[Q] Anti virus - Miscellaneous Android Development

To whom may concern,
I would like to purchase the Galaxy not 3 but i have some concern Android did not fix a major problem that people get on the phone and that is called a virus. I was wondering do any developers would know a really good antivirus app that i could put on the Galaxy note 3 and not worry about virus coming on my phone. This app must be highly recommended that all developers would agree upon it
thanks
apsjr1

I've used android for almost three years and never stumbled upon a virus. you could use avast, kaspersky or anti malware bytes
Sent from my GT-I9505

Related

Best antivirus for galaxy tab

Hi guys
i just read about trojan attack on android phones and hence i am planning to install antivirus software.
Could you please guide which is the best antivirus for galaxy tab which should not be very resource hungry.
Thanks in advance
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
I use look out
Sent from my SGH-T849 using Tapatalk
pda_crazy said:
Hi guys
i just read about trojan attack on android phones and hence i am planning to install antivirus software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A report that was released by a company selling anti-virus products for Android. A report that has since been attacked for its credibility, as it seems the "trojan" may simply have been a legitimate (if intrusive) reporting mechanism used by the Chinese store selling those apps.
Bottom line: If you don't side-load content, you simply do not need anti virus on Android. It's a waste of time, money, processing power and battery life. I'm not aware of any known exploits on the Android ecosystem that don't require the user to side-load malware from sources outside the official Android market.
Android isn't windows. Android is a secure architecture from the ground up. Android doesn't have OS holes that need plugging. Android doesn't offer itself up to be infected every time an email is received.
If you're really worried about viruses, simply don't install apps from anywhere except the official Android market. Doing this single thing will do far more to guarantee safety than any anti-virus software.
Now if you do side-load content from questionable sources, an anti-virus product could potentially provide protection. In the real word, anti-virus software rarely recognizes new, zero day exploits. so not all that much protection at all.
After hearing such good things about android i am feeling proud to be android owner.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
Do we really need an Antivirus on the Galaxy Tab?
Better safe than sorry especially since there is no rejection poilicy for the market
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
i think your better served reading the permissions of apps installed.
Things like Applanet that ask for access to log in credentials are far more dangerous then malware.
That is as long as your not getting your apps from chinese markets.
NetQin Android Antivirus
pda_crazy said:
Hi guys
i just read about trojan attack on android phones and hence i am planning to install antivirus software.
Could you please guide which is the best antivirus for galaxy tab which should not be very resource hungry.
Thanks in advance
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NetQin Android Antivirus, works fine!
TainT said:
i think your better served reading the permissions of apps installed.
Things like Applanet that ask for access to log in credentials are far more dangerous then malware.
That is as long as your not getting your apps from chinese markets.
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Click to collapse
This.
Antivirus apps are not required. These "reports" are from antivirus creators designed to make you think you need one.
Actually read the reports? They are not viruses, but simply permissions you give it when installing anyway.
I wouldn't have thought antivirus was required, especially given Android's base as a Linux. All it would do is waste CPU cycles.
Spent the last 5 years as a Symbian user listening to people claim that AV on the phones was a 'must have'.
Glad to see some things are the same on Android!
A Trojan Horse on Android/Linux is like an upper class chav, it's not going to happen.
Sent from my GT-P1000
EStrong Security manager isn't an antivirus per se but it seems to do a manual scan for malicious apps. They're very vague as to what it actually does though.
I don't really understand why people feel the need to get anti-virus for linux. To get something malicious you've got to install it yourself and thats pretty damn hard considering the phone will tell you what the app is tring to access and even then the app doesn't have any access to any other apps nor does it have root access to the phones file system.... the most it could really do is collect data about you, or maybe delete files on your SD card or something like that.
there is some very naive linux fanboys in here. there is plenty of reasons to have some sort of malware/privacy security on android. there have been various independant confirmations of apps in the market place containing malware espesially in the last month or so.
lookout is a good one or kaspersky. the both have good scanners and also can protect personal info aswell.
TheATHEiST said:
there is some very naive linux fanboys in here. there is plenty of reasons to have some sort of malware/privacy security on android. there have been various independant confirmations of apps in the market place containing malware espesially in the last month or so.
lookout is a good one or kaspersky. the both have good scanners and also can protect personal info aswell.
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Click to collapse
I would think that since the last reply was from January, people would have learnt that.. The last malware incident that got Google involved within 5 minutes and had over 50 apps pulled was pretty well publicized.
Anyway, people have got to realize that no one OS is invulnerable. It's just a matter of time before people start finding exploits when an OS gets popular - for Android that time is now. Heck, not sure how many people are aware, but roots and jailbreaks ARE exploits themselves. Trying scanning the rooting/jailbreaking tools with your desktop AV and all becomes clear.
darkwoof said:
Heck, not sure how many people are aware, but roots and jailbreaks ARE exploits themselves. Trying scanning the rooting/jailbreaking tools with your desktop AV and all becomes clear.
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Click to collapse
Precisely. A rooted device is the best to attack for malware apps. If there's a developer that's smart enough, they can get pretty much anything if you're rooted.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA Premium App
Since I'm rooted, I installed Lookout too.
Funny coz it's easily uninstalled eventhough has apps policy/administrator (I forgot the name)
Well.. I use it mainly for the Missing Device feature (paired with PREY also).
GANJDROID said:
Precisely. A rooted device is the best to attack for malware apps. If there's a developer that's smart enough, they can get pretty much anything if you're rooted.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dude you did not understand the last post at all!
you dont need to have your device rooted. a normal market app can root your device without you knowing it, and can then do whatever with your device.
how do you think z4root does root your device? (z4root is an app that does root the phone for you, normally with your knowledge)
Geletis said:
A report that was released by a company selling anti-virus products for Android. A report that has since been attacked for its credibility, as it seems the "trojan" may simply have been a legitimate (if intrusive) reporting mechanism used by the Chinese store selling those apps.
Bottom line: If you don't side-load content, you simply do not need anti virus on Android. It's a waste of time, money, processing power and battery life. I'm not aware of any known exploits on the Android ecosystem that don't require the user to side-load malware from sources outside the official Android market.
Android isn't windows. Android is a secure architecture from the ground up. Android doesn't have OS holes that need plugging. Android doesn't offer itself up to be infected every time an email is received.
If you're really worried about viruses, simply don't install apps from anywhere except the official Android market. Doing this single thing will do far more to guarantee safety than any anti-virus software.
Now if you do side-load content from questionable sources, an anti-virus product could potentially provide protection. In the real word, anti-virus software rarely recognizes new, zero day exploits. so not all that much protection at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, You have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. MANY malware have been discovered as been submitted and released via market.
http://pocketnow.com/android/google-removes-ten-malware-infected-apps-from-android-market

