Google claims its Android operating system is now in the lead Apple iOS in protecting users from mobile scams, with AI-based security systems integrated into Messages, Phone, Gmail and Play Protect. According to Google, Android blocks more than 10 billion fraudulent calls and messages every month, protecting users from global fraud losses estimated at $400 billion per year.
A YouGov survey of 5,000 smartphone users found that Android users were 58% more likely than iPhone users to say they had not received any scam text messages in the past week. For Pixel users, the rate rose to 96%, while iPhone users were 65% more likely to receive at least three scam messages per week.
Independent reports from Counterpoint Research and Leviathan Security Group corroborate Google’s claims, noting that Android’s AI security features cover nine key areas, from call screening and phishing detection to blocking malicious links, compared to just two for iOS.
Google attributes this advantage to its open source architecture, which allows for faster security updates and AI-driven responses. Although Apple’s closed ecosystem remains robust, analysts suggest it limits flexibility in deploying new countermeasures.
The findings directly challenge Apple’s long-standing reputation for superior security, highlighting how multi-layered, AI-driven defense systems are redefining the standards of mobile protection around the world.
