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Lately all my friends around me have been trending using virus scanners on their phones like that lookout app. I never had to use one and I'm more technical when it comes to my phone then they are. They aren't even rooted they don't have half the amount of apps that I do or use the phone as much as me. This thing is my life.
My question is for those who are more technical then me, should we use these antivirus'? Are we in danger when downloading apps from the market directly? I scan my apk's on my pc when downloading from the net or websites so I think I'm straight. But you never know. I just want a firm answer if these things work or just kill your battery and mickery.
HTC Vision S-OFF CM6.1 Stable Oc'd to 1.5ghz on Pershoots Kernel
I installed AVG Free from the Market.
is it necessary, not sure.. but it offers more benefits than just virus scans, and I trust AVG.
A virus scanner is a huge waste of battery. There are no viruses for your phone. As far as AVG goes..... I wouldn't wish that program on my worst enemy...
in my 20+ years a using a cell phone I have never come across a virus, I have used just about every format of phones, lately there have been some reports of a virus for Android, search and read where that was found and how you can get it, basically don't download crap from some suspect website, download apps from trusted places like the market and you will be fine, in my opinion right now virus scanners are nothing but a was of space on the phone memory that use up battery slow down the phone and do nothing as there no viruses.
my $0.02 cents
I got lookout on mine. It has an anti virus built in. I mostly use the app to find my phone after I misplace it some where in my apartment.
I agree there is no need for a antivirus. If you follow any of the major
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Android is a Linux derivative. Linux needs antivirus like a fish needs a bicycle.
Sent from a Western Union telegram.
Trojans have come out of china being injected into "unknown sources" android games (not from the market but 3rd party sources). They collect info from ur phone. Not sure if anti vrius apps pick them up now..but if u only install stuff from the market and not warez from like rapidshare or other places u should be fine
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
it is so "Windowsy" to install task killers and disease killers. I wouldnt knock the windows user --- they are a strong proud people!
Regardless where you get your apps from since it does detect malicious code in apps its worthwhile if you get apps from random locations...it (lookout) doesn't seem to slow anything down on my G2
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Sure it's "windowsy" if your pc is super slow/out dated. But the thing is I do get apps from other sources/markets not just the android marketplace. Even downloading apk's people post on these forums can sometimes be dangerous to our phones that's why I download everything to my pc, it always scans my downloads and doesn't let me pick up a virus.
HTC Vision S-OFF CM6.1 Stable Oc'd to 1.5ghz on Pershoots Kernel
I was being very sarcastic in that last post -- its necessary in windows (i love windows) but I notice the windows mentality - people assume it needs what windows needs - its almost a built-in trait. but I like that saying -- linux needs antivirus like fish need a bicycle -- ha ha!
elracing21 said:
Sure it's "windowsy" if your pc is super slow/out dated. But the thing is I do get apps from other sources/markets not just the android marketplace. Even downloading apk's people post on these forums can sometimes be dangerous to our phones that's why I download everything to my pc, it always scans my downloads and doesn't let me pick up a virus.
HTC Vision S-OFF CM6.1 Stable Oc'd to 1.5ghz on Pershoots Kernel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dumb question: If your PC is Windows and the phone is Linux... why would your Windows antivrus alert you to Linux viruses? I don't think .exe's work on Android.
Because an APK is just a renamed Zip file
OK I understand the APK is a renamed ZIP file, but if someone developed a virus for Android being Linux based would a Windows virus scanner recognize it ? Can windows virus scanners recognize Android virus code ? I don't think so but I am not a programmer or coder, so scanning APK's in a windows machine is useless as it will not recognize the virus code, but any ways again I have never heard or seen a virus for any cell phone make, to me right now it is useless to have one taking up processor power battery power etc
Isn't the real threat malicious apps anyways?
