use sophisticated hardware encryption paired with the user’s passcode to achieve an extremely high level of security. Apple claims that it would take “more than 5 1/2 years to try all combinations of a six-character alphanumeric passcode with lowercase letters and numbers.” Samsung also uses hardware-level encryption on its Galaxy S and Note series phones.
Experts agree that the encryption technology implemented by both Apple and Samsung is very secure and would require significant resources to try and break. When it comes to encryption, iPhones and Samsung devices are on roughly equal footing.
Secure Enclave
iPhones have an additional layer of security known as the Secure Enclave. The Secure Enclave is a coprocessor that provides isolated security for sensitive processes like encryption and biometric authentication. By isolating these functions on a separate chip, Apple makes them much harder to compromise.
Samsung devices do not have an equivalent to the Secure Enclave. This gives iPhones an advantage when it comes to securing biometric data and cryptographic keys.
Operating System Updates
The operating system on a smartphone plays a critical role in its security. Software vulnerabilities are constantly being discovered, and vendors regularly release security patches and updates.
When it comes to OS updates, iPhones have a clear advantage. iPhones can be updated to the latest iOS version for at least 5 years after release. In contrast, most Android phones stop receiving major OS updates after 2-3 years. This leaves older Samsung devices vulnerable as new exploits are found.
By supporting devices for twice as long as Samsung, iPhones enjoy superior long-term software security.
| Phone | Years of OS Updates |
|---|---|
| iPhone | 5+ years |
| Samsung Galaxy | 2-3 years |
App Store Security
The app store is how most users get third-party apps onto their phones. The integrity of the app store plays a big role in security.
Apple’s walled garden approach with the App Store provides strong security. Each app must go through an extensive review process before being published, weeding out most malware. App updates must also go through review. This greatly limits the potential for a rogue app to make it onto iPhones.
The Google Play Store has weaker defenses. Google does automated scanning of apps uploaded to the Play Store, but relies more heavily on user ratings and reports of bad behavior to identify malware. There are also alternative app stores that distribute Android apps with no screening at all.
Statistics reflect this discrepancy. One study found that 0.85% of apps on the Google Play Store were malicious, compared to only 0.02% on the App Store.
App Store Malware Rates
| App Store | Malware Rate |
|---|---|
| App Store | 0.02% |
| Google Play Store | 0.85% |
Sandboxing
Sandboxing is a key security feature implemented by both iOS and Android. Sandboxing isolates each application on the phone, preventing it from accessing data belonging to other apps. This limits the damage malware can do if it makes it onto the device.
Both platforms implement sandboxing using mandatory access controls. However, Apple’s sandboxing is generally considered to be more robust and restrictive than Android’s implementation.
On Android, apps in the same sandbox can run in the same Linux userspace, allowing them to spy on each other’s memory. This issue does not exist on iOS, where sandboxing is handled at the kernel level.
Biometric Authentication
Modern smartphones use biometric authentication like fingerprint scanning and facial recognition to unlock devices. This is more secure than traditional passcodes which can be observed or brute forced.
iPhones and Samsung devices both offer facial recognition and fingerprint authentication. However, there are some differences:
- iPhone uses more advanced 3D facial scanning compared to Samsung’s 2D approach, making spoofing more difficult.
- The iPhone Secure Enclave provides additional protection for biometric data as mentioned earlier.
- Samsung devices allow fingerprint data to be accessed by third-party apps, while iPhones do not provide any external access to biometric data.
As a result, iPhones again have a slight edge when it comes to securely implementing biometrics.
Malware Threats
Malware targeting smartphones has exploded in recent years. Malicious apps that steal data, mine cryptocurrency, and spy on users are an ever-present threat.
Historically, iPhones have been affected by far fewer malware outbreaks than Android phones. Symantec’s 2021 Internet Security Threat Report found that Android accounted for 99% of mobile malware detections, compared to just 1% for iOS.
There are a few reasons for this significant discrepancy:
- The walled garden of the App Store makes it harder for malware to get onto iPhones undetected.
- iOS’s layered security architecture is difficult for malware writers to penetrate.
- Android allows installation of apps from third-party stores which may not screen for malware.
- There are simply a lot more Android devices out there to target.
That said, a few noteworthy iOS malware cases have emerged over the years, including:
- Pegasus – Powerful spyware used to target journalists and dissidents.
- XcodeGhost – Infected developer tools resulting in infected App Store apps.
- KeyRaider – Stole App Store credentials for ransom.
These examples show that while rare, targeted iOS malware is certainly possible. No phone is perfectly secure.
Platform Openness
iOS and Android have fundamentally different approaches when it comes to platform openness. iOS is closed-source, while Android is open-source.
In theory, Android’s openness makes its security more transparent. Bugs can be spotted and fixed by the open-source community. However, in practice, most Android phones run heavily customized versions of Android, harming uniformity.
iOS’s closed model gives Apple end-to-end control over security, but lacks transparency. Ultimately, there are good-faith arguments on both sides of this issue when it comes to security.
Security Updates
As mentioned previously, Apple provides security updates to iPhones for 5+ years. Samsung’s update period is shorter, typically 2-3 years.
Faster security updates mean vulnerabilities get patched before attackers have a chance to exploit them. Apple’s support longevity and commitment to quickly push security patches thus give the iPhone an advantage.
| Phone | Years of Security Updates |
|---|---|
| iPhone | 5+ years |
| Samsung Galaxy | 2-3 years |
Encryption of Cloud Backups
Backups to the cloud have become ubiquitous for both iOS and Android devices. With sensitive data like photos, messages, and application data in the cloud, encryption is a must.
Apple provides full end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups. In fact, Apple holds no keys to decrypt iCloud data. Samsung provides server-side encryption for backups on its cloud.
End-to-end encryption is considered the most secure approach, protecting data even if the cloud provider is compromised. So once again, Apple has a slight edge.
Conclusion
In summary, while both platforms have robust security, iPhone edges out Samsung Galaxy when it comes to:
- Secure Enclave protection
- OS and security update longevity
- App Store curation and malware resistance
- Sandboxing implementation
- Biometric authentication security
- End-to-end encrypted cloud backups
However, Samsung phones offer solid security in their own right. Ultimately, both platforms are good choices for security-focused consumers.
No phone can provide absolute perfect security. Threats like targeted nation-state malware may still find vulnerabilities to exploit. Users should use sound judgement when downloading apps, enabling services, and setting up passwords and biometrics on any device.