Smartphones are ubiquitous in today’s society, but most people don’t really understand mobile security and all that it entails.
This has resulted in widespread myths and misconceptions, some of which can be detrimental to one’s overall cyber security if taken at face value. It is time to debunk them.
1. Myth: Computers are more secure than smartphones
How many times have you encountered malware on your computer and how many times have you encountered it on your phone? Exact.
Nevertheless, it is not uncommon to hear arguments that desktop devices and laptops are more secure than smartphones. In fact, this misconception is quite widespread, even among people who should know better.
In reality, smartphones are inherently more secure than computers because they were built after the internet became available to the average person. For example, the first version of the Windows operating system was released in 1985, decades before the first modern smartphones hit the market. Because of that, Windows (which runs the vast majority of computers) had certain security holes from the beginning, and still has many today.
Of course, smartphone apps are sandboxed, making it harder for malware to spread across a system. In addition, smartphones cannot be found through their IP addresses. In short, both Android and iOS phones are much safer and more secure than Windows-powered desktops and laptops.
2. Myth: Mobile Security Apps are pointless
Among those who realize that smartphones are more secure than computers, a common feeling is that security apps are unnecessary. After all, why would you need such software if you’ve never even had to deal with malware on your phone? This is a legitimate question, but it is based on a false premise.
For starters, even if you think your phone doesn’t need antivirus software, there are plenty of other apps that can boost your cyber security. Authenticator apps, for example, are a great way to secure your online accounts and make them essentially impenetrable to cybercriminals. Password managers, network scanners and encrypted messaging apps, meanwhile, can add an extra layer of security to any device.
Then there is also the issue of privacy, or lack thereof. Because privacy and security go hand in hand, using a secure and private browser and having a reliable Virtual Private Network (VPN) app installed on your smartphone can make a big difference.
3. Myth: iPhones are immune to malware
The Android versus iOS debate has become something of a pop culture phenomenon, and it will never truly be settled. But one thing iOS users tend to bring up is iPhone security. You can’t get a virus on an iPhone even if you try, so they claim. This is a myth.
While it’s true that iPhones are far less likely to get malware than Android phones, that doesn’t mean they never do. And no, it’s not just jailbroken iPhones that can be infected with malware, although they are obviously more vulnerable to all kinds of cyber attacks by default.
To prove that the iPhone can be hacked and misused, researchers at Germany’s Technical University of Darmstadt conducted an interesting experiment in May 2022. As Ars Technica reported, the researchers found a way to exploit the iPhone’s Bluetooth chip, which is key to running the device in low-power mode , and infected it with malware.
Of course, there are also many real-world examples of malware spreading on iOS devices. For example, in 2017 Lookout discovered that a threat actor compromised the Safari browser, blocking it from working properly and demanding ransom from their victims.
4. Myth: Apps from Google Play and the App Store are safe
As long as you download apps from certified stores such as Google Play and the App Store, you should be safe, because all apps that end up there have been carefully reviewed. That’s how the thinking goes, but the reality is much different.
Millions of applications are available in both stores, and hundreds – if not thousands – are added every single day. Is it realistic to expect everyone to be safe? Of course not. Insecure applications regularly slip through the cracks and end up in major stores, including the App Store, even though Apple has much stricter guidelines than others.
Downloading a compromised app can cause all sorts of complications, from annoying pop-ups and ads, to more serious issues like identity theft and unauthorized bank transactions.
Even some apps that are technically safe and don’t serve malware have major issues when it comes to tracking and privacy. Photo-editing apps are a good example—many of them violate users’ privacy in various ways, collect and resell data, ask for unnecessary permissions, and have ties to autocratic governments.
Of course, none of this means you should download apps from third-party stores. Google Play and the App Store are still much safer than those, but they are far from perfect.
5. Myth: Using a VPN protects you from tracking
When you connect to a VPN, the traffic on your device is encrypted and your real location is spoofed, making VPN apps an indispensable tool when it comes to both security and privacy. This also means that no one can track you online, right? Unfortunately, it’s more complicated than that.
A good VPN should do all of the above, but relatively few actually do. Many free VPN providers keep logs and collect user information to sell it to third parties, such as affiliates and advertisers. Plus, they tend to disconnect, which defeats the whole purpose of having them installed on your phone. And these are just some of the reasons why you have to choose your VPN provider very carefully.
On the other hand, even with a good VPN app, you can still be tracked through third-party cookies, browser fingerprinting, and such. In short, you need to make a real effort to minimize tracking, and that involves more than downloading a random VPN app.
Understand smartphone security to protect yourself
If you want to protect yourself online, you need to actually understand smartphone security, instead of relying on false but widespread beliefs and second-hand information.
With that said, it’s also important to keep in mind that some smartphones are simply more secure than others, and make purchasing decisions based on that.