I say better safe than sorry, most people have more personal stuff in there phones then computers, easier access to facebook, gmail, twitter logins, contacts, pics, as technology grows on phones, so do does the threat. Phones are getting more like mini personal computers, most of people's lifes revolve around they phone, so every time I think I dont need it, I read about lookout finding possible viruses, so install it back on my phone, plus when I heard the Droid commercial mention it, it kinda convinced me I needed it
Sent from my super G'd up G2!
Bangin' dat Android Gang!
IPK all day!!! Throw dem A's up!
I downloaded lookout and the virus scanner was at the bottom of my list for reasons to dl. I just have it for when I lose it or it gets stolen.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
So, are you feeling lucky?
IMHO, an android phone is an at-risk platform. Probably moreso than your computer. Consider how much personal information you have on your phone. Then think of the havoc that a trojan could wreak on your personal life and family. If you don't think it could happen, consider what a malicious person could do with all your the phone numbers and email contacts. Perhaps not gain any money, but certainly the possibility to steal your on-line identity is there. Just think how your parents would like to get a "posthumous" goodby email...
There are people who get a kick from messing up another person's life, just for fun.
Isn't the real threat malicious apps anyways?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly what I was saying in my previous post...they just detect apps that might do things outside of set regulations. (Spam email steal contacts etc.)
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
I am currently testing out Good for Enterprise, it is an application that syncs your work email/calendar to your cell phone. One of the security policies they have implemented will not allow the application to run on rooted (android) or jailbroken (iOS) devices. Since I am testing it this rule doesn't apply to me, however, if they ever kick me off the Dev environment I would still want to use the app.
Does anyone have an idea on what the application may be using to detect rooted devices? If we can identify what it is looking for/checking, how easy would it be to spoof the application into thinking it was a stock/non-rooted device?
More or less, just deny it root access if it asks.
It could be looking for blocked host files.
||A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man||
I'm curious too. Maybe it looks for the superuser app? One anti virus I tried knew I was rooted too.
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
1) PowerMax: I've been searching for a good battery saver app and I've tried all of the ones I could find and just wasn't happy with their claims and performance. I stumbled upon PowerMax, tried it out with its full feature version for a 7 day trial. I was amazed at how great this app works. It's a simple one click program that you use when you shut your phone off. I use every time I shut off my phone. It shuts everything it can down but you can receive calls, texts, alarms, tweets etc. When you turn your phone on it restores all your settings back to what you had and if you look at your battery level, I use a numbered on in the status bar so I can see the exact number, you should have lost very little and I mean very little battery level. My Epic on Froyo was horrible but with this app when not using the phone the battery level stays pretty much close to what it was when you shut it off. Overnight you also keep a great amount of your charge if you don't plug it in.
2) AirDroid: First I only have working Mac's and one dead PC so not only can't I root my phone I always have trouble trying to get my computer to see my phone so I can do backups of my files. This is a new app, I was actually the first one to download it, its that new. No need for your cable. Just your phone on the same network as your computer. Start the app it gives you an IP address and password. You launch a web browser on your computer and you have a nice graphical interface of what's on your phone. The speeds are nice. You can upload (Import), download (Export), delete, back up even your system files as well as all your apps on the phone and SD card. Photos, music etc. Basically its kind of like a nandroid back up for non rooted phones. It evens has a Tether and mobile hotspot button. Haven't tried that but its there. I've been playing around with it for since I found the app and its never force closed or had any problems. I did have one occasion where my computer web browser force closed but I've had that happen just using it although rarely. I used Safari but I'm going to try it on other browsers I have installed and see how they work on them. Not sure if those who are rooted really need it but it is a definate must have for non rooted phones at least. This has been the only one that has worked flawlessly so far with good speeds and the UI is very nice and easy to use.
Hope this helps others as much as its helped me. I have tried connecting to my computer at least 20 times so far and it has never failed to connect.
Jim Weda
You can't root a phone from Mac OS? That's weird (I wouldn't know). Have you ever considered trying something like VirtualBox, creating a virtual Windows/Linux machine and using USB passthru so the guest OS can see it? I'm pretty sure such a thing should be doable, and a virtual PC can be useful in other situations you may come across as well.