[Q] Infected Apps on the Market again... need for an anti-virus app or not?

Google took down 21 apps today that were full of malicious code. Others are out there that get passed around. I know that you don't have to worry about a real virus, but they have found some apps recently that have a trojan that signs you up for an expensive messaging service, then starts firing off messages and blocking incoming ones so that you don't know it's happening until you get a huge cell phone bill.
I've seen people here talk about what anti virus they run, and I've seen people here talk about how they are not needed. I did a search, couldn't easily find a thread devoted to the pros/cons of anti virus, so I'd like to solicit some input here. I'm sure there are others beside myself who are interested in the answers.
I use lookout
sent from my HTC Inspired Desire HD 4G
I have asked myself the same question today.
I don't have any of these apps installed, but still, I'd like to have some sort of watchdog installed.
Here's what the lookout blog sez to the malware issue: http://blog.mylookout.com/2011/03/s...-found-in-official-android-market-droiddream/
And here's what lookout has to say to privacy issues/suspicions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=900982
(I'm in no way affiliated with lookout, just to be sure.)
Noz85 said:
I use lookout
sent from my HTC Inspired Desire HD 4G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same here, and with the reports of all these malicious apps out there I'm glad I do.
Just don't download junk apps, like porn or half naked girls.
+1 for Lookout!
a friend of mine just got the inspire, former iphone 3Gs user. he installed an anti virus app and asked me which one i use.
prior to yesterday, my advice is i dont use them, they are not needed. but now i didnt know what to tell him. since google quickly removed those malicious apps, technically the system worked, the app market is "trusted" and "safe" to not have to worry about getting crap apps. but is this really true?
Well, until someone give me a good reason on why it's NOT a good idea, I'm running Lookout.

