Trend Micro: Android much less secure than iPhone

Electronista ^ | 11 Jan 2011 | Electronista Staff

[big'ol_freeper]

Trend Micro chairman Steve Chang warned in an interview published today that Android was significantly more open to attack than iOS. Google's decision to allow some open-sourcing and to have only a light approval touch let malicious coders get more information about how to stage viruses and other malware. Apple's decision to close off much of the iPhone OS, sandbox code and to vet apps more closely may have antagonized some, Chang told Bloomberg, but has also led to a more secure platform.

[big'ol_freeper]

Ping

[GOP_Harley_Guy]

Thanks for posting this article.

I’ve used Trend Micro for years on my PCs.

I’ll lean toward their advice.

[Swordmaker]

Trend Micro —Android not as secure as iOS—PING!

Please, No Flame Wars!
Discuss technical issues, software, and hardware.
Don't attack people!

Don't respond to the Anti-Apple Thread Trolls!
 PLEASE IGNORE THEM!!!

 

Apple iOS Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[dayglored]

Color me cynical, but I don't trust any statement about the relative security of various platforms from the anti-virus companies.

Granted, they have research departments that spend lots of effort tracking such things down.

But they also have (larger) Marketing departments who determine what gets said about the research, and more often than not, it is slanted towards growing their own sales.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

But I don't believe a word any of them say without getting at least two other non-anti-virus company sources to verify it. They're snake oil salesmen, dealing in fear of the unknown, from start to finish.

[FortunesPortend]

Huh... A company that makes a virus scanner for Android claims that Android is unsecure and needs a virus scanner. Yeah, no bias there!

[ReignOfError]

This jibes with what I’m inclined to believe. Which is always reason to be more skeptical than usual.

That said, Android simply can’t be locked down as tight as iOS is. Part of its model is that manufacturers and carriers are able to customize the OS. Whether that translates into a real vulnerability is a question I’d rather have answered by folks who don’t have anything to sell.

[SunkenCiv]

Google's decision to allow some open-sourcing and to have only a light approval touch let malicious coders get more information about how to stage viruses and other malware.

Best part is, lack of compatibility, need for multiple versions to run on different Android platforms, the same kind of long-term support seen in the billion flavors of Linux...

Apple's decision to close off much of the iPhone OS, sandbox code and to vet apps more closely may have antagonized some, Chang told Bloomberg, but has also led to a more secure platform.

Apple's success is really the only thing that "antagonizes" people who don't like Apple in the first place.

[bmwcyle]

Oh no they might find out I am going to the store for my wife.

[big'ol_freeper]

RE: I’ve used Trend Micro for years on my PCs. I’ll lean toward their advice.

My ISP just started providing Trend Micro free last month. I frankly had not heard of them prior to that. I have their product installed in two places on my MacBook Pro. Both on the MacOS X side and the Windows XP side. Seems to work well.

[Dr. Sivana]

But they also have (larger) Marketing departments who determine what gets said about the research, and more often than not, it is slanted towards growing their own sales.

Trend Micro is in a different category than Symantec and McAfee. First, I don't believe they offer a product for Android OR iOS. Second, very little of their business comes from home users; they make their money on Exchange servers, Windows Enterprise stuff, etc. Companies pay them money to protect the company, not primarily individual units, and certainly not smartphones.

Even if they DID make an Android product, saying it is less secure would encourage iOS sales, in a market that is still maturing, costing them sales.

I've used Trend products for more than a year, and although it is not as configurable as I'd like, it is more effective and less bloated than its two largest rivals.

[Swordmaker]

Color me cynical, but I don't trust any statement about the relative security of various platforms from the anti-virus companies.

Trend Micro does have an app for that... ;^)>

And a better selling one for Android.

[Swordmaker]

Trend Micro is in a different category than Symantec and McAfee. First, I don't believe they offer a product for Android OR iOS. Second, very little of their business comes from home users; they make their money on Exchange servers, Windows Enterprise stuff, etc. Companies pay them money to protect the company, not primarily individual units, and certainly not smartphones.

They do:

Trend Micro Safe Browsing App for iPhone

And HERE is why Trend Micro released the article:

Trend Micro Releasing Android App at CES called Mobile Security.

Hmmm, can you say "ulterior motive?"

[Dr. Sivana]

Good to know about these new products. You did note that they are both free. That tends to confirm that their sales are more based on enterprise management, not individual devices, and that they have nhothing to gain by favoring one over the other.

[SeaDragon]

Good to know about these new products. You did note that they are both free. That tends to confirm that their sales are more based on enterprise management, not individual devices, and that they have nhothing to gain by favoring one over the other.

The install and 30 day trial are free but after that it is $3.99 a year.

Not that that is a lot but still.

[Swordmaker]

Good to know about these new products. You did note that they are both free. That tends to confirm that their sales are more based on enterprise management, not individual devices, and that they have nhothing to gain by favoring one over the other...

The install and 30 day trial are free but after that it is $3.99 a year.

Thanks to both of you for the info... I didn't go looking too deep because I'm not too worried.

[dayglored]

> Trend Micro does have an app for that... ;^)> And a better selling one for Android.

I don't doubt it!

I have all of about 10 apps on my iPod Touch, which is about comfortable for me. I can't imagine how people who have scores of them, can manage them.

No, wait, let me guess... there's an app for that? :)