Inb4 Heimdall replaces Odin.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
josidhe said:
You can't root a phone from Mac OS? That's weird (I wouldn't know). Have you ever considered trying something like VirtualBox, creating a virtual Windows/Linux machine and using USB passthru so the guest OS can see it? I'm pretty sure such a thing should be doable, and a virtual PC can be useful in other situations you may come across as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im "semi" in the same boat.. main comp is a mac, i have a PC from 2005 that i restored to use odin, although once it blue-screen-of-deathed right before i was going to click start on odin.. which made me **** my pants pretty much.. but i still odin EC05 with it and then turn the duties over to my mac
you can root with a mac. CWM 3.1.0.1 has a mac script that i use all the time..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1076967
the mac instructions from the OP:
Mac OSX
1. Extract zip to a folder
2. Ensure phone is in usb debugging mode and connected to your computer
3. Open a terminal and navigate to the unzipped folder
4. Type: chmod 777 run.sh
5. Type: ./run.sh
6. Follow on screen instructions
let me kno if i can help.. seeing someone without root who wants it makes a single tear roll down my cheek
---------- Post added at 04:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:38 PM ----------
Fire n mage said:
Inb4 Heimdall replaces Odin.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tried endlessly to get it to work on my mac.. 10.6.8
cant be done ive decided.. heimdall for mac apparently does not work, for the epic, at least
Fire n mage said:
Inb4 Heimdall replaces Odin.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never going to happen
Sent from my Samsung Legen-wait for it-dary! 4g
Its not so much that "rooting" can't be done with Mac but more the lack of people who are "experts" at doing everything on a Mac. The issue I have is, unless I'm missing something is that usually Mac OS X 10.5 or higher is required. I really do want to get into the root game and explore the full potential of my phone but it just seems to be best doing so on a PC.
I have been a Mac fan since 1985 but did have to learn how to use and learn about fixing and setting up PC on a lower level because of a job I had a long time ago. I also do have an HP Pavillion a1710n desktop that I would love to use for Android purposes only but the problem I'm having is that the drive doesn't have Window's on it. I have been trying for almost a month trying to successfully install Windows Vista or 7 from iso files that a couple friends have let me use to get the computer up and running since HP has been no help at all and they never include physical disks with their computers. I know its not any hardware issues because I've done the testing and all the hardware checks out. I get all kinds of messages from the PC while attempting to install the system as to why it cannot finish the install. Never the same reason, never at the same point and after much research on the net I see there are many others out there complaining about the same thing.
I'm not being cheap. I'd purchase a retail version of Windows but I have been on disability for almost 2 years now and can't afford to pay $130+ right now which is why my friend has sent me an iso file so I could at least get my computer going. A real treat would be if someone would come out with the old z4Root type apps that allow you to root directly from you phone but no one seems to be interested in developing them anymore or the newer Android updates make it harder to do.
I would appreciate any help on how to successfully get Windows to install on my HP. Thanks in advance.
Jim
P.S. The other reason I'd like to get the PC running is so that I can learn how to eventually create apps for Android. I'd start by learning how to make themes, kernals etc, and eventually get more into learning programming for apps and such.
DrKaotica,
Thanks for the info and your offer to help if I need someone to ask who knows how to do things on the Mac. I have a feeling that you are running 10.5 or higher though which is why you are able to successfully play with your phone. If not and you're running 10.4 or less I'd be interested in learning more from you and your experience. Thanks in advance.
Jim
ac16313 said:
Never going to happen
Sent from my Samsung Legen-wait for it-dary! 4g
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well for Mac at least it's the only alternative
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
jimweda said:
DrKaotica,
Thanks for the info and your offer to help if I need someone to ask who knows how to do things on the Mac. I have a feeling that you are running 10.5 or higher though which is why you are able to successfully play with your phone. If not and you're running 10.4 or less I'd be interested in learning more from you and your experience. Thanks in advance.
