Yes definitely more secure than stock, it is actually staggering to compare some of the features like ability to give apps access to only a selected set of contacts/files which as far as i know is still not on base android. whatsapp for example gets ALL of your address book or nothing (limiting usability) on other OS but on Graphene i can give it just 10 whatsapp-only contacts. I dont know how long the 5 will keep getting updates but for all I know it will be some years. the installation process is surprisingly the easiest of any mobile os I have ever encountered, you will be impressed!