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Anti virus

Is anti virus protection needed for g tablet? I saw AVG has a app for this and was wondering if viruses are a treat to the android tablets.
Thanks!
Ed

fasteddie58 said:
Is anti virus protection needed for g tablet? I saw AVG has a app for this and was wondering if viruses are a treat to the android tablets.
Thanks!
Ed
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Probably not yet. I read somewhere that the first Android virus had been seen but I don't think it is a big deal for now.

The way Android (and Linux) are structured, you normally wouldn't need an anti-virus. A virus would need root permissions to be able to do much system damage. By default, users do not have root permissions, so this would not normally be a concern. Where as in windows, everybody has administrative (root) permissions, and viruses have a field day.
That being said, the first thing most of us do is root the tablet. This could provide an easy access route for any virus or RootKit. I wonder if our tablets would work as well if we only temporarily rooted them.

Right now they are not needed, but I'm one who doesn't see the harm in having one. I use Lookout on my phone mainly for the gps locating feature.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Nospin said:
Right now they are not needed, but I'm one who doesn't see the harm in having one. I use Lookout on my phone mainly for the gps locating feature.
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Agreed. My thought process is that it's better to have something in place before you actually need it. No harm done by running AV now, especially if you root.

Wouldn't av degrade the performance of the Tablet?
Seems like for now, were still at the making things run reliably stage. I'd be afraid that AV would break something else.

Virtual Pariah said:
Wouldn't av degrade the performance of the Tablet?
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That is a very legitimate concern. With the low resources that most Android tablets have, an anti-virus app could significantly affect performance. I know that they did in Windows (when I used to use Windows).

I use Lookout. It works fine... at least it leads you to believe it does. I am ready to spring for the pro version where they claim you can wipe the tablet if it is lost or stolen.

Mobile security all I want

Ok here's what I want lol my normal anti spy virus extra WITH USB lock so my phone can't be flashed and a cwm password is that so hard...... Core blimey
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA

I dont think that a mobile needs Antivirus...
but if u want one.. market has alot..

I'm currently using Lookout on my Galaxy S2, I dont think there is any with a usb lock function, Although lookout has some really good features if you want to pay for them.

not necessary to install anti-virus software on cellphone

xujunhua said:
not necessary to install anti-virus software on cellphone
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Famous last words.

I have Lookout free version. Pretty decent but I have yet to come across a virus.

You can't get a virus on Android, windows or apple platforms
Ask us any Android Related Questions @FeraLabsDevs on Twitter (Even If You've Bricked)

Unnecessary because the market remove any suspicious apps.
Maybe good for lost or stolen phone which they provide a good protection against that.

U don't need one

I agree its pretty secure but i do have one still

If you want to be secure enough, I would recommend rooting your phone, then install something like Droidwall, LBE, and some other app like that.
That should really set you up just fine!

If mobile security is all you want, then keep your bootloader locked.

as for this , you don;t worry about that ,there is little virus can cause your phone in troule

Mobile security isn't to much to worry about. but if you are still worried i suggest bitdefender.

I am using lookout on my sensation 4g and it has nice features like others have said just no USB lock

Antivirus software
While I tend to agree that antivirus software for your phone probably isn't needed for software found in the markeplace, is there still a risk for those programs side-loaded from other sources? Maybe not. I personally don't see the potential threat as being big enough for me to use it on my phone. But, as already mentioned some security programs also offer additional features that are nice - ie finding your phone if it's lost.

Damn I see a lot of stupid/dangerous replies to this thread. Going to be really funny when these people download a malicious app from the marketplace/Play.
Just to clarify there are no viruses for mobile platforms but that's because a virus is defined as malicious code that can pass it's self on. What we do find is malicious code in apps which is classed as malware rather than a virus. And yes these do exist on the market despite what some of the people on here have said and yes they exist on both Andoird and iOS, not heard of any on Windows yet.

You are the best antivirus. Just don't install suspicious apps from Google Play.

blaked said:
Ok here's what I want lol my normal anti spy virus extra WITH USB lock so my phone can't be flashed and a cwm password is that so hard...... Core blimey
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
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I'd go with AVG antivirus free then

[Poll] What is the best Anti-Theft + Find Phone App ?

Hello,
What is the best Anti Theft App or service to find lost phone that you used and can really depend on ?
please choose your answer and tell us your experience please.
Thanks.

