The app store security angle is somewhat of a red herring. The App Store walled garden concept IS more secure - an opinion cited by numerous other "world renowned experts". (Even if Charlie Miller was able to upload a malware proof of concept app successfully, his example of infecting the Apple app store is a rare example to date of a lapse in Apple's over sight app review process.)
However, iOS is NOT inherently more secure than other mobile operation systems and malware is malware, after all.
If an iPhone user is surfing the web and decides to download an malware invested app from some cite or agrees to supply personal financial information to a malicious online source, well, one shouldn't be surprised at the outcome.
Bruce Schneier, world renowned security technologist and author, has posted his thoughts on smartphone security.
Schneier believes that ‘smart phones are going to become the primary platform of attack for cybercriminals in the coming years,‘ because as they become more and more integrated into our lives they will ‘become the most valuable device for criminals to go after.’
But what about the iPhone? Surely that’s safe because of Apple’s stringent App Store policies? Schneier doesn’t think so:
And I don’t believe the iPhone will be more secure because of Apple’s rigid policies for the app store.
It makes sense.
There’s be not central ‘App Store’ for Windows PCs, yet malware has flourished. Malware makes its way to a PC primarily via the web and email, and both these conduits are available in the iPhone and other smartphones. The simple fact that we’ve seen jailbreak exploits for iOS that can be done via the Safari browser should be enough proof for those who are in any doubt of this.
Having a well curated repository for downloads is only part of the defense against malware.
People hold an ever-increasing amount of data on their smartphones, and the bad guys want access to it.
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