Malware scanner?

[gloriousnumber1]

Does my M8 with 4.4.3 have a malware scanner or antivirus built in? A friend with a iPhone 5 got a spammer virus on FB messenger. If she can have that, isn't Android more open, or is that a myth? Do I need to download lookout or something else? Mine hasn't done that but since I like messenger and shrugged off all the stuff people said about it, I'm kinda worried that can happen to me.

 

[mruno]

check out this article: Google’s Verify Apps now features full time app scanning | Android and Me
basically google has a scanner built in and it is best not to download apps from 3rd party sites, especially pirate sites.

 

[gloriousnumber1]

check out this article: Google’s Verify Apps now features full time app scanning | Android and Me
basically google has a scanner built in and it is best not to download apps from 3rd party sites, especially pirate sites.

Does the Amazon app store count as 3rd party?

 

[mruno]

it does, but i would count that as safe. i use it myself.

 

[gloriousnumber1]

it does, but i would count that as safe. i use it myself.

I do also. Maybe I'm just paranoid, even though after 4+ years of Android, I haven't ever had a reason to believe any of my devices have been infected with anything. So who are the people who need an additional antivirus app?

 

[lectraplayer]

I do see a need for antivirus protection on Android. While Android is based off of Linux, which makes it darn near invicible, I did have a bug penetrate and ruin my SK4G (and it was my favorite phone. ). Also, bugs may hide to smuggle your data.

 

[gloriousnumber1]

I do see a need for antivirus protection on Android. While Android is based off of Linux, which makes it darn near invicible, I did have a bug penetrate and ruin my SK4G (and it was my favorite phone. ). Also, bugs may hide to smuggle your data.

I'm using Verizon protect, what do you recommend?

 

[lectraplayer]

I've not delt with Vz's product, but I do either use Lookout or McAfee. Lookout seems to do better for me, though none test perfectly.

 

[kratos]

I use Trend Micro. TM has the ability to not only find malware within the file structure, it also scans apps and compares them to collected data to determine if they are behaving inappropriately. Though it may not be perfect and has had a couple false hits on apps that I know I can trust, it seems to work well. Also, TM has the ability to block websites that have been deemed unsafe (involved with scams, virus/malware distribution, etc).

I also like that it comes with lost device protection as well.

Kratos

 

[lectraplayer]

...but can it find your device when it runs out of battery? The one I use primarily can.