Major uptick in Android Malware

I don't know how many of you pay attention to security issues but I thought I would post a link to this Threatpost article.
http://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/staggering-increase-android-malware-variants-trojan-apps-051612
It behooves one to pay attention to what you are installing and what permissions apps are requesting. I just ditched Evernote due to increased permissions, even though it is from what one might call a trusted source.
Edit: I have not finished perusing the F-Secure Mobile Threat Report, but so far it is a good read.
I've never once had a problem with any kind of malware or virus on my phone. Then again I'm careful and use common sense. Which goes a long way
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
Phalanx7621 said:
I've never once had a problem with any kind of malware or virus on my phone. Then again I'm careful and use common sense. Which goes a long way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Common sense does go a long way. With some of the posts I've seen on XDA, there seems to be a lack of that not-so-common attribute. Flashing without thinking, sideloading apps from unknown sources, etc.
Google appears to be reacting (albeit slowly) with Bouncer, trying to police Market/Play. I'm not sure if Amazon is doing anything similar for their app store. The big picture still looks rather grim. Will we be looking at large scale botnets this year? Hopefully not. The idea of Android botnets makes me a bit ill.
Unless malware can show up on the store, I don't see the issue here. It's a risk we've all known about since the day Android came out.
alpha-niner64 said:
Unless malware can show up on the store, I don't see the issue here. It's a risk we've all known about since the day Android came out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Malware has shown up on the store. The issue is that Android is increasing its market share by leaps and bounds, black hats are writing more sophisticated malware, and more people are hacking their devices without a clue as to what they are doing. If you read the F-Secure Mobile Threat Report (linked in Threatpost), the number of detected malware APK's has grown tenfold over the last year.
Golly gosh.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Phalanx7621 said:
I've never once had a problem with any kind of malware or virus on my phone. Then again I'm careful and use common sense. Which goes a long way
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly the same here
Windows has had malware threats for well over a decade and as it matured the OS was patched to deal with it. Android is more secure than Windows is, you not only have to download a malicious app you also have to install it before anything bad can happen.
Google will hopefully implement a more effective way of preventing malware from entering the Play Store but this may have the side effect of false positives on certain rooting/tweaking apps.
As pc are being replaced by tablets, its a juicy business for anti virus companies.
So i wouldn't trust any report from av companies...
It's usually pretty vague. Which app on android market?
As you get virus when you install warez games on pc, the same goes for android if you manually install an apk out of android market. Nothing new.
rchtk said:
As pc are being replaced by tablets, its a juicy business for anti virus companies.
So i wouldn't trust any report from av companies...
It's usually pretty vague. Which app on android market?
As you get virus when you install warez games on pc, the same goes for android if you manually install an apk out of android market. Nothing new.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you guys are missing the OP's point. You dont have to manually install an .apk.
A fake company called "MYOURNET" (touche for the name, rather ironic now) took a bunch of real apps from the market, injected them with malware and resubmitted them back onto the marketplace. The new malware could root your phone, steal your data, and keep a backdoor open for more goodies. Crazy ****.
http://androidcommunity.com/android-virus-served-up-by-user-myournet-20110302/
I admi i didn't open the pdf (pdf is now the number one virus vector ;-) but as far as i see it didn't mention reinjection in the market. Well.. pay attention to permissions..
Nothing else to do.
How to define a virus? That is the question..
Only install trusted editor from the market. Only install applications which provide ttheir source code and read it..
Easy answer for malware pike: piracy, period

[Q] Mike Brassil: query regarding anti virus

I am Mike Brassil. I have a query regarding anti virus. I have recently bought a new Dell PC and I want to know that which anti virus should I download to protect my PC from viruses.Which is better and more effective free or paid anti virus software. Waiting for your reply.
Thanks.
For me defender is enough on windows 8 ! I am on web most of the time and haven't yet bothered to pay for an anti virus but no regrets whatsoever
Hi Mr. nikufellow, thanks for your reply. Can you please suggest me names of some effective anti viruses?
How about kasperesky or esset
like I said I dont use them much so can't comment on which the best is
Sent from a hybrid phablet !
Kaspersky generally wins the yearly reviews, but it isn't exactly cheap...
There are plenty okay free AVs out there, like AVG, but if you're going with a free alternative you might as well do as the other guy and just install Windows Defender, because it does its job just fine.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium
AVAST is also a freeware. (unlike ESET or Kaspersky) I like him over AVG coz of his lesser mem consumption.

