TechPhonesAndroid PhonesIs iOS safer than Android? The rival phone operating systems' security comparedSafety isn’t just about software patches. It’s about app stores and parental controls tooWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

TechPhonesAndroid PhonesIs iOS safer than Android? The rival phone operating systems' security comparedSafety isn’t just about software patches. It’s about app stores and parental controls tooWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Safety isn’t just about software patches. It’s about app stores and parental controls too

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: SOPA Images / Getty Images)

Android phone with security symbols in background

(Image credit: SOPA Images / Getty Images)

The iOS App Store is safer than theGooglePlay Store. Apple has a stricter vetting process than Google, which makes it more difficult for malicious apps to get onto people’s phones, and Apple makes it extremely difficult to install apps that it hasn’t approved. Apple’s App Store is also more serious about user privacy than Google, so you’re less likely to have an app demanding access to absolutely everything on your phone for no good reason.

Parental controls on both platforms are very good and can do an excellent job of keeping your kids safe, whether that’s blocking certain kinds of content or restricting app use.

(Image credit: Future)

Widgets in iOS 15

(Image credit: Future)

How to stay safe on iOS or Android

The majority of threats to your digital safety aren’t really technological: they’re tricks. Fake emails pretending to be from your bank or other financial institutions, emails with dodgy attachments that you weren’t expecting and didn’t ask for, online offers that are too good to be true… none of these are specific to iOS or Android, so staying safe is as much about being cynical as it is about having a particular kind of phone.

That said, there are some technological things you should do. First and foremost, always make sure you have the most up-to-date version of your operating system and apps. Secondly, don’t re-use the same login details on multiple websites: many people’s passwords end up in website data leaks, and if you use the same ones on several sites then that’s a massive potential problem. And thirdly, use all the security features that your device offers such as fingerprint or face recognition for security, two-factor authentication for key services (where you have to use an app such as Google Authenticator as well as your password to login), parental controls if appropriate and so on.

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