The past few weeks have been devastating for Android users. There have been warnings about dozens of apps that can give money to criminals behind your back using adware and an app that could be reinstalled whenever users tried to delete the malware from their device — Android users don’t have to install anything to make their devices vulnerable. And then there was StrandHogg — a flaw that allows hackers to create a fake login page that pretends to be a legitimate banking app, sucking up your banking credentials
Even worse, StrandHogg will redirect users to the legitimate app once they enter their details. So, as far as you can tell, all you've done is log into your banking app – bearing in mind that the hackers have just handed over all the details they need to do the same.
So, is the timing of all these attacks bad – they’re almost designed to make money off your smartphone or steal it straight from your bank account – or are Android users more at risk than their iOS counterparts? And if so, should they avoid trusting devices with their most sensitive information , like online banking or entering their debit and credit card details into dozens of websites to make the most of Black Friday or Christmas deals?
According to Jan Youngren, who works as a Cybersecurity expert at VPNpro.com, using Android carries a higher risk. And users should be aware of that.
Youngren told Express.co.uk: “While we haven’t yet done a full analysis of StrandHogg, it’s generally always more risky to use Android for any seriously sensitive activities, because there is a much wider range of malware available specifically for Android devices. This is particularly dangerous during the Christmas shopping season, when online shopping revenue increases – and hackers’ attempts to steal your banking, PayPal or credit card details increase.”
“So, overall, when comparing Android to iOS, iOS wins simply because of better default security. For example, there are plenty of free malware programs that you can use to infect Android devices, whereas you would be very hard-pressed to find iOS malware that would lie dormant for more than a few days. Apple is simply better at default security.”
But when asked about other options available to those using smartphones or tablets to feel secure about money using apps or online banking portals, Youngren wasn't particularly helpful about what users could use.
