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Securing my phone, so many choices

I recently bought Android phone HTC ONE V and i am suprised how business work around Anroid OS + apps. I see some major problems :
1) Is there any trusted authority which inform users that application is 'safe' ? (see article : android-malware-spreads-via-website-injection-campaigns) Malware apps are even on Google Play market. I suppose that solution for this problem is to download just from e.g. TOP 10 apps from each category and just *hope* and *believe* that there is no malware contained just because these apps are soo much popular.
2) How to control permissions/app starts/firewall is there any good app for that ? I have unrooted phone. (I cant have Cyanogenmod 7/9 installed on my HTC One V because it was not ported yet) What would you recommend to me ? I see a lot of recommendations for "LBE Privacy Guard" app but then i found thread here on xda forum that this application is maybe suspicious/dangerous etc... I just want to have full control over my phone, why is that choice so difficult ?
List of apps, often recommened by 'The Internet', are these ok or not ? :
Wifi Protector
Droidwall
WhisperCore
WhisperMonitor
SSH Tunnel
Titanium Backup
ROM Manager
Tasker
Perfect App Protector Pro
This exactly describes my situation, many choices -> i expect to get the best from the Android :
The opportunity costs associated with a decision and the time and effort that go into making it are "fixed costs" that we "pay" up front, and those costs then get "amortized" over the life of the decision. The more we invest in a decision, the more satisfaction we expect to realize from our investment. If the decision provides substantial satisfaction for a long time after it is made, the costs of making it recede into insignificance. But if the decision provides pleasure for only a short time, those costs loom large. Spending four months deciding what stereo to buy is not so bad if you really enjoy that stereo for 15 years. But if you are excited by it for six months and then adapt, you may feel like a fool for having put in all that effort.
Dont you feel the same about these Android 'choices' sometimes ?

Tell Me What Kind Of Apps You Are Looking For And I'll Give you Some Recommendations

From the list of apps you have provided I can see that all of them are trusted and reliable.. so go ahead..

1. Well google aded some security in market so before they upload app they check if it is malware-free. But for more security you can download antivirus
(I RECOMMEND AVAST!)
2. For managing apps permisions im using LBE Privacy Guard is the top app for permisions and firewall managment.
Titanium Backup, Tasker-- awesome apps 100% excelent!
Have a nice day

+1 for avast! excellent at keeping viruses out, keeping data secure, doesn't slow the phone down and has an awesome anti-theft feature which if you're rooted is even better!

Did anyones avast actually find anything that is not a false positive?
Just wondering if this is really necessary...

My avast detected the one click root and androot files on my sd card as malware, which I mean they could be lol but the process of identifying them as false positives was a pain. Other than that... Avast is amazing.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using XDA

onebornoflight said:
My avast detected the one click root and androot files on my sd card as malware, which I mean they could be lol but the process of identifying them as false positives was a pain. Other than that... Avast is amazing.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using XDA
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Yes, sometimes it does its an antivirus so... he thinks that third-party apps are suspicious, but there is nothing to worry about when it comes to root.

antivirus is no good for performance

Antivirus overrated
Antivirus is and will never be any good for performance. You have to decide what risk you are willing to take. With good common sense, you can filter out the obvious threats. Review apps permissions and (try to) install only apps you and the community trust. If you don't trust it, ask around in this forum
Also - obviously - don't visit suspicious sites, click on links in emails and never download programs you don't know.
Personally, i do not use virus protection. I do use DroidWall and LBE Privacy guard for a few apps, but more for data and performance issues.
But i also regularly whipe my phone to install new ROM's and let my (trusted) apps freshly reinstall and restore only game user data.

rilorolo said:
Antivirus is and will never be any good for performance. You have to decide what risk you are willing to take. With good common sense, you can filter out the obvious threats. Review apps permissions and (try to) install only apps you and the community trust. If you don't trust it, ask around in this forum
Also - obviously - don't visit suspicious sites, click on links in emails and never download programs you don't know.
Personally, i do not use virus protection. I do use DroidWall and LBE Privacy guard for a few apps, but more for data and performance issues.
But i also regularly whipe my phone to install new ROM's and let my (trusted) apps freshly reinstall and restore only game user data.
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Click to collapse
+1 here. I think that there is no need to use an Antivirus. Just have a look on the permissions when installing an app and you will be OK.

Can a rooting program install malware?

Hi folks,
Just wondering if running a program to root an Android can install malware (record or spy on my data, messages, etc.), and if so, are there any suggestions on how to find it? I've run 'Anti Spy Mobile Free' and have Avast! installed, with nothing found, and from the searches I've done, the main thing that came back was that the risk for getting infected with bad stuff increases when you root...but nothing about the actual process being bad.
I found the program on this site, so, I'm guessing it's fine. Just being a bit paranoid haha.
(I rooted it a few months ago, and don't remember what it was called, sorry)
Thanks for any help!

