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Well, I read this article, and decided to uninstall my "Lookout" virus protection software after looking at all the access that I had granted it, but I can't now and I'm a little worried...

When I go to Settings>>Manage Applications it is not in the "Downloaded" section, but appears in the "All" section. I swear I remembered it being under "Downloaded" a few days ago.

Anyone have some pointers for me? I'm not a genius when it comes to nav'ing around, but I'm not a cripple either and this has me completely stumped/scared.

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Thanks man, I forgot about that, but the only option is the update...
Should I DL the update then see if it'll let me uninstall?
 
For the tracking feature Lookout has a tab that is checked in settings. It even says you have to uncheck this to be able to uninstall it. Could be part of the bloatware but normally you can uninstall Lookout once you uncheck that box.
 
I have always been puzzled by the advertisers claims. Thoght it as kinda like Chicken Little. Nice to have my notions confirmed.
 
ardchoille said:
If an app is useless does it matter what it costs? Android is based on Linux and there aren't any active Linux viruses. The way Linux is designed makes writing a virus a waste of time.
Click to expand...

On top of all that, Android apps run virtually so they're isolated from everything by default.
 
I do think that antivirus not needed is mostly true.
My question concerns ad sponsored apps.

I have had a couple, and one turned up with a "close to sex site-type" ad.

Now if the app has permissions for phone/contacts/email - does that permission extend to the ad? What's the best way to avoid accidently hitting one of those ads?
 
We must remember that a virus is much different from ads and trojans. In the end the weakest link in any computer system is the user.
 
Wow, Yay Chris. Nice to have someone "official" say somethjng a lot of us have been thinking.

@Zuben - I would say if you worried about the types of ads/permissions an app has, use a different app. There's always somethjng else.
 
ardchoille said:
We must remember that a virus is much different from ads and trojans. In the end the weakest link in any computer system is the user.
Click to expand...

Very true. I went to install a live wallpaper once that wanted full Internet access, access to my contacts and wanted to be able to change the connectivity state of the phone. Now, it's possible that there are entirely legitimate reasons for all of those, but I couldn't come up with any. Yet if I had installed that wallpaper and it started spamming all of my contacts from my phone, that's not Google's fault. It's mine.
 
Don't we want something to alert us if we install a trojan app as well? I understand we need to look at permissions and stuff, but what if we accidently install a trojan or the permissions for the app are vague. Don't we want some type of backup?

Viruses are so 1990s. I'm actually more worried about trojans that can steal my information without me realizing than some virus that crashes my phone.
 
dylo22 said:
Don't we want something to alert us if we install a trojan app as well? I understand we need to look at permissions and stuff, but what if we accidently install a trojan or the permissions for the app are vague. Don't we want some type of backup?

Viruses are so 1990s. I'm actually more worried about trojans that can steal my information without me realizing than some virus that crashes my phone.
Click to expand...

Permissions aren't vague. They're explicitly stated when you install the app.
 
zuben el genub said:
...
Now if the app has permissions for phone/contacts/email - does that permission extend to the ad? ....
Click to expand...

Yes, the ad code is typically running within the context of the app, so the same permissions apply.

Oftentimes the location and internet permissions are really just for ad networks.
 
A.Nonymous said:
Permissions aren't vague. They're explicitly stated when you install the app.
Click to expand...


Some of them are kinda vague, at least from a layman's perspective. One of them, I cant remember which off the top of my head, but one of them finishes with "....and the like."


and the like? like what??? heh.
 
A.Nonymous said:
Permissions aren't vague. They're explicitly stated when you install the app.
Click to expand...
Yes, they are but the reasons are vague. As was said earlier, a wallpaper app may have good/valid reasons for accessing everything stated but it would be nice to know why. I think, for me anyway, it's not always easy to figure out the 'whys' and decide if they appropriate or not.

Plus what alostpacket said. :)
 
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