We all android users @ high risk?

When I read this blog I can't believe we are so vulnerable to this dangerous virus, Google fixed this for lollipop but what about Kitkat & other rooms?
http://www.cmcm.com/blog/en/security/2014-11-15/468.html
https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Settings/+/37b58a4^!/#F0
Sent from my SM-N9005
Virus name is BroadAnywhere, I hope XDA DEV may already has taken note of this.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
To protect against this vulnerability, please use Clean Master
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What a surprise, to protect yourself against this threat, the site you posted suggest using Clean Master, one of their own apps. Hmmmmmm........
Pagnell said:
What a surprise, to protect yourself against this threat, the site you posted suggest using Clean Master, one of their own apps. Hmmmmmm........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Obvious advertising. CM doing a good job of it.
Repeatedly urged Devs to isolate CM cleaner app from CM security they will simply not listen. Why should my cleaner provide me Security? Simply overdoing stuffs.
Sent from my XT1033 using XDA Free mobile app
vikraminside said:
Agreed. Obvious advertising. CM doing a good job of it.
Repeatedly urged Devs to isolate CM cleaner app from CM security they will simply not listen. Why should my cleaner provide me Security? Simply overdoing stuffs.
Sent from my XT1033 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree but what Google says in another link I posted? Which makes me think may this news is not only advertise, but I m not a expert to understand what Google is saying. [emoji15]
Sent from my SM-N9005
D'you know what the thing is? There's always a hole, or a leak, or a bug, or a backdoor somewhere. Fix one, they just find a new one.
They keep finding holes in Windows that have been there for over 10 years without anyone ever noticing.
I wouldn't worry overly much about it. Software and devices will never be 100% secure, unless you put it in a Faraday cage.
ShadowLea said:
D'you know what the thing is? There's always a hole, or a leak, or a bug, or a backdoor somewhere. Fix one, they just find a new one.
They keep finding holes in Windows that have been there for over 10 years without anyone ever noticing.
I wouldn't worry overly much about it. Software and devices will never be 100% secure, unless you put it in a Faraday cage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1, but at least we can take precautions against known malware if we aware.
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How about Unix Mac etc? I don't hear such many threats as windows. Well built stuff are less prone in my opinion.
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vikraminside said:
How about Unix Mac etc? I don't hear such many threats as windows. Well built stuff are less prone in my opinion.
Sent from my XT1033 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fact that Windows has more threats is true. Your opinion of the cause, however, is not.
The reason Windows has more viruses and malware is simply because Windows has always had millions more users.
5 years ago hardly anyone did their bank affairs from their phone, preferring to use their computers.
Today, 70% does it from their phone.
5 years ago malware for a phone wasn't a profitable venue. Today, it most certainly is. Malware follows the crowd.
Malware for unix/linux/ubuntu isn't worth the effort, as its users are typically a lot more tech-savvy than 90% of the Windows users.
ShadowLea said:
The fact that Windows has more threats is true. Your opinion of the cause, however, is not.
The reason Windows has more viruses and malware is simply because Windows has always had millions more users.
5 years ago hardly anyone did their bank affairs from their phone, preferring to use their computers.
Today, 70% does it from their phone.
5 years ago malware for a phone wasn't a profitable venue. Today, it most certainly is. Malware follows the crowd.
Malware for unix/linux/ubuntu isn't worth the effort, as its users are typically a lot more tech-savvy than 90% of the Windows users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So malware follow crowds, Android has max market share, Linux based android has malware, not coming to any conclusion, confused ?
Sent from my SM-N9005
jdomadia said:
So malware follow crowds, Android has max market share, Linux based android has malware, not coming to any conclusion, confused ?
Sent from my SM-N9005
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As is written in a BBC article:
Mobile malware was growing in popularity among cybercrime groups because smartphones were now so central to modern life, said Eldar Tuvey from mobile security monitoring firm Wandera
"We're definitely seeing the bad guys focus their attention on mobiles," he said. "That's because more time is now spent on apps on phones than desktops."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30143283
I thought the conclusion was pretty clear....
ShadowLea said:
5 years ago malware for a phone wasn't a profitable venue. Today, it most certainly is. Malware follows the crowd.