Jim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am running 10.6.8 on mine.. I haven't read that 10.5 or higher is required to use the one click root script with mac, but its certainly possible.
Id say give the script a try, at your own risk of course... if your phone isn't recognized then its not likely to cause any damage
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Fire n mage said:
Well for Mac at least it's the only alternative
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who likes Mac's anyway?
Lol but honestly id prefer Heimdall also if I hadn't made myself familiar with the more noobish Odin
Sent from my Samsung Legen-wait for it-dary! 4g
Believe newegg has Windows 7 Home Premium for 80 bucks right now. As for trying to get it installed on the HP, sounds like it might be a hard drive issue. Especially if it gives you different errors at different times, your hard drive might be dying, and if windows installer puts files on a sector of your HD that has gone bad, it won't be able to read the file and will give you an error.
jimweda said:
Its not so much that "rooting" can't be done with Mac but more the lack of people who are "experts" at doing everything on a Mac. The issue I have is, unless I'm missing something is that usually Mac OS X 10.5 or higher is required. I really do want to get into the root game and explore the full potential of my phone but it just seems to be best doing so on a PC.
I have been a Mac fan since 1985 but did have to learn how to use and learn about fixing and setting up PC on a lower level because of a job I had a long time ago. I also do have an HP Pavillion a1710n desktop that I would love to use for Android purposes only but the problem I'm having is that the drive doesn't have Window's on it. I have been trying for almost a month trying to successfully install Windows Vista or 7 from iso files that a couple friends have let me use to get the computer up and running since HP has been no help at all and they never include physical disks with their computers. I know its not any hardware issues because I've done the testing and all the hardware checks out. I get all kinds of messages from the PC while attempting to install the system as to why it cannot finish the install. Never the same reason, never at the same point and after much research on the net I see there are many others out there complaining about the same thing.
I'm not being cheap. I'd purchase a retail version of Windows but I have been on disability for almost 2 years now and can't afford to pay $130+ right now which is why my friend has sent me an iso file so I could at least get my computer going. A real treat would be if someone would come out with the old z4Root type apps that allow you to root directly from you phone but no one seems to be interested in developing them anymore or the newer Android updates make it harder to do.
I would appreciate any help on how to successfully get Windows to install on my HP. Thanks in advance.
Jim
P.S. The other reason I'd like to get the PC running is so that I can learn how to eventually create apps for Android. I'd start by learning how to make themes, kernals etc, and eventually get more into learning programming for apps and such.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off, are you using a dual.layered discfor the install.
Second, try to use an easier linux distro, instead of windows if you are looking to go that route?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
GrStead123 said:
Believe newegg has Windows 7 Home Premium for 80 bucks right now. As for trying to get it installed on the HP, sounds like it might be a hard drive issue. Especially if it gives you different errors at different times, your hard drive might be dying, and if windows installer puts files on a sector of your HD that has gone bad, it won't be able to read the file and will give you an error.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right now being temporarily disabled $80 needs to go towards my monthly bills but thanks for the info. All I can do for testing the PC components is what I can do in the cmd.exe window like chkdsk etc., unless someone knows of any freeware type bootable diagnostics programs that can check the status of the hardware. I've been trying to find a bootable program that will allow me to test the PC and also partition my hard drive but haven't found anything. Any ideas would be appreciated. I have searched the internet for all error codes or messages I run into and there are tons of other PC users complaining about the same issues and they've swapped all kinds of hardware and still can't install Windows. I think if I can find a bootable diagnostics software and partion my hard drive I should be able to get it up and running.
I've been able to install Windows 7 4 times but they were all unstable. Windows Vista 2 times and the same, unstable but these were iso copies borrowed from a friend.
"First off, are you using a dual.layered discfor the install.
