Android is still used by most new smartphones. As of November 2016, Android is the most used mobile platform after Apple (See: Android Comparison). The difference between Android and Apple iOS is their use of different security features to keep everything safe, and their anti-encryption systems to thwart hackers.
Android
Android is the mobile operating system used by Alphabet subsidiary Google to develop smartphones. In 2014, Google debuted Google Security, which allows you to apply five security features: device & app-activation, application vetting, push notifications, and website form-fill protection. Not only can they protect your phone from hackers, but they also guard you from malicious apps or malicious websites.
Android also allows you to add various security functions in the Android Security Center. These can be hard to navigate (see: HERE), but all the features are presented clearly (see: HERE).
As Android devices tend to be smaller and lighter than those of iPhones or other operating systems, hackers may easily bypass their security measures and install the apps they want on them. In order to avoid this vulnerability, avoid downloading certain apps or installing them on your phone in the first place.
Just as with iPhones, you can also protect your phone against a common attacker’s methods. However, Android devices have more of a problem with hackers who can directly modify the OS without actually accessing the device. Android often offers these updates earlier than Apple does. An outdated Android version may give hackers an advantage. However, there are fixes for this issue for older Android devices as well.
In order to prevent hackers from spoofing your Android home screen, you may want to be a bit careful about which apps you download. Even the final apps you choose to download should have an apparent security app before your phone installs them. For apps that are obviously and potentially unsafe for your information, get rid of them. There are a couple of other easy ways to protect your phones, but these last two measures should be the most important one to make sure your phone is secure.
Apple
Apple iOS is used by Apple to build smartphones, which has thousands of apps available. Apple uses both their own App Store as well as their proprietary third-party app store when creating new phones and OSs. This approach is incredibly similar to Android’s security-oriented approach, which allows apps to be checked by Apple against a vast database before being approved (See: HERE). Additionally, apps that are determined to be malware can be banned from the store, which is possible with any OS.
Unverified apps are malware and can be deployed upon you with alarming ease (See: HERE). In order to be protected against this type of software, you can use only trusted apps, limit your exposure to unnecessary information, use app-based blocking, and encrypt your phone. If you are running iOS 10, you may also be able to use the unique setting called “Dynamic Lock,” which enables additional security features, like passcode or biometric protection.
If you choose to fall prey to the tempting Apple apps and apps that attempt to gather your private information, it may not be easy to detect them. However, at the very least it will help you avoid a nasty situation.