Smartphone Security Risks -- even Apple

User 10077 Photo


Senior Advisor
1,095 posts

I read an article today about smartphone security risks. Here's a quick summary and a link.

1. Flawed Communication Protocols
This issue deals with the entire industry and affects all smartphones, regardless of manufacturer.

2. Smartphone viruses are real.
Quoting the article: "In fact, according to the National Vulnerability Database and the data in Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures of 2013, over 200 vulnerabilities were found in iOS, giving it 81 percent market share of all smartphone vulnerabilities. That’s more than Android, Windows Phone, and Blackberry combined. Don’t get me wrong: that’s not a cheap shot at Apple. The point is that every smartphone ecosystem has its problems. None are exempt no matter what anyone tells you."

3. Built-in Security Holes
"Earlier this year, Apple fell under the spotlight when a security researcher discovered an iOS security backdoor. The claim was that Apple had purposely left a hole that made it possible to pull encrypted data on demand from any iOS device. When confronted, Apple surprisingly confirmed that the backdoor existed.


The article is not targeted at Apple. It's about all smartphones. I think Apple gets named more because they are thought to be so secure. I don't doubt ApplePay will do well because most people blindly accept convenience over security, but the article makes me think much more about smartphone viruses. I noticed in AT&T's last update on my Galaxy S4, that it included an anti-virus.

Here's the link:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-smartpho … aws-aware/


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I use an Android, but I am very careful about the login info available on my phone. Because most of the time, I am already connected to the web, it just seems like another security hole that has to be plugged.
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User 2924428 Photo


Registered User
1,718 posts

Hey guys, I totally agree with you on this.

I keep a smartphone available but rarely use it due to the amount of stuff they install along with their services.

A virus is easy to contract on both a PC, and more vulnerability on smartphones.

In any case, there are more people getting into things they shouldn't be, and even worse ruining the product that you've purchased such as a smartphone.

The good thing about PC's is there is software you can download to remedy that and remove them right away. With smartphones, I don't think they are very easily detected making it worse to single out and remove.

It could be Apple or Android, just be careful what you accept when downloading apps.

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