Second, try to use an easier linux distro, instead of windows if you are looking to go that route?"
Using standard 4.7GB DVD discs. I have no idea what linus distro is but willing to try anything just to get this PC up and running. Is that a different operating system? I'll google it but any info and links you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks.
*Two things that seem to help get the discs to install is when I do these commands in the cmd.exe shell. 1) format c: 2) chkdsk c: /r and then do a clean install. Not 100% but 80% of the time. I thought you could partition your hard drive in the cmd shell but I can't find a command for it. Anyone know how to create a partition on a computer with no system installed? All I have is what is located in the X:\ directory.
DrKaotica said:
I am running 10.6.8 on mine.. I haven't read that 10.5 or higher is required to use the one click root script with mac, but its certainly possible.
Id say give the script a try, at your own risk of course... if your phone isn't recognized then its not likely to cause any damage
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not one click root script needing 10.5, its Heimdall. I've already tried to run it.
jimweda said:
"First off, are you using a dual.layered discfor the install.
Second, try to use an easier linux distro, instead of windows if you are looking to go that route?"
Using standard 4.7GB DVD discs. I have no idea what linus distro is but willing to try anything just to get this PC up and running. Is that a different operating system? I'll google it but any info and links you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks.
*Two things that seem to help get the discs to install is when I do these commands in the cmd.exe shell. 1) format c: 2) chkdsk c: /r and then do a clean install. Not 100% but 80% of the time. I thought you could partition your hard drive in the cmd shell but I can't find a command for it. Anyone know how to create a partition on a computer with no system installed? All I have is what is located in the X:\ directory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use in recovery...
Diskpart /add
/delete
device_name
drive_name
partition_name
size
As necessary, to partition from inside recovery..
And yea, linux distros are technically "linux distributions", different versions of linux. If you are looking to get into programming, starting somewhere like linux getting used to cmd line controls versus Windows style navigation is a decent starting point..
Google will help with all of that...
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Also, about bootable software, google partition magic, you can use that with most Windows computers. Dell's will sometimes throw some curveballs, but a good utility none the less..
Also, if malware is your problem, look up Combofix..
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Diskpart /add
/delete
device_name
drive_name
partition_name
size
As necessary, to partition from inside recovery..
And yea, linux distros are technically "linux distributions", different versions of linux. If you are looking to get into programming, starting somewhere like linux getting used to cmd line controls versus Windows style navigation is a decent starting point..
azyouthinkeyeiz said:
Also, about bootable software, google partition magic, you can use that with most Windows computers. Dell's will sometimes throw some curveballs, but a good utility none the less..
Also, if malware is your problem, look up Combofix..
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the cmd help. I did find something called Hiren's Boot CD 15.1, free with tons of utilities. Just ran sectors on HD and not even one error. Always format prior to install so I would think any malware would be wiped as well. Doing a deep clean next to make sure and will test out their partition app.
I am trying to run Windows so I could install Android SDK/Java JDK/Java JRE/Eclipse and was thinking about learning Java for programming. Thinking of trying to play around with Themes, kernals etc, first while trying to figure out Java coding which seems to be a popular choice for getting a grasp on working on Android. I will look into Linus Distros though. I don't want to pass up anything that would be helpful. Thanks for your info. I really appreciate it.
Where did you see that you could move system apps? All I see is the SD card.
wow, airdroid is very cool, basically makes your phone a local webserver!
I've read an article recently (forgot the link and where, my memory is horrible) stating that creators of viruses (Malware specifically if i remember correctly.) are starting to focus in on the Android OS more and more ...
Windows gets major viruses because its easy to write viruses for, and the amount of people possible to infect is outrageous.
People don't usually write for OS's like Linux/Unix because its more difficult and they don't affect as many users...
I know most responses to these types of questions are "It's a matter of opinion", so I'm looking for responses from people that know a little something about malware, how it works, and what will work best to protect my Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic 4G Touch.