Take a look at Cerberus and its features. I have yet to use it for a lost phone *knock on wood* features are great and so far all I've tried work just fine.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

Well if you have unlimited data (or at least few gigs) i would say best one would be Cerberus.
But if you don't have that luxury then Wheres my Droid will do you just fine.
I'm using WMD and i've "lost" it 2 times and WMD found my phone close enough.

I took the avast anti theft out of avast mobile security and just use that, unlike wmd it is phone reset proof, it locks the sim card and it's become complete since they made a web-commander interface in last update. The only downside to it is that it only uses data and doesn't use wi-fi for localization (which can be considered a minor inconvinience since data is available anywhere while wifi needs the phone to be lost where there's a wifi connection available)

I'm with tt281gt and Hreidmar. For me it is Cerberus.

Kaspersky Mobile Security Lite is one of the best anti theft app.

+1 for cerberus

Cerberus
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Cerberus, I guess... I have used Avast as well, but it wasn't that good so I've changed.

PsycoSkid said:
Cerberus, I guess... I have used Avast as well, but it wasn't that good so I've changed.
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Is Cerberus trustable?

Lookout is pretty neat, accurate if your phone is on wifi or has GPS enabled (always enable GPS, ALWAYS) and it has a scream function. But the free version doesn't let you lock your phone or wipe data and stuff. As far as the others, I haven't tried yet other than this and Samsung Dive so no comment.

I like the remote video, picture, and audio recording capability...I've been using Avast but it does not have it. Lookout does not mention anything about snapping pic, audio, or video. Only thing is I've never heard of this company...not sure if it is trustable.

Been using avast on my pc, for years, and it has been reliable. So when it came to android, that was my first and only a choice. However having read some reviews on the play store, regarding avast, am a bit concerned, because most reviewers who have actually had theft of there devices have raised some concerns that avast is not good at all when one is tracking lost devices. So now not sure what to go for.

I recently tried avast, maybe after that I want to try cerberus.

Has anyone actually used any of these apps, to actually recover a lostor stolen phone, which i ccan only imagine is an extremely dreadful experience.?

avast! i think

I use Avast in about 7 smartphones of the family, I tried to locate the devices for quite some times (never in real theft or lost) and in about 95% of the time the detection was accurate, even that GPS, the Wifi and data connection was off, (Avast turn them himself when sending the command in SMS)
The only missing feature is the ability to take a picture of the thief, they already implemented it but they do not include it for some legal reason )
btw:
Some story of tablet recovered by avast AFTER factory reset:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=126958.0
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

memory hogging antivirus

avast! Mobile Security v2.0.4400 using up 110 MB ram leaving free ram only 27 MB.
is this normal?
is an antivirus really required on a rooted jellybean phone?
are there better alternatives to avast! Mobile Security?

No, it's not needed since you normally download your apps from Play Store. It's safe. It not only hogs battery and ram, it also collect anonymous user info and data.

To be frank antiviruses are not required actually.
They drain battery,ram usage,etc..and makes few games to run non smoothly..
SENT FROM MONSTER ! ! !
HIT THANX OR I WILL JUST
CRY...

I've been running android naked in terms of anti virus for years and have never had any malware problems (and I even occasionally sideload things)
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

It does add some nice anti theft and firewall features.

Do people even write viruses/malware for android? Can't say I've ever come across anything myself that would justify an AV.

Is there an antivirus which only works on demand and not in background?

ZeitgeistGlee said:
Do people even write viruses/malware for android? Can't say I've ever come across anything myself that would justify an AV.
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There's quite a lot malware around but I think mostly it's not in official play store

Big_Berny said:
There's quite a lot malware around but I think mostly it's not in official play store
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You're right...

Quite a relief now I need to uninstall my AV on my phone.

I use anti on my HTC one. Not sure if needed or not.
Sent from my HTCONE using xda premium

In my 4 years of using an android I've never really felt the need to use an Antivirus.

