Smartphones have become more than an accessory, but rather something necessary. We entrust them our private calls, messages, web browsing history and preferences, as well as our banking account details. However, these devices are not safe from cyber attacks.
SourceFile recently issued a report called “25 Years of Vulnerabilities.” In it, the company analyzed vulnerability issues. In addition, it uses data which strangely goes back to 1988. What the research concludes is that Apple Inc.’s iPhone is the most vulnerable smartphone today.
That was due to the device’s operating system iOS. According to the report, iPhone’s OS is more vulnerable than others. The reason for that was said to be mainly because of the phone’s global popularity. Also, Apple’s app store imposes many limitations to users. As a result, they try to find a way to break into the system.
Apple’s iOS received 81% of the all smartphone vulnerability today. Researchers state that they have discovered more than 200 vulnerabilities in iPhones. In comparison, Android devices got less than 25%, while electronics that run on Windows took the third place with only 14.5%. Blackberry comes a little after that with 11.4%.
However, iPhone’s popularity cannot be entirely blamed for iOS vulnerability rate. Currently, it is Android that leads the market. The majority of Android devices are more affordable and they offer less ecosystems limitations. As a result, they are more preferred by consumers. Yet, Android gets barely 25% of vulnerability threat.
The real problem for Apple hides ironically in its strict app policy and control. While Android accepts third-party apps which are often malicious, Apple reviews every single application that has been sent to them. In other words, cybercriminals spend more time looking for iOS weaker sides.
Nevertheless, there is some good news for smartphone users. Severe mobile attacks and threats have started to decrease. Actually this trend first occurred after 2007 when mobile vulnerabilities surpassed 3,100. In contrast, today they are only 1,760.
Despite that, do not expect that vulnerabilities and mobile threats will miraculously go away. As long as we use smartphones and other technological devices, we will experience these setbacks.
The study also mentioned the most common vulnerabilities of smartphones. Interestingly that is not information leak (5%) or OS command injection, but buffer errors (14%).
