With the recent hacking of Apple’s iCloud storage system stoking an already hot debate about how tech companies are safeguarding their users’ sensitive information – from photos to credit cards numbers – the gloves have come off as Apple’s CEO and a former Google CEO are defending their company’s track records on securing data.

Tim Cook, who took over the reigns at Apple when Steve Jobs passed away, appeared on Charlie Rose’s TV show. Daily Tech posted an excerpt of his interview in which Cook subtly criticizes Google when explaining that Apple “take(s) a very different view … than a lot of other companies have” – that view being “we try not to collect data.” Cook gave as example Apple’s iMessage feature and stated flatly that Apple does not read or scan the messages, something that Google has been accused of doing in lawsuits.

Cook shared his company’s policy as part of explaining his overall position on U.S. government’s data collection, saying “if the government laid a subpoena to get iMessages, we can’t provide it. It’s encrypted and we don’t have a key.”

Cook’s words prompted a terse response from Eric Schmidt, the former Google CEO and per Daily Tech, an “evangelist extraordinaire” for the Mountain View company. In comments to CNN Money, Schmidt pointed out Android made encryption available – yet optional, with users able to opt-in manually – since Android 2.3 “Gingerbread” (Google’s next Android version, 5.0 “L,” comes with encryption standard).

Whereas Cook was coy in his criticism of Google, Schmidt took a far more direct stance. The billionaire told CNN Money flat out that “someone didn’t brief (Cook) correctly on Google’s policies,” that it was “unfortunate for him (Cook),” and finally added “our systems are far more secure and encrypted than anyone else, including Apple.”