Frankly, an antivirus on your phone is purely to keep paranoia in check. There's no point in using it as a locator after theft, because the first thing thieves do is wipe the phone.
Ironically, most infected apps are actually found in the Play Store, not on the 'alternative' websites. (unless you start downloading crap off mysterious Russian websites that have filenames like 'install.Apk') I know a few people who download litterally everything, and even they never had malware on their phone.
All the news articles on android malware are from the play store. But they usually only target eastern European users.
Your best antivirus is still common sense. If something seems fishy, it usually is.
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Anti virus / Malware / Firewall

I am looking for real world users with knowledge to suggest, recommend, or advise me in my quest of needing or not needing a Anti virus / Malware / Firewall application on my Android device. With consideration of cost not to be a factor.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app

To know. Android has no viruses. Yo dont have a need to a n antivirus app. Its just for tracking you phone if Its lost or for paying attention to the opened usb drbbuging. Or for the high risk apps on the mobile .
Hit Thanks if I helped you.
SeNt FrOm Ma GALAXY

Android has vulnerabilities. Anti virus apps will do nothing except slow your phone down. If you want to avoid vulnerabilities, don't download cracked apps, and only download from Google play store, or another trusted source, like f-droid. As long as you do this, you'll be very safe. If you'd like lost phone tracking, I'd recommend Cerberus.

I personally use kaspersky antivirus wich is great And simple to use !
Sent from my Xperia S running Key Lime Pie

It's not needed because android is based on Linux and Linux has a better security model and system.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

why not
As a very computer savvy 'dude', I would say that some of the free security apps are not such a bad thing to install. Linux is very good, however it is open source which means every update that comes out is because a bunch of people found vulnerabilities in the code, so it needs to be patched. I am a Net +, Security +, and Certified Ethical Hacker certified (although the Ethical is usually "X"ed out )) but many in my 'field' run some type of AV --even on their home linux computer, not just the droid. heck, most of us password secure our phones. we are pretty paranoid as a rule of thumb, but it certainly only adds a level of confidence that you are protected.
Like I said, their are plenty of good freeware, just google it, and try em out!!
But I will say the android is more secure than iCrap.

Kaspersky mobile security is the best..
Sent from my C6502 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

most of the antivirus apps are bloatware/malware themselves. Don't install suspicious apps and keep an eye on your resources, you should be fine.

The AVG has a decent app tp android... But i guess it´s useless, because those antivirus app does not anything!

Most anti virus also have anti theft and loss prevention capabilities ... it's not a bad idea to grab one ... lookout has some nice free features

How does android have no viruses? You are saying that there is no one out there that codes maliciously for android devices.... should I also believe that all dogs boys and all cats are girls?
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Dear XDA memebers I found a Backdoor on all Androids Frimeware :'( NoBody believe me
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I've used Lookout for a couple of years. Seems to serve it's purpose.
Sent from my EVO using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Mohamed Khaled Mk said:
To know. Android has no viruses. Yo dont have a need to a n antivirus app. Its just for tracking you phone if Its lost or for paying attention to the opened usb drbbuging. Or for the high risk apps on the mobile .
Hit Thanks if I helped you.
SeNt FrOm Ma GALAXY
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Wrong.... Virus on android exist! And the real problems with Android (vs iOS), it that you can install .apk without rooting your.phone! 80% of the infect stuff come from apk and about 20% from ads in free apps!
For the initial question, I personally use AVG Pro ($9.99). Antivirus, anti-malware and anti-spyware. You have a privacy protection include and safe web browsing.
Oh, there's an lost device option too... You can find it on a Google Map!
Chris
Sent from my Optimus G (RootBox) using xda app-developers app

I use avast antivirus and I am fine. It has many features including firewall protection app and could also operate as an alarm. This function, however I still do not know how to use.

Best combinations for Non-rooted users
Antivirus : Avast
Firewall: Mobiwol Firewall
Try it and see!
GL

Mohamed Khaled Mk said:
To know. Android has no viruses. Yo dont have a need to a n antivirus app.
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Well, there are about 300 distinct families of viruses for Android, and about 60,000 variants (if not more). All the markets, both official and unoffical, have been affected at some point.
According to Google's last talk at VB2013, if you run an unmodified ROM with App Verify enabled and you download apps only from the Google Play Store, you have 0.1% probability of getting infected. Nevertheless, there are about 100 antivirus apps which, in addition to detecting known viruses, help the user to track a lost phone (for instance).
I believe it's quite incorrect to say that "Android has no viruses".

I agree that anti-virus app will slow down your phone if your phone's cpu is not strong.

CyanogenMod comes with as built in permission manager. When you install any app, you can see the permissions the app uses. If something is suspicious, just block that permission using permission manager.
And for firewall there is droid wall which is dead simple but works spot on!
Sent from my HTC Explorer A310e

uniquesky said:
I agree that anti-virus app will slow down your phone if your phone's cpu is not strong.
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It is true, my phone became slow when I installed Kaspersky for Android.