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Security..
- Thread starter Blenc1
- Start date
ExtremeNerd
Android Enthusiast
Generally, it's not necessary. Don't download apps from strange stores/bootlegged apps and you'll be fine.
Demache
Android Expert
Agreed. The only known way your going to get malware is by installing "trojan" apps out of your own volition.
Is it possible to get malware through internet browsing ?
ExtremeNerd
Android Enthusiast
No. And by no I mean it hasn't been reported if it has happened. I follow a lot of Android sites, and have never once heard of anyone worried about a browsing virus.
I think much of the browsing is done on the back end, rather than on the device like desktop browsing. Google/Dolphin/Opera use its servers to speed up our experience on our phones. Someone with more technical knowledge please correct me if I'm wrong.
Demache
Android Expert
Opera Mini is the only one I know of that does all of the rendering on their servers. Most browsers for modern phones actually do render the web site on the phone itself, since it maintains interactivity that you would get with a standard desktop browser (in Opera Mini, most interactive parts of web pages won't work, since there is limited Javascript capabilities).
Which does leave reason to believe that there could be a way to exploit this. However because of the way applications run in Android, its limited to the browser itself and what Android has given it permission to access. The worst that could happen is that the browser starts downloading the bad app, but it can't do anything without root or permission from you. The OS itself is for the most part safe. Exploting browsers to gain control of the OS seems to be a Windows exclusive thing.
chanchan05
The Doctor
The key to Android security is that viruses can't exist, and malware requires you to install them and give them permissions. Basically, you can have a gigabyte worth of malware installers on your device and nothing bad will happen unless you decide to install them.
itsallgood
Android Expert
Sabayon;[URL="tel:4907742" said:
I have always believed that any mobile device is at risk of attack. I use Lookout and TrustGo Security for that added layer of protection.
chanchan05;[URL="tel:4908440" said:
This may be true, but who wants it even on there mobile device. I know I don't and you would want files scanned on your phone if for some reason one was downloaded. Lets not forget the fact that you have kids that play around with adult phones, down loading all kinds of stuff.
I've read forums, articles, etc about malware on Android and there is always these connections:
1) Anti-Malware developers are always claiming that malware is on the rise.
Of course it is going to be 'always on the rise' according to them. They make a product that is supposed to 'protect' you against it!
2) Anti-Malware developers never tell you where they found the malware.
Did you know that Google has a special program that routinely scans and cleans malware out of the Play market? Soon after this program was put into place, I noticed a lot of those fishy flashlight apps started disappearing. This was enacted about 5 months ago. The Play store is probably about as safe as Apple's App Store now (the Apple App Store has been reported to have malware on it, too).
So where is all the malware? Pirated apps and third party market places. Some huge proportion of the Android malware actually only exists in China. Why? The Chinese government does not allow Google to have their products, other than the Android OS itself, in China. So no Google Play in China. And that's why these Chinese tablets that people buy do not have Google Play pre-installed. That means they use third party app markets are the only option for Chinese Android users. Considering how Android has 80% or so of the market share in China, and their app stores are not controlled by any overseeing entity (like Google), those markets are filled with malware. Which is where these anti-malware people get their numbers.
3) Android is actually pretty secure. It gets a bad rap because of malware that can exploit the permission system. However, it's nearly impervious to 'viruses' as we know them on Windows-based machines. Linux, despite having such a large development community, is simply not a target of virus attacks. And should one be developed and targeted at Android, Android uses layers of security. Your apps run in a virtual machine, that is ran inside of a shell, that is ran inside of an OS. Think of it as putting something in a lock box, then putting that lock box into a safe, and then that safe is inside of a bank vault. The virus would have to break out of the lock box and the safe before it could do anything. That virus program would have to be massive in order to break through 3 different coding languages.
That's why 'malware' targets the permission system. BTW, Malware is not a virus. There are differences and that's why you should read this thread: http://androidforums.com/android-ap...explained-security-tips-avoiding-malware.html
itsallgood
Android Expert
Both are really good. (Lookout is more recognized between the two though.) Both can do pretty much the same thing. I use TrustGo because, Lookout secure web browsing, only works on the stock android browser. (I use Dolphin Beta browser.) So I use TrustGo for this reason. Even though you will hear others say you don't need them, which depending on where you download apps from, you might not. But they do have a lot of other features too.
andnewbie09
Newbie
For now I use Dr Web Light and so far it has helped me avoid many viruses commonly encountered through downloads and updates. Though if you are looking for a different anti-virus software make sure that the software you download automatically scans anything that attempts to save or install itself into your system and regularly updates itself for tracking new viruses