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Codeseven

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 31, 2008
854
352
My 2008 MBP cannot be updated to the latest OSX, it will only support El Capitan, however, my iPad Air 1 continues to get the latest iOS updates.

For doing online banking, purchases, ect, does that mean that my up to date iPad is now more secure than my MBP with its outdated OSX?
 
Your iPad was always more secure than MacOS X. For example, on iOS one app cannot access the data written by another app at all. There is automatic full disc encryption that cannot be turned off. You can only install apps that have been vetted from the app store. But then iOS must be saver, because you are much more likely to lose a phone (or have it stolen) than a Mac, so a criminal would likely get full access to your iOS device.
 
Your iPad was always more secure than MacOS X. For example, on iOS one app cannot access the data written by another app at all. There is automatic full disc encryption that cannot be turned off. You can only install apps that have been vetted from the app store. But then iOS must be saver, because you are much more likely to lose a phone (or have it stolen) than a Mac, so a criminal would likely get full access to your iOS device.

Makes sense, thanks.

I'll have both connected to Ethernet for my online banking, I just was wondering which of the two are most secure.
 
The very limitations of iOS versus OSX generally make it significantly more secure. Root access, for instance, is extremely difficult as long as you use the latest version of iOS.

  • There is hardly any file system present to manipulate.
  • You can't arbitrarily download and run executables or scripts from emails.
  • Apps are extremely sandboxed
As long as someone doesn't gain physical access to the device, hacking is generally more difficult on iOS.
 
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The very limitations of iOS versus OSX generally make it significantly more secure. Root access, for instance, is extremely difficult as long as you use the latest version of iOS.

  • There is hardly any file system present to manipulate.
  • You can't arbitrarily download and run executables or scripts from emails.
  • Apps are extremely sandboxed
As long as someone doesn't gain physical access to the device, hacking is generally more difficult on iOS.

Nice to know, thanks.

Makes me wish I had been doing my online financial stuff on my iPad all along. As obvious as it is to me now, I'm surprised it isn't just a given that if you own an iOS device it would be your default internet transaction device.
 
Yeah I do all my bills etc on my iPhone as much as possible. It's
  • More secure
  • More convenient (Touch ID, Cellular, always with you)
  • More private (no prying eyes v a big laptop or desktop screen)
Mobile devices are a really great way to get routine financial things done quickly.
 
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