Anti Spy Mobile will give you warning or malware if there are any packages that has escalated spyware permissions - read SMS, record voice calls, etc. However even on rooted phones every process (service or background process) comes from an app (I mean if you are sure in the ROM that you are using and the apps installed, there's nothing to worry about). There are some exploits on Android but they can escalate the user permissions, and if they are used with separate spyware, the spyware should be an apk too. Many of the spywares are "hidden" (e.g. they don't have launcher activity) and they don't show on your launcher phone desktop - but you will still see them at the installed apps list. Both anti spy mobile and avast are searching through all installed packages.

Phone, in my experience is quite hard to get virus, provided you don't go anywhere pornographic or whatnot. Recommend avast if you are really paranoid.

Moved to General Q&A.

Thanks a lot!

install antivirus or antimalware to be sure!

Good antivirus for rooted phones?

Hey does anyone know of a good antivirus app for a rooted zenfone 2e? I want one that is free but has as many features as possible as well. Thanks.

I used to use Avast but the best anti virus is you, the user. Know your system, know the internet. If youre rooting, you will/should eventually get very familiar with android, how it behaves, the file system, permissions, built-in apps, etc. Avoid indiscriminate app downloads, especially from places other than the play store, and never follow links that youre unsure of. My opinion is that Windows is the only OS that AV is pretty much necessary.

I second avast. An interesting feature is that it will survive a factory reset if stolen.

zshep99 said:
Hey does anyone know of a good antivirus app for a rooted zenfone 2e? I want one that is free but has as many features as possible as well. Thanks.
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Unlike the PC, it is extremely unlikely you will "get" a virus on your android. It is you who has to install the malware to make it happen. And it is extremely easy to remove the malware. A factory reset would do it and as root user you could simply restore your nandroid backup.
tetakpatalked from Nexus 7 flo

Most antivirus apps come with a huge amount of crap no one needs. They often drain your battery and slow your smartphone down. I have also seen antivirus apps which behave more like spyware by replacing advertisements in other apps or direct you to untrustworthy websites when opening the webbrowser.
My opinion: You do not need an antivirus app on your smartphone. Make sure you install most apps via appstore. Take care with apps from 3rd party websites. (Especially if the website says you have an virus on your smartphone => scareware!)

I would never install Antivir-Apps, since they will drop your phone-performance. And what do you get for this? Nothing. Just be carefully of what you are downloading.

i thinks for android no needs one antivirus..

Kenfary72 said:
i thinks for android no needs one antivirus..
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+ one
Envoyé de mon E5333 en utilisant Tapatalk

Kenfary72 said:
i thinks for android no needs one antivirus..
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Click to collapse
+ two

My opinion is that android doesn't need antivirus software when the user is careful about what he downloads.

no disregard to anyone, but are you sure you are in developers forum ?!?! this is not a google store !
do you still live in Symbian world ? even the google play itself has malwares ! or you just want to ignore it ? beside those, hangroid can be easily hacked. the only system that dose not a antivirus is winphone, and it has not need it yet ! but they will come for it very soon.
personally i will never trust ios o even open my email, and in android i have an original payed antivirus that really can respond to a virus. i have original nod32 (i do NOT like it, but i didn't get a better one in hangroid.)
visited by lenovo tab2 a8.
best regards, josef.

josef2600 said:
no disregard to anyone, but are you sure you are in developers forum ?!?! this is not a google store !
do you still live in Symbian world ? even the google play itself has malwares ! or you just want to ignore it ? beside those, hangroid can be easily hacked. the only system that dose not a antivirus is winphone, and it has not need it yet ! but they will come for it very soon.
personally i will never trust ios o even open my email, and in android i have an original payed antivirus that really can respond to a virus. i have original nod32 (i do NOT like it, but i didn't get a better one in hangroid.)
visited by lenovo tab2 a8.
best regards, josef.
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Click to collapse
Best antivirus is still brain.apk
Just do not instal every bulls* and you are good to go.
Most antivirus apps are snakeoil/bloatware which will not protect you from anything!

It is good to think about an anti-virus. Android malwares exist, so everyone who's telling here that AVs for Android are a no-go are jumping the gun. However, the Android system already has some security measures into place. So is it still worth it? Yes. The Play Store can't guarantee a 100% clean virus free app collection. History has shown that. "use your brain" is also not a really constructive argument, it is easy to install a sample or virus infected application. Is it that dumb to use an AV on Android? No.
My suggestion, *buy* an AV. For example I have a yearly subscription to Freedome from F-Secure (VPN service). Primarly for my laptop but you can install it on three devices (I have it on 2 laptops and my smartphone). For the smartphone, besides a VPN the app will also scan the device for malicious apps so I got all my important security features in one app. I know that Avast has something similar. I paid 50 euros for one year, which is next to nothing considering the features and piece of mind. And for all those that go on ranting on my post here, I am a security professional in Android and see malware samples from the inside (reverse engineer) all the time
I encourage you to look in those options: VPN and App scan.

tetakpatak said:
Unlike the PC, it is extremely unlikely you will "get" a virus on your android. It is you who has to install the malware to make it happen. And it is extremely easy to remove the malware. A factory reset would do it and as root user you could simply restore your nandroid backup.
tetakpatalked from Nexus 7 flo
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Remember stagefight thingy ? One could have abused it to gain root privileges and install a binary that run at start, a raw binary, not a package.
Tell me how it is easy to uninstall it, you would first have to track it, if it's purpose wasn't to patch other binaries, and then, you're good to reflash system partition.
No system is invulnerable
Of course, it's tough to get a virus on android, but there's still common malware, adware, scareware, and raw security flaws. There is still need for security solutions, mostly for the raw flaws.

