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 .
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
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Click to collapse
Yes but according to the article anti virus cannot detect rootkit
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!
Hello everyone! I am not new here,I have an old account "JBmorris", however i dont use it anymore.
Anyway, does anyone know iRoot(formerly Vroot)? If so. I'm going to need your help.
I am a person who almost often scans files before running them. So yesterday, I was download iRoot, and I scanned it, and it was detected as A virus called "Android:Agent-GYN [PUP]" (avast) and "Android/Spy.Agent.Y.Gen" (Avira).
It was scanned on virustotal.
I am afraid of hackers spying me.. can you clarify me? thanks.
JBmorris289 said:
Hello everyone! I am not new here,I have an old account "JBmorris", however i dont use it anymore.
Anyway, does anyone know iRoot(formerly Vroot)? If so. I'm going to need your help.
I am a person who almost often scans files before running them. So yesterday, I was download iRoot, and I scanned it, and it was detected as A virus called "Android:Agent-GYN [PUP]" (avast) and "Android/Spy.Agent.Y.Gen" (Avira).
It was scanned on virustotal.
I am afraid of hackers spying me.. can you clarify me? thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as i know its safe to use iROOT (formerly VRoot) I used it before my my computer is free of viruses. Many root "exploits" are detected as viruses or PUP. Just disconnet your internet, disable AV for rooting, delete iROOT once done OR add iROOT to your AV's exceptions. BUT you should change the contained superuser app for SuperSU once rooted.
But what about the Android Spy Agent detections?
JBmorris289 said:
But what about the Android Spy Agent detections?
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Click to collapse
As I said, once the phone is rooted install SuperSU. SuperSU will prompt you to uninstall the crappy chinese superuser app and you're done
LS.xD said:
As I said, once the phone is rooted install SuperSU. SuperSU will prompt you to uninstall the crappy chinese superuser app and you're done
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Click to collapse
Ah...okay. Thanks!
I used iRoot/VRoot but my phone got infected with something. After using the root application (which does work) it installed several more apps and I'm getting popups in my browsers and whatsapp. So far I haven't been able to remove it.
Any luck removing this? I tried using iRoot on my Galaxy S5 G900W8 and root failed, but I got a bunch of apps installed. The dam thing is in chinese and I can't read anything..... grr! This thing is sketchy... I'd say IF you're going to try it, do it NOT connected to internet (disable data/wifi) MAYBE then you wont get all these ****ty apps.....
but for me it has not worked thus far...
Happened to me yesterday. It was so painful! This junk installed 2 stubborn trojans in system/priv-app. Impossible to remove even with factory reset. It gains admin privileges, starts downloading crap from the net, fills the display with porn pics etc. Kingroot saved the day in the end! Managed to root my phone and clean the mess. It was a whole day battle.
BTW, credit to Stubborn Trojan Killer as well! It showed me the location, but wasn't able to clean because the phone wasn't really rooted.
Also, Total Commander was the only file manager capable of opening that dir without root.
P.S. First trojan was named "shell" and had version 1.0. The original shell app is higher version. That's how you know which is the good and which is the bad one. The other trojan was names something like xy_1_some digits. You should stop that "shell" crap immediately and disable it. It will be hard, but possible to do. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to do anything.
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..
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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.
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
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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.