Android vs iOS security: which OS is safer? We compare their protections against theft, malware, snooping, and more

Date:
Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:58:45 +0000

Description:
Your phone is at risk from thieves, viruses, snoopers, and dodgy apps, but Android and iOS both have tools to minimize the threats.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Android and iOS each have their own security features, and while theres a lot of overlap between the two software packages, they also have some significant differences in their available tools.

So, if youre hoping to keep your phone safe from threats both online and in person, the approach youre able to take may differ, depending on whether you own one of the best iPhones or best Android phones . Below, then, weve looked at the key security features offered on each operating system , designed to protect you across a range of scenarios. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: How they secure your device against online threats (Image credit:
Apple) The most common threats most of us face on our phones are of the
online variety things like viruses and other malware. Fortunately, both Android and iOS have tools to limit these risks if you use them.

For one thing, its worth setting up two-factor authentication on the account you use to log in to your device, be that an Apple account or a Google one,
as this makes it much harder for hackers to access or take control of your account. In fact, you should use two-factor authentication anywhere its offered, but especially for these accounts. You may like Best Android Antivirus Apps for 2026 Mobile security is quietly weakening as users abandon paid antivirus tools iPhones could soon get a handy anti-snatching upgrade from Android

Its also worth using a password manager, so you can more easily create and keep track of complex, unique passwords, and both iOS and Android have password managers built in. That said, third-party options are sometimes more feature-filled.

A VPN is worth considering too, to secure your internet traffic. However, while Google Pixel phones have a built-in VPN, most Android handsets dont,
and neither do iPhones though if you have iCloud+, you can access Private Relay , which has some of the same protections, and both operating systems
let you download third-party VPNs (here's our roundup of the best VPNs , if you're interested in getting one). Get daily insight, inspiration and deals
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If you have an Android phone, you might also want to run an antivirus app on it though again, these dont come built in most of the time. iOS doesnt allow for conventional antivirus apps, but it arguably doesn't have much need for them, as it largely keeps apps sandboxed anyway, limiting their ability to interact with the rest of the system. How they ensure your apps are safe (Image credit: Apple) Both Apple and Google take steps to ensure the apps listed on their official stores are safe. On Android, for example, theres Google Play Protect, which checks apps for harmful behavior before you download them and if you get them from third-party stores, theyll be checked once theyre on your device.

On iPhone, Apple similarly uses automated scans for known malware in apps,
and on both operating systems, employees review apps before listing them on the official stores to begin with. What to read next iPhone loyalty hits a
new high, but here's why I won't be ditching Android iPhone 17e vs Google Pixel 10a Google claims Android is up to 47% faster than iOS in this key metric

There is slightly more risk on Android, though, simply because it allows you to download things from third-party stores, which may not have the same level of security. Outside of the EU, this isnt possible on iPhones.

Beyond the checks that Google and Apple carry out, though, they also give you the ability to turn off any permissions you dont want an app to have. For example, many apps may ask for location data, but they dont always have clear reasons for needing it. Similarly, you might want to think twice about giving an app full access to your photo gallery.

And you should also consider stopping apps from tracking your use of other apps. They do this to serve you personalized adverts, but youre giving up
some privacy in the process.

On iPhone, youll be asked if you want apps to be able to track you each time you download a new one, or you can find a toggle for every app in the
Tracking section of the settings menu.

Android doesnt put the option quite so front and center, but if you head to Settings > Google > Ads, youll find the option to delete your advertising ID, which has a similar impact. How they prevent in-person snooping Privacy Display on a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (Image credit: Blue Pixl Media) Keeping your phone secure when youre around people or when youve given someone access to your device requires a different set of tools, but both Android and iOS have some options available.

If you have a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra , specifically, then you can enable Privacy Display when using your phone in public, which keeps sensitive
content obscured when not viewed front-on. But other Android phones dont have this feature, and nor do iPhones.

The more widely available tools are mostly focused on keeping your device
safe when someone else has physical access. For example, both iPhones and
most Android phones have a way to hide apps so they wont appear on your home screen. Generally, those apps will also then require a PIN or biometric authentication to access.

Additionally, you can choose to lock but not hide individual apps on iPhone. So people with access to your phone can see that you have them, but cant open them. Some Android brands have a similar feature, or you can make use of third-party apps for this, but its not a tool thats built into the version of Android that Google ships though leaks suggest that might change with
Android 17 . How your device data is kept safe from thieves (Image credit: Google) Finally, you need to consider how to keep your phones data safe if
its stolen, and both Android and iOS have a selection of features to help
with that.

For one thing, you should obviously have a lock on your phone, so that it requires a PIN or biometrics for anyone to access, and both iOS and Android offer this feature.

But beyond that, on iPhone, you can also make use of Stolen Device Protection , which when your iPhone is away from a familiar location will require Face ID or Touch ID authentication to access things like passwords and credit card details, with no option to use a passcode instead, so that it ensures youre the person seeking access.

It also requires you to wait an hour before taking some actions such as changing your Apple password, giving you time to secure your account in case its a thief trying to do those things.

On Android, theres a similar suite of tools, collectively called Theft Protection, which do things like using biometrics and other safeguards to verify its you accessing the phone, lock your screen if the device detects that someone took it and ran away, lock your screen shortly after your device goes offline, and lock it after repeated failed authentication attempts in apps and settings. All of which is designed to prevent thieves from accessing your data.

Additionally, both Android and iOS let you remotely lock and even wipe your phone in the event of it being lost or stolen, and they both have tools to help you locate lost or stolen devices, in the form of Apples Find My service and Googles Find Hub.

You might also want to change your phones settings so that notification content is hidden when the device is locked, ensuring thieves wont be able to read your notifications. This too is an option on both iOS and Android. Today's best phone deals Contract Deals Sim Free gift Apple iPhone 17 24 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 10GB data 19 upfront 34.99 /mth View at Mobiles.co.uk See all prices Apple iPhone 17 Pro 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 1GB data 100 upfront 62.37 /mth View at Vodafone Ltd See all prices Apple iPhone Air 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 40GB data 12 upfront 50 /mth View at Sky See all prices Google Pixel 10 36 months
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/android-vs-ios-security-which-os-is-safer-we- compare-their-protections-against-theft-malware-snooping-and-more


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