Apple's closed system is good for security

Apple has turned what used to be seen as a competitive disadvantage into a security benefit, according to experts at the RSA Conference.

Stephen Trilling, senior vice president of security technology and response at Symantec, said during a panel session that Apple used to be derided in the industry for having such a closed system, but that the approach has considerable security advantages. "A lot of people would argue that what hurt Apple 30 years ago, being so closed to most software, is helping the company now," he said.

"The iPhone is a very locked down system and now that's helping as applications are limited in what they can do on the platform." However, Trilling counselled against complacency. Many in the industry had believed that Java was pretty secure, but it has been successfully subverted by hackers.