Best choice for you from my point of view
CM Security & Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

I agree with Magissia if you think over that what you are going to do.

Virustotal AND vulnerability patches

Antivirus Software, is it needed

You see all these Anti-Virus apps on the market:
Are they needed
Do you use one?
Have you ever had a virus?
I'm not sure, if I stick to getting apps just off the google play store surely i'll be fine? I've never had a virus on android, on my previous HTC M7, M8 and M9 I used Kaspersky just because I got it free with my banking, but I removed it from the M9 after a few months.

Mcyates said:
You see all these Anti-Virus apps on the market:
Are they needed
Do you use one?
Have you ever had a virus?
I'm not sure, if I stick to getting apps just off the google play store surely i'll be fine? I've never had a virus on android, on my previous HTC M7, M8 and M9 I used Kaspersky just because I got it free with my banking, but I removed it from the M9 after a few months.
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Click to collapse
From what I've gathered, if you're a relatively aware user and install apps either from the play store or other trusted sources then those antivirus and cleaner apps, at best, mitigate an already very low risk or, at worst, drain your system resources, steal personal info, and/or con you into spending money with no benefit whatsoever.

1. Not in my opinion
2. No
2. No
Edit: In the spirit of this post, if you're on the web and you get a pop up stating your phone has a virus... It's a scam.

1. no
2. no
3. no
Never used an antivirus program on a computer or a phone and never had one single issue with it ever in the entire history I have used a computer.

No, they're not needed
No, I don't
No, I've never had one
Sent from my SM-G935T using XDA-Developers mobile app

1. No, unless you're fond of downloading dodgy apps from weird Russian hacker sites (and even then I'm not convinced an AV app would save you)
2. No
3. No

Mcyates said:
You see all these Anti-Virus apps on the market:
Are they needed
Do you use one?
Have you ever had a virus?
I'm not sure, if I stick to getting apps just off the google play store surely i'll be fine? I've never had a virus on android, on my previous HTC M7, M8 and M9 I used Kaspersky just because I got it free with my banking, but I removed it from the M9 after a few months.
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Click to collapse
Answer to all questions: NO.
More detailed answer to the general idea of an antivirus on Android: Simply put, if an antivirus program is *able* to scan your Android device, then it IS A VIRUS. Android prevents all applications running in the "untrusted_app" security context (which means EVERYTHING that you install from ANYWHERE, except those which are an upgrade to a system application with matching signature) from any kind of access to anything which would be required in order to write an antivirus program that actually does ANYTHING.
So to answer your question properly; ANY antivirus on Android is DEFINITELY one of two things;
1) A virus.
2) A placebo that tries to take your money.

1. No
2. Not for several years(used to use AVG)
3. Never had a single issue
To put it bluntly, antivirus is almost useless on smartphones. They pretty much only check installs of apps(not other downloads), and they don't know what viruses look like, in my experience. After years of use, my antivirus never found a virus, but did try to prevent me installing a bunch of root apps because it often thought they were malicious. So it only got in my way. Several years later I didn't even remembered they existed till this post reminded me.

My last 2 phones both came with lookout , S6 & s7 from TMO...it seems like this application does nothing but drain my phone of resources. Once i disable lookout in app manager the phone becomes much smoother and faster.
So yes I think these kinds of apps are useless.

security App

Got my son a Note 5 for Christmas yesterday, I know on mine i run Lookout as the native antivirus and every couple of weeks I scan it with Malwarebytes and have not had a problem. When I was at the ATT store activating it for him the salesman told me NOT to install lookout and malwarebytes as they will harm the phone (Samsungs come with lookout already preloaded) he told me to use Avast (I have used that for PCs and know its a good product) and that has a malware scanner and antivirus all in one. What are peoples opinions or suggestions?

no need for malware and antivirus for android
no root no problem apps require root permission to do what the virus does

AlMaghraby said:
no need for malware and antivirus for android
no root no problem apps require root permission to do what the virus does
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im not so much worried about the apps themselves causing issues, Im more concerned about when he uses the internet itself. you see he has Autism and dosent understand that people can put harmful stuff inside the links. He is 15 and he wanted a phone, movies, you tube etc.... but I know e will get curious (like all kids) and surf the net. His friends in school have phones so I thought he was old enough to have one too. Im just worried about him opening up an email or link and seeing something or his phone getting infected

https://disconnect.me/ ,if you must have ...

even if he surfs the internet those malware and viruses you talk about are made for windows not android so I see that there is no way to infect your phone without being rooted.
those links won't affect the phone.
and I suggest that you untick unknow resources install from setting and you will be just fine .