eli5: Why do computer operating systems have lots of viruses and phone operating systems don’t?
In: 5085
Two main factors: Design goals and the changing nature of virus motivations.
Design Goals:
PCs were designed and marketed as the ultimate multi-tool that can do everything. They are an open system (even Windows). Developers were given full access to *everything*, even at the lowest level. Protections against developers doing bad things are, therefore, a constant battle that can be defeated by the user saying, “yes, give TotallyNotMalware.exe permission to everything on my system”.
Smartphones were designed from the start to be locked down and limited. They are a closed system. Developers are third-class citizens and must put up with any restrictions the platform offers. That wasn’t the case on all phone OS, but it is with iOS and, to a lesser extent, Android.
Virus Motives:
Smartphones *do* have viruses, but you just don’t hear about them that much. PC viruses started in an era where there wasn’t really any money in it. It was all for prestige or anarchy. As such, the virus makers tried to be high profile, and the viruses made the news and you heard about them.
Now, there is lots of money in malware. Therefore, the malware does not want to negatively affect the host (at least, not until the last minute in the case of ransomware). If they harm the host directly, then the user might stop using the device or get it reset. So modern malware mostly tries to run under the radar and sit there compromising passwords and such. This doesn’t cause the same headline-grabbing “FL00FB3RG VIRUS TAKES DOWN THE INTERNET” headlines of the PC virus heyday.
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