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If BlackBerry Adopts Android, Its Security Standards Could Suffer

Should BlackBerry Switch to Android's OS? Analyzing Pros and Cons

(Continued from Prior Part)

Android accounts for 94% of mobile threats by platform

In the prior parts of this series, we discussed how adopting Google’s (GOOG) Android could benefit BlackBerry (BBRY). However, at the same time, BlackBerry would take on the higher security risk of Android compared to its own operating system. Android is considered to be the least secure platform.

According to an April 2015 report from Symantec (SYMC) and as the chart below shows, Android accounted for 94% of all mobile threats in 2014. Symbian and Mircosoft (MSFT) Windows were found to have zero mobile threats on their platforms, while Apple’s (AAPL) iOS accounted for 6% of mobile threats. This 94% share of threats is too high despite the fact that Android is the dominant player in the smartphone OS market.

BlackBerry has made acquisitions to enhance its security

This comparative lack of security for Android shows that BlackBerry could do more harm than good to its image as a secure player by adopting Android as its operating system. BlackBerry continues to make efforts to enhance its security features. The company has made several acquisitions for that purpose. In BlackBerry Boosts Security Portfolio with WatchDox Acquisition , we discussed how, after acquiring Secusmart and WatchDox, BlackBerry now offers a complete portfolio for enterprise security, including secure voice, text, emails, messages, and files.

All these efforts to maintain its high security standards could have been a waste if BlackBerry adopts Google’s less secure Android operating system. To gain diversified exposure to Google, you could invest in the PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ). QQQ invests about 3.7% of its holdings in Google.

Browse this series on Market Realist:

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