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Help Anti Virus, necessary?
- Thread starter cgfw201
- Start date
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- Tags
- samsung galaxy s3
Mostly Harmless
Android Expert
Quoting myself from another thread:
There is no reason for an anti-virus, it's a waste in resources and battery power. As a heavy user and someone who has been on android for 2+ years (3 phones, 2 tablets) I have never had an incident with any virus or malware.
Don't download apps from any unknown websites and you will be fine.
There is no reason for an anti-virus, it's a waste in resources and battery power. As a heavy user and someone who has been on android for 2+ years (3 phones, 2 tablets) I have never had an incident with any virus or malware.
Don't download apps from any unknown websites and you will be fine.
SUroot
Extreme Android User
Its the most pointless thing ever. It is nothing but a waste on resources.
Android is a sandboxed environment. This means that nothing can run without you pressing an "Allow" button to give any application permissions it requires. Once you have done this, its already too late.
Apps downloaded on the market are found and removed quite quickly. Sideloaded apps I find it hard to believe these so called AV apps could detect if it had malicious code. How would it know? I've never seen these apps update their virus definitions which to my mind makes me think they are using only the most basic detection rules.
The only real protection is to be sensible about what you install. Read reviews on the market and install only from trusted sources
Android is a sandboxed environment. This means that nothing can run without you pressing an "Allow" button to give any application permissions it requires. Once you have done this, its already too late.
Apps downloaded on the market are found and removed quite quickly. Sideloaded apps I find it hard to believe these so called AV apps could detect if it had malicious code. How would it know? I've never seen these apps update their virus definitions which to my mind makes me think they are using only the most basic detection rules.
The only real protection is to be sensible about what you install. Read reviews on the market and install only from trusted sources
Zero Hunter
Member
Yeah save your time (and battery power) and skip the AV.
Hey, soon there might not be a case for 3rd party AVs anymore. Google may be looking to implement their own.
New version of Play Store app hints at built-in malware scanner and new wish list feature
New version of Play Store app hints at built-in malware scanner and new wish list feature
Rolo42
Android Enthusiast
There are many outdated views/misinformation in this thread.
- AV programs' power-consumption is negligible
- Android is popular and mainstream...which means more targets, more undesirables, more malicious logic in the wild (see chart)
- Security software isn't always just AV; most have other handy features as well
- PUP detection/Adware: I'd rather find it before my phone number, etc. are leaked
- Permissions prompts are useless as we're desensitized to them and they aren't specific or granular enough
- Google, Amazon have stated that they are not policing their markets for malicious logic (though stuff has been removed--after-the-fact); I assume this will change (as the above link shows) but we're each responsible for our own security
- There are garbage security apps and there are AAA ones, with 98%+ detection rates
- AV apps update signatures just like PC ones do
cf. Mobile Security Reviews
cf. AV-TEST - The Independent IT-Security Institute: Android
Personally, I use avast! as it is a top-tier malware detector and it has nice extra features that I use (Firewall/Shields, SMS/Call block, anti-theft, Privacy Adviser, PUP detection when they add it) and I use TrustGo Ad Detector for unwanted spyware detection.
Chances I or my wife will run into malicious logic are really low; however, there's no downside and all upside to having a solid, free security app.
- AV programs' power-consumption is negligible
- Android is popular and mainstream...which means more targets, more undesirables, more malicious logic in the wild (see chart)
- Security software isn't always just AV; most have other handy features as well
- PUP detection/Adware: I'd rather find it before my phone number, etc. are leaked
- Permissions prompts are useless as we're desensitized to them and they aren't specific or granular enough
- Google, Amazon have stated that they are not policing their markets for malicious logic (though stuff has been removed--after-the-fact); I assume this will change (as the above link shows) but we're each responsible for our own security
- There are garbage security apps and there are AAA ones, with 98%+ detection rates
- AV apps update signatures just like PC ones do
cf. Mobile Security Reviews
cf. AV-TEST - The Independent IT-Security Institute: Android
Personally, I use avast! as it is a top-tier malware detector and it has nice extra features that I use (Firewall/Shields, SMS/Call block, anti-theft, Privacy Adviser, PUP detection when they add it) and I use TrustGo Ad Detector for unwanted spyware detection.
Chances I or my wife will run into malicious logic are really low; however, there's no downside and all upside to having a solid, free security app.
SUroot
Extreme Android User
No offense but your post is no exception....
http://m.digitaltrends.com/mobile/do-you-need-antivirus-on-android/
This article, although it agrees with some of your post and sources, also disagrees with some of it
Fact is, we can all prove any point we want from sources as this is a much contested subject.
http://www.extremetech.com/computin...rus-apps-are-useless-heres-what-to-do-instead
I however, offer my opinion and that opinion is waste of time and resources
Rolo42
Android Enthusiast
This article is based off of the AV-test report (Nov 2011) that was superseded by the AV-test report (March 2012) in the link that I provided; like I said, there is outdated information in this thread and, yes, I agree that anyone can make any argument one likes--when one takes things out of context.
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I've never been in a car accident but that doesn't mean car accidents don't happen. Likewise, because some have been in car accidents doesn't mean everyone will be.
SUroot
Extreme Android User
Indeed. The difference is in your analogy, you could be a safe and sensible driver, only driving in optimum conditions. Even if you were completely faultless, there are still other drivers that cause accidents. Thats not really the same as safe and sensible browsing.
That said, that's not really my argument. The only argument I have is that i believe its pointless.
