Why is Android So Insecure?

The fragmented nature of the Android based hardware market has created a major route for nefarious cyber-activity. New versions of Android trickle out to users from carriers and manufacturers, allegedly, as a means of forcing users to pay the premium prices for the latest hardware upgrades that come equipped with the latest version of the OS.

The manufacturers and carriers would argue that they need time to optimize the latest versions of Google’s mobile operating system. Most mobile phone manufacturers, as well as carriers, add their own apps and skins with the intention of making the user experience more pleasurable but in reality make the software more insecure. This is said to account for 60% security threats to Android.

The other major cause of insecurity on Android devices is the failure to implement security upgrades and patches. Older operating systems tend to lack the latest safety measures, time dictates that the focus of a development team will be on the latest OS. At last count, only 7.5% Android devices were making use of the most recent Google mobile operating system - Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This leaves the majority of Android users somewhat exposed to cyberthreats.

Unfortunately, the latest version of Android is not available to all devices at the same time. The breadth and scope of hardware that make use of the Android ecosystem is such a complete roll-out of the latest update is more difficult than on competing platforms where the hardware is more uniform. It has been estimated that allowing all Android users to update would render 77% security threats invalid.

In this regard the Google Android experience compares unfavourably with Apple whose latest iteration iOS 9 reached 50% of iOS devices within a week and currently sits at 84%. As a result, Android remains the most vulnerable OS.

The process by which apps enter the Google Play marketplace creates an avenue by which malware can be disseminated. The app verification process has been entirely automated. The process is only as strong as the coding, unfortunately computer code is rife with human mistakes.

In the African context Nigerians, in particular, are increasingly using their smartphones to make purchases whilst also being plagued by malware. This makes their very use of retail and bank services hazardous to their financial and general well being.

Cybercrime in Nigeria is estimated to be a $9.3 billion industry. That figure will inevitably increase as the online retail space within Nigeria increases. The need for Nigerian banks to increase their profit margins will also see them make infrastructural changes that enable them to run as cheaper, leaner enterprises – technology such as mobile banking and mobile payments are to become commonplace.

Readers can make their Android experience more secure by following the advice linked here.

*image courtesy of Google - https://www.android.com/intl/en_uk/versions/marshmallow-6-0/