A recent study has revealed notable differences in the spam and fraud protection capabilities of the Android and iOS operating systems, indicating a clear advantage for Android. This research highlights that Android users experience significantly less spam compared to their iPhone counterparts.
Since the inception of smartphones, the rivalry between Android and iOS has revolved around various aspects, including usability, aesthetics, and security. The latest findings delve into the security domain, offering insights into how each platform handles spam protection.
According to the study, Android users were 58 percent more likely than iPhone users to report having no spam messages in the week leading up to the survey. For users of Google”s Pixel devices, this advantage surged to 96 percent compared to those using Apple smartphones. Furthermore, iPhone users indicated they were 65 percent more likely to receive three or more scam messages weekly compared to Android users.
As fraudsters are projected to steal over $400 billion globally this year, with only a small fraction of victims recovering their losses, effective measures against mobile scams are becoming increasingly critical. The data stems from a survey of over 5,000 smartphone users across the United States, India, and Brazil. It is important to note that this study was commissioned by Google in collaboration with the market research company YouGov.
In terms of technical capabilities, Android has been leveraging artificial intelligence for several years to proactively identify and block fraudulent attempts before they reach users. According to Google, these protective measures successfully block over ten billion suspicious calls and messages each month. The Google Messages app evaluates both the sender”s reputation and the content of messages, automatically directing suspicious communications to a spam folder. Additionally, Android”s Call Screen feature intercepts unknown callers to help identify potential fraudsters. Gmail is reported to block 99.9 percent of spam and phishing emails, while Play Protect scans billions of apps daily for security threats.
In contrast, Apple employs a different strategy by moving suspected spam messages to a dedicated “Spam” folder, where links remain unclickable. They utilize machine learning to recognize spam patterns and collaborate with mobile carriers to filter out suspicious messages. iPhone users also have the capability to block unknown senders and can set up automatic filtering for messages from unsaved contacts.
A thorough security assessment by Counterpoint Research revealed that Android provides protective measures in nine critical areas, while iOS only covers two: “Messages” and “App Malware.” Furthermore, research from Leviathan Security Group tested 32 security features, showing that the Pixel 10 Pro met 30 of these criteria, compared to 21.5 for the iPhone 17 Pro. Android users rated their security features as “very effective” or “extremely effective” 20 percent more often than iPhone users, though this perception may be influenced by varying user expectations regarding security.
The landscape of mobile scams continues to evolve, with modern fraud techniques employing AI to create convincing scenarios, such as “pig butchering,” where scammers build trust over lengthy interactions before persuading victims to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. Both Android and iOS are actively enhancing their protective measures and adapting to new threats. While iPhone users are not without defenses, data suggests that fraudsters face greater challenges breaching Android”s security protocols. Nonetheless, critics argue that the Google-funded study may not provide a comprehensive evaluation of iOS”s security capabilities.
