Hold the phone: Is my mobile device secure? (Images: Thinkstock/Apple/Android, modified by Yahoo Tech)
A few weeks ago, researchers found a gaping vulnerability in a component of Android, called Stagefright, that allows a hacker to take complete control of an Android phone or tablet. The bug threatens nearly a billion devices and has prompted Google and hardware makers such as Samsung and LG to rethink how they provide software updates to Android devices.
Apple’s mobile devices aren’t immune to security threats, either. Last year, security researchers found a vulnerability that could — albeit under rare conditions — allow fake, spyware versions of apps like Facebook and Skype to get onto iOS devices. (More about that in a bit.)
Historically, PCs and Macs have been far bigger targets for hackers and cyber crooks than mobile devices like iOS and Android smartphones. One reason is that PCs and Macs are inherently less secure, by design. “Historically they were totally open platforms … that’s what made the PC so popular,” said Guillaume Ross, senior consultant at security company Rapid7. (And by “PC,” he means Windows, OS X or Linux computers). “So few restraints were placed on what application you could use.” PCs evolved before online security was a major concern, and we’ve been trying to retrofit them with security measures ever since.
Hold the phone: Is my mobile device secure? (Images: Thinkstock/Apple/Android, modified by Yahoo Tech)A few weeks ago, researchers found a gaping vulnerability in a component of Android, called Stagefright, that allows a hacker to take complete control of an Android phone or tablet. The bug threatens nearly a billion devices and has prompted Google and hardware makers such as Samsung and LG to rethink how they provide software updates to Android devices.Apple’s mobile devices aren’t immune to security threats, either. Last year, security researchers found a vulnerability that could — albeit under rare conditions — allow fake, spyware versions of apps like Facebook and Skype to get onto iOS devices. (More about that in a bit.)Historically, PCs and Macs have been far bigger targets for hackers and cyber crooks than mobile devices like iOS and Android smartphones. One reason is that PCs and Macs are inherently less secure, by design. “Historically they were totally open platforms … that’s what made the PC so popular,” said Guillaume Ross, senior consultant at security company Rapid7. (And by “PC,” he means Windows, OS X or Linux computers). “So few restraints were placed on what application you could use.” PCs evolved before online security was a major concern, and we’ve been trying to retrofit them with security measures ever since.
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