I want to know what experienced programmers and developers think the best Mobile Security would be for our android devices.
I don't care about how much system resources it uses.
I've been using ESET Mobile Security as the 30 day trial and i likes its options. Plus, it has advanced heuristics, which helps catch viruses that are not in the virus definitions received when updating.
I'm looking for an antivirus that has a high detection rate, but low false-positives. I did some research and it was found that Avast! is one of the most trusted, plus its free. But i also go by the motto "You get what you pay for"...
Another thing I want is an antivirus that will protect Operah Mobile, and not just the stock browser. Avast seems to only protect the default browser.
Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.
In my opinion it's not worth it to run antivirus on our phone unless you are going to be doing alot of piracy of apps .... If you only get apps from market Google catches must stuff t really fast .... Read descriptions on apps you download and don't pirate games and such you should never need avast out such to slow down your phone ...
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Epix4G said:
In my opinion it's not worth it to run antivirus on our phone unless you are going to be doing alot of piracy of apps .... If you only get apps from market Google catches must stuff t really fast .... Read descriptions on apps you download and don't pirate games and such you should never need avast out such to slow down your phone ...
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use my phone for both business and recreational use. If i get a movie file sent to me from a friend and i don't know where he got it from, i want some kind of protection.
I understand that an antivirus on Android phones is usually an overkill... But i will be kicking myself in the ass if a password to my email ends up being compromised.
I understand that Android phones hardly ever have apps that contain viruses, but based upon that article i ready (I really wish i'd have kept it) its becoming a problem, although not a big problem.
I just want to be protected. For all i know, i could open an excel spreadsheet that i received from a spoofed email address that contains a virus.
You see my dilemma.... So lets start talking about which anti viruses are the most effective.
Regardless,
Thanks for you response.
Anything malicious can only be in the form of an app, because of the Linux structure. Permissions have to be enabled for any R/W access. So the prior recommendation of staying away from pirated apps will suffice.
Also, news articles prey on sensationalism to encourage reading the article. Don't believe everything you read.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
What the last person said!!! If you get a movie file that has a virus most likely its written for windows anyway and will not do anything to you're phone. Also no movie file, pic file, or file in general can gain permissions that the app using it does not have. So the biggest thing is making sure the apps you download are legit.
There are a few bugs and flaws like with htc sense where a malicious app can gain access to things because HTC sense logs things it should not. TW does not have those problems now that CIQ is gone.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
I don't run any kind of anti-virus. Even on my PC. If you stay away from anything shady, keep a throwaway gmail account for anything online you're not 100% sure about and pay attention to where things are coming from, you'll be all set. Unless there is some reason that somebody would want to hack into your phone specifically, then it's just random crap that will hurt you. If you don't know where the movie file your friend send you came from, don't open it.
Ok. So everything that you guys said I about apps being the main way to get infected, I completely agree on.
But what about websites? I'm sure sites, especially mobile websites, have some kind of way to get in through some type of Malware/spyware.
The best way to never get a virus is to watch where you download from and be wary of any sites you go to. I know this. But i use my phone frequently, browse the internet frequently, and I know that all kinds of sites have crap on them. All of them can't JUST be for windows OS. What about websites that specialize in stuff for Android phones?
Also... Can't QR Codes from websites contain malicious things?
Call me paranoid. Call me OCD. But i like things a certain way and i'm just trying to find out what I can do to ensure nothing happens on my phone that i don't approve of.
exitprogram said:
Also... Can't QR Codes from websites contain malicious things?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really think so, since it's basically pointing you to a webpage. If it points to an app you have to choose to install it from there.
It's very hard (if the end user pays attention) to actually give someone a virus.
If your downloading all your apps legit from the 'Play store' you're going to be fine 99% of the time.
I think the worst we have seen so far is status bar spam anyhow.
The only thing that an antivirus is gonna do is use up more memory on your phone.
So what you guys are telling me is...
#1 Antiviruses of any kind for an Android Phone are completely useless.
