Anti virus / Malware / Firewall - Security Discussion

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.
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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 !
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It's not needed because android is based on Linux and Linux has a better security model and system.
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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..
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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.
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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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
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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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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!
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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.

Related

Is security lookout necessary?

I have an android phone n was wondering it I need this protecting to take space n battery of my phone. Does anyone thing It's truly necessary thanks
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Absolutely useless.
CorradoSud said:
Absolutely useless.
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Thank you I though so to since It's runs on Linux right
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Yes it runs linux but taking care on the battery and space is needed for good responsiveness from your mobile on multitasking.
I found the program alright, if not a little battery draining. But turning off the seemingly-hourly backups and just doing them manually every so often helped, and I managed to locate my phone in somebody's pocket at a party
jarocho151 said:
I have an android phone n was wondering it I need this protecting to take space n battery of my phone. Does anyone thing It's truly necessary thanks
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its better to be safe than sorry. there have been viruses that have spread on android phones (ex. droiddream)
the gps location and scream features are worth it.
Any antivirus isn't so worth using as an antivirus YET, but in a few months/years, they will be our saviours. See...right now there aren't many malware around that can harm you if you don't root your phone or download untrustworthy apps. But there will be soon, as for example a serious one called "Droiddream", discovered not so long ago.
(Can't post outside links yet, but just google "Droiddream" and you'll have a read at how bad viruses will get in not so long)
If you're careful with what you download on your phone, you should be fine. If you're constantly trying new apps and downloading various things you might want to at least have a slight peace of mind!
It's hard to be careful with what you download if the Android Market itself spreads malware. So yes, use an antivirus app just in case that trustworthy app from the market turns out not so trustworthy after all.

[Q] Are you using an Antivirus/Anti-spyware app?

Do we need antivirus or anti-spyware apps on our devices? Are you currently using one? If so, which one do you use and would you recommend it for others?
I am not using it and dont see need for it but all my friends use it. They use Lookout app!!!!!!!!
Budge said:
Do we need antivirus or anti-spyware apps on our devices? Are you currently using one? If so, which one do you use and would you recommend it for others?
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I don't use one either. Never have
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If you sideload apps from untrusted sources, it might be a good idea to have one. I've seen my bud get alerts installing apk's from newsgroups.
Look at the permissions, comments, the vendor.
Do not blindly download apps and you will never need Android Antivirus.
I've got Lookout as well, but only for the feature that allows you to find your phone incase you lose it. I figured, why not activate the antivirus feature, I doubt I'll ever need it though to be honest.
It's not like the Lookout antivirus program costs anything. So why not use it? Plus, as the poster above noted, you have the locate function ready if it gets lost.
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I've used both AVG and Lookout. It never hurts to have an antivirus installed.
I'm using AVG like on my PC.
Never got any virus on my PC and don't want on my android phone.
I'm using Avast, but mostly because I use the Anti-Theft plug-in and also the Firewall, so it doesn't hurt to have the AV turned on as well.
If it weren't for the Anti-Theft and Firewall, I wouldn't be using one.
Avast has done a great job protecting my laptop, so I installed it on my phone.
Why not use an antivirus app? Well, battery drain, slower performance, and the fact that you probably don't need it are a few reasons.
If you're careful about apps you download you should never have an issue. My rule of thumb is not to download an app from the Market with fewer than 100,000 downloads, unless it's an app that I know is safe based on a recommendation from a knowledgeable person here on XDA. I also read the reviews and check out the dev first.
But, if you don't mind battery drain and slower performance, and it makes you feel safer, by all means go ahead. Just don't pay for an antivirus service--the paid services don't do anything that the free ones don't.

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
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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
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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
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I'd go with AVG antivirus free then

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)
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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.
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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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Do Android malwares exist?

Some say they don't some (including FBI) say they do.
Who is right???
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some
csm121295 said:
Some say they don't some (including FBI) say they do.
Who is right???
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they do exists but very less as compare to Windows.
Do anti-virus can help this problem?
Some say Android anti-virus is useless though...
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[email protected] D€\/¡! said:
they do exists but very less as compare to Windows.
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Are you sure? In about 20 years I never saw malwares on Linux, Android and OSX. Windows only!
Yes but unless you're an idiot you won't get them
You need it though because antivirus app have safe browsing option and can help find your device if lost. Less malware though but it can detect the risk of having a kind of app. Im using lookout.
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im just trying to help so I hope it works
To my experience, I've never gotten a virus. None of my phones have issues. Nor have I ever heard of it. Linux is complex system, though viruses exist everywhere. And in many forms you have a slight chance of getting a virus.
Using anti-virus apps are worthless and don't really work. They slow your device down allot, and usually ruin your experience.
Its hard to get viruses on android devices. So you shouldn't be worried.
Have fun
don't u worry child these malwares are not that harmful.
if u get any problem just reset ur device and have fun
Don't worry about them the latest Google Play Services has a lot of virus security patches
i have heard of virus on android but still have yet to get one, if you do get one, i fixed my friends chinese tablet by just factory resetting it, the only harm it does is spam adds and gets apps on your device and slows down.
Trozzul said:
i have heard of virus on android but still have yet to get one, if you do get one, i fixed my friends chinese tablet by just factory resetting it, the only harm it does is spam adds and gets apps on your device and slows down.
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Yeap, so some refer to anti virus apps and that makes it worse.

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