• Diyan
• On May 21, 2014

Windows Phone 8.1 is very resistant to malware and this is one of the key differentiators for the platform, according to Microsoft’s product manager Chris Hallum. Speaking for V3 at TechEd he highlighted Windows Phone’s superiority over the other popular platforms and especially over Android, as Google’s OS attracts over 99% of all malware thanks to its openness.

Windows Phone 8.1 and iOS, on the other hand, take almost the same approach and both operating systems are closed, though Hallum believes that Windows Phone is superior as Apple refuses to disclose details of security issues and ongoing threads, which he believes undermines iOS’s reliability among business users.

“We monitor and approve app all apps coming onto our store, in order to protect our customers from malware”, Microsoft’s product manager said. That’s the only effective way of keeping the malware off the platform. Google takes an opposite approach – the platform is far more open so developers can submit unapproved apps at third-party app stores, which makes Android vulnerable to attacks from criminals. Android’s openness allows you to load the app with malware and then publish it in the app stores. According to Cisco, 99% of the mobile malware is designed for Android apps, due to the open nature of the platform.

The security is an opportunity and a key differentiator, says Hallum. He believes that keeping the malware level low will allow the platform grow and attract many new consumers especially in the business segment, where secure software and reliable hardware are of utmost importance.