#2 These companies wrote Antivirus/Security Apps.... FREE, for no reason.
#3 Their is no possibility of anything getting infected when connecting your device to a PC or Mac.
Well. I guess I was being either way too paranoid, or you guys are wrong and don't even consider the fact that you could already be infected. I mean, how would you even know your phone hasn't been compromised and people are waiting for you to make a credit card purchase? If they want it, do you think they'd advertise it and TELL you or let it be KNOWN they've written something for it? No. They will keep it quiet so they can steal your information without you knowing it. I mean, We can't even get updates on unreleased ROMS! How do you think the hacker community deals with the viruses that they create? Make a forum about it and let Norton add it to its virus definitions? As I've said, i read an article about it, and where there is smoke, there is usually fire.
There are exploits on every device out there. I don't care what it is. People just don't take the time to write them all if the user base isn't big enough to justify the effort. But it doesn't mean they aren't out there.
Did you know gas pumps have been tampered with to save debit card transactions, along with PIN numbers, and then downloaded wirelessly by the criminal via laptop? This was not a small amount of numbers, either.
Sh*t, i didn't even know my gmail got hacked until i checked my sent box and saw spam messages being sent from my account.
I guess this is why people say it is a matter of opinion.
Didn't mean to start a "Politics" type of debate.
I will just keep using ESET Mobile Security since that is what I deem fit.
Thanks for all of your guys's input.
Most virus for Android will request su permissions to actually do any real. Damage considering only a small portion of. The Android users ever. Root their devices the time it takes to write a virus is almost wasted by the cracker, not hacker as hackers are actually coders crackers are the malicious form of hackers, coming from cracking the securities/passwords to steal info, and most ppl who root know what to look for and what to do if they get infected.. Mobile security companies don't write their apps for free, they get ad revenue from the ads in the free apps or you pay 1-10$ to get rid of ads so nothing is. Done for free, the worst virus ever created for Android was CiQ as it logged and sent almost everything you did on your device to who knows what 3rd party companies. So more or less your best antivirus for Android is you
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{We are legion, for we are many}
>Sent from my Anonymous DeathStar in the depths of GalaXy S2<
-Coming soon to an Evo4G near you?: [AoSP]EViL-MoD_FReEvO v0.1[Free your phone]-
They are "tampering" with credit cards at gas pumps and ATMs, by creating a separate magnetic reader and putting it over top of the reader already present. Not by any software hacking.
No one has said that PC's and Macs are immune from malicious apps.
GNu/Linux is a completely separate security suite vs a PC.
On a PC, any app that is "clicked" will immediately have access to the registry. By which you can change user permissions and application permissions. And the filesystem is immediately available to do whatever the code wants to do. And by proxy, any file accessed by the application also has no limitation to the damage it can wreak. That's how mp3's carry viruses. They are attached to files that would normally have access to the more secure registry keys. Firewalls are made to limit access to the registry. That is a necessity and why people trust security programs. Their software requires it.
Whereas, in Linux, the kernel is seperated from the OS and applications are kept in a sandbox completely seperate from the OS's filesystem. You have to physically allow "permissions" which dictate how far that application can reach. Files do not have any R/W access to the filesystem. The OS just reads and views them. It is not impossible to get in this way, but it is highly unlikely and no known exploits have been found in the wild.
So for anything malicious, you are allowing the corruption, and the only way to know is to only deal with trusted sources.
And to answer your question, Security companies make the software because they can. They are making ad revenue just for you loading the app. And it helps with piece of mind having a repository of known malicious apps. No one has said they aren't what they are advertised, they are. But they are also resource hogs, and unneeded if you understand what is going to be bad content.
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I hear what you guys are saying. As far as security for an Android phone goes, just be careful and don't install anything from anywhere that you don't trust.
