I will be getting my transformer in a couple days. I am a complete noob to android (first device) and need to know if antivirus is necessary on this device. Specifically:
1. Does the transformer come with any antivirus built in.
2. Do you feel android devices need antivirus, if the user is careful, and
3. If so, do you recommend a specific program?
Thanks in advance for any responses.
No antivirus is included and I really haven't felt the need to find and install one.
I think we are mostly safe if we get our apps from trusted sources like Android Market or Amazon Appstore.
If you go out downloading APK files from shady websites I suppose you could have a problem.
Related
I'm seeing anti virus software for phones, are there any viruses around for android? Is worth wasting RAM and CPU on anti-virus program
I use to have it installed on my android but I have not yet heard of a virus for android platform. I uninstalled it.
Well, antivirus is probably not the right word but an app which will check what you install to see if a malware will be nice...
Lookout might be that tool but i don't know any malicious apps to test it
If you only install software from the Market, you'd probably be fine without anti-virus. And you'd have to make sure not to visit any 'shady' websites on your phone.
I believe it is necessary...
Check out the first Android RootKit:
h-online.com/open/news/item/Android-rootkit-demonstrated-1049183.html[/url]
.. I have Lookout installed for this purpose , and to find my device if I forget it somewhere.. LOL
Like tuxStyle was saying, Im sure if we grant wrong application to access personal information and internet, end result will be very bad.
Im little sceptical Google itself made us vulnerable by tempting to use everything on cloud basis.
One recommendation is when you install apps, check the allowed permission is really necessary. so far I couldn't find any application that allow us to limit in each application . but firewall apps are coming up. we need more.
SlipperyMonkey said:
I believe it is necessary...
Check out the first Android RootKit:
h-online.com/open/news/item/Android-rootkit-demonstrated-1049183.html[/url]
.. I have Lookout installed for this purpose , and to find my device if I forget it somewhere.. LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but according to the article anti virus cannot detect rootkit
Hi, I'm new here and I have questions. I have aon't ericsson xperia x10 with At&t.First, is there any way for m to do the android 2.1 upgrade without having to have a computer? Next, I was familiarizing myself with the updated market; I installed a particular apple, but when I went to access the app, I got that all too familiar error mag........your phone has Beeb set to block installation of apps, blah blah blah, outside of the market. I'm all confused now. Could someone please help me with this bloody phone? Pol
Sorry. I may have posted in wrong spot. I'll get better. Pol
It's no problem!
It's a pretty simple fix go to: Settings -> Applications and then check the option "Unknown Sources". That will allow you to install apk's from outside of the market.
===And now the Warning===
Please keep in mind that you are installing something that did not come from the android market, you could potentially get your phone infected by malware, spyware, viruses, etc. Be sure you pay close attention to the resources the software will be using before you install it. If it looks like it's using a resource it shouldn't be using then don't install it and if you need too ask someone here on XDA if they know anything about it.
Good luck and I hope that helps!
Unknown Sources option
Unfortunately there is no option for unknown sources. I've done everything I could find on the web and here.
Hello guys,
This is a news of 1 month ago, but I want to share what we developers have discovered debugging our apps.
There is a new trojan in town, something that is injected in the APKs and starts to download other apps and track you down. It's easy to be found but for developers it's impossible to remove it because it comes from an altered version of the original APK.
It's important to understand that with some work is possible to alter an app and to publish it on third party stores.
I highly suggest to download apps only on google play or amazon. If you really need to download an app, be really careful and scan the apk. If you get a crash check the logcat and if you find something like this "com.walkfreestub" clean your phone immediately.
These are some experiences by the devs:
https://forums.malwarebytes.org/ind...86944448apk-from-mobogenie-allegedly-pou-app/
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/32080414/what-is-com-walkfreestub-causing-crashes-on-android
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/android-security-discuss/YH80_qADG5E
What antivirus is recommend?
injulia said:
What antivirus is recommend?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try with Malwarebytes :good:
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+ one
Envoyé de mon E5333 en utilisant Tapatalk
Kenfary72 said:
i thinks for android no needs one antivirus..
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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.