Malware for unix/linux/ubuntu isn't worth the effort, as its users are typically a lot more tech-savvy than 90% of the Windows users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see the reverse. Server platforms run in Unix mainly. Attacking a server is equivalent to attacking millions of its clients.
Is it easy to break 100 computers or break 1 computer and retrieve 100 computer information?
The fact as I see it, many of them are hoax warnings let's say 90% + .
Some AV companies deliberately hire virus programmers to increase their sales. Innocent users are scapegoats to upgrade.
To me malwarebytes did work in PC along with AVG firewall.
In Android I use TrustGo which has good Anti theft, phone locate features. While testing alarm even I was taken aback with the noise it created.
I do not recommend any software its what is being used at my end.
Please have a look at this to understand what I mean:
http://www.cnet.com/news/top-five-paid-app-on-google-play-was-an-antivirus-scam/
Poorly built heavily hit.
@OP
Android runs over Unix based as you said but its a separate wrapper OS again.
Thats why we keep rooting to become Unix superuser to safeguard ourselves. Truth is Unix's shell is hard as tortoise shell.
Sent from my XT1033 using XDA Free mobile app
vikraminside said:
I see the reverse. Server platforms run in Unix mainly. Attacking a server is equivalent to attacking millions of its clients.
Is it easy to break 100 computers or break 1 computer and retrieve 100 computer information?
The fact as I see it, many of them are hoax warnings let's say 90% + .
Some AV companies deliberately hire virus programmers to increase their sales. Innocent users are scapegoats to upgrade.
To me malwarebytes did work in PC along with AVG firewall.
In Android I use TrustGo which has good Anti theft, phone locate features. While testing alarm even I was taken aback with the noise it created.
I do not recommend any software its what is being used at my end.
Please have a look at this to understand what I mean:
http://www.cnet.com/news/top-five-paid-app-on-google-play-was-an-antivirus-scam/
Poorly built heavily hit.
@OP
Android runs over Unix based as you said but its a separate wrapper OS again.
Thats why we keep rooting to become Unix superuser to safeguard ourselves. Truth is Unix's shell is hard as tortoise shell.
Sent from my XT1033 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm aware that most are scams. One need only look at the fact that every AV on Windows marks Steam_api.dll as a virus to know that. (A blatant and inefficient means of preventing piracy. Steam_api is the cracked file, so they pretend it's a virus in the hopes of stopping people from using it.)
The reason attacking a phone by means of an app is more efficient is because servers are maintained by people who know what they're doing.
90% of the phone users haven't a bloody clue what they're doing.
The amount of people who click on 'Update your Whatsapp' banners in websites is ridiculous. That's how they get infected.
:thumbup:
Sent from my XT1033 using XDA Free mobile app
A simple rule which i used for myself dont click as and when you like. Same rules applied on windows. Certain ads apps or even games could contain viruses or malware. Just be cautious and careful when surfing the web or even fb coz fb does have alot of phishing ads.
Also apart from the experts taking care of the server (not always as good or dedicated) both the attack vector and discovery methods are different than desktop or mobiles.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
There was a discussion about Networked AV protection by AV companies during the recent past to filter virus like a NEURAL NETWORK.
It will be good if implemented. The viruses can be arrested even before it reaches devices.
Sent from my XT1033 using XDA Free mobile app
+1
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
After installing cm security app i found my phone was infected with broad anywhere.
Hold on, what it did clean? Where was it found? How do i know its true or fake? Why it's not showing path or trace of virus? Why other AV like Trustgo not interested in it? Are they not capable? Remember we had patches in PC from AV companies for specific viruses even if entire AV product not installed. Is it not applicable for mobiles? Creates lot many questions...
Sent from my XT1033 using XDA Free mobile app
vikraminside said:
After installing cm security app i found my phone was infected with broad anywhere.
Hold on, what it did clean? Where was it found? How do i know its true or fake? Why it's not showing path or trace of virus? Why other AV like Trustgo not interested in it? Are they not capable? Remember we had patches in PC from AV companies for specific viruses even if entire AV product not installed. Is it not applicable for mobiles? Creates lot many questions...
Sent from my XT1033 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think your phone was infected , may it found vulnerable to broad anyware & CM applied patch for same. I think all AV companies try to make some sensational news to sell their product & broad anyware may be one of many....

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