But like i said.... What about when connecting your phone to your PC? Couldn't something be laying dormant on a windows machine and infect an android device? I'll just be paying more attention to what i allow super user permissions to. (Not that i don't already)
Since the vital portion of the OS are kept separate or are "sandboxed" in a way... I will have to ALLOW these things, before they cause damage, right? Or did i already "allow" them when i installed the app and agreed to all of the things they have access to? Like when it sais "This app can read call history, access contacts, etc" ... I know that some apps i install seem to have access to things that have nothing to do with its functionality. Like why would a game need access to Contacts?
I think i ran across some kind of security app that has a firewall that will restrict outgoing and incoming connections for any app. I will probably just use something a long those lines to ensure none of my sensitive information is leaving the phone.
Thanks again! These are the responses that i was looking for.
exitprogram said:
I think i ran across some kind of security app that has a firewall that will restrict outgoing and incoming connections for any app. I will probably just use something a long those lines to ensure none of my sensitive information is leaving the phone.
Thanks again! These are the responses that i was looking for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This APP is actually an antivirus w/firewall. Its Avast. Its free.
I think the "Freeze" option in Titanium Backup would have a similar effect, but you have to pay for that feature.
Even if your not concerned with getting a virus... At least you can control the data that apps send to and from your phone.
It also could be helpful if you download an app a buddy said his friend created and your a little paranoid about it. Or if the app isn't available from your carriers market and you need to download it by other means.
Anyway. This should suffice as far as the security i (was) looking for.
Now i know viruses can't just run rampant on Linux/Unix based system like Android. But JUST IN CASE, i will restrict all apps from communicating to the outside world using that firewall =)
You guys have been very helpful and very informative and even refrained from being d*cks .... Amazing! =)
Thanks guys.
security
what about security from another person hacking into the phone. I have a disgruntled ex-wife that constantly hacks into my phone, fowards my texts and email to people and displays pictures of her for me to see when I turn my phone on. How do I stop this? to me this is much more important than a virus. A phone can always be wiped clean, but a hacker can still get in.
Jerry
jjdellorusso said:
what about security from another person hacking into the phone. I have a disgruntled ex-wife that constantly hacks into my phone, fowards my texts and email to people and displays pictures of her for me to see when I turn my phone on. How do I stop this? to me this is much more important than a virus. A phone can always be wiped clean, but a hacker can still get in.
Jerry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try calling the cops? That's more than one law she's breaking.
Take a look at this
Http://www.itworld.com/security/267484/android-apps-dont-need-permission-see-your-data
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Also for your reviews check this one out
www.droid-life.com/2012/03/07/over-...nly-7-have-malware-detection-rate-of-over-90/
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Avast!™ Mobile Security in the Google® Play™ Store (formerly the Android® Market™)
Avast!™ Mobile Security in the Google® Play™ Store (formerly the Android® Market™)
Avast!™ Mobile Security in the Google® Play™ Store (formerly the Android® Market™)
Avast!™ Mobile Security in the Google® Play™ Store (formerly the Android® Market™)
Avast!™ Mobile Security in the Google® Play™ Store (formerly the Android® Market™)
Umm... did I make my point clear?
Sent from my Samsung® Galaxy™ SII Epic™ Touch 4G running CyanogenMod9™ ICS!
Guys
I run firefox with noscript on my home desktop.
I won't allow unknown third party scripts as no-one ever wants to take responsibility if they cause a problem on my PC.
XDA has, in my opinion, a bad problem as it has scripts that call scripts that call scripts et al.
I don't know where these scripts come from or what they're needed for, as a consequence your website won't run until the scripts are enabled (page just keeps refreshing) so I only access through my tablet.
It would be much better practice if I needed just the one script to access your website from desktop, then there's a lot less chance of security issues.
Please consider changing your current setup.
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I have scripts disabled and the pages load just fine.
I've never experienced this. @svetius
Noscripts is very useful agreed but as in any case it is our discretion.
This is developer forum and our guys are good in making and breaking things . So subject to experimentation.
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