Virus protection in Android

[rhod]

No, it's not. It's a "Trojan Horse". Big difference, especially in the spread of it, and how it functions.

A trojan horse requires the end user to execute it. A virus executes on it's own.



No, there hasn't been any known viruses for Android. Lot's of trojan horses. But, any OS that requires a person to use it is susceptible to a trojan horse.

There has been one POC virus for Linux. And, it did very little damage. Wasn't able to, since Linux requires root privs to damage anything.

Since you've been using Backtrack for years, I assume you are some sort of security specialist. And, any security specialist worth their salt knows the giant difference between viruses and trojans.

Ok, please please PLEASE read previous comments before an argument. I clearly explained above that I was wrong to say it was a virus - i understand it's a trojan and 100% understand the difference. Christ, university drilled the difference into my head!! The way i see this debate going is discussing malware in general, not just viruses. Malware (trojans) have been detected on the android platform and were dealt with accordingly.

Yes I use backtrack. I am a test engineer and penetration tester for a network securtiy firm. I have been assigned a new project in work looking at mobile malware and have started researching it. To be honest a lot of these comments have been extremely useful

 

[A.Nonymous]

The problem is that the infection vector for any malware on Android so far has been social engineering. It's very unlike a PC, for example, where an unprotected PC can get infected simply by visiting a malicious site and with no intervention from the user at all. Someone posting an app claiming to be one thing when it is, in fact, another is a classic social engineering ploy. To date, there are no Android apps that protect against that.

 

[Lane]

One can't really completely protect users from deliberately installing malicious software though, e.g. wallpaper which requests 'full permissions' of the device, or a copy of Angry Birds which did NOT come from Rovio.

Hey Mikedt - Does Lookout provide a decent service to prevent catastrophe when downloading apps? I've only had my Droid X since early April (typing this post on June 3) and it appears to have protected me during app downloads.

In addition to Lookout I have downloaded AVG Mobile. I've had AVG virus protection on my computers for nearly a decade and have been safe (knocks on wood) so far. Of course AVG updates its software regularly for my computers & twice, so far, on my Droid X.

 

[ssn224]

If it is possible that android is susceptibl to malware attack, how can it be prevented? Do such attacks occur only on downloading application or can they also occur on browsing? Also when downloading an app i generally check ratings and reviews. Would those be enough to keep me away from malware or can those also be faked? Also is there any effective anti virus, i continuously keep on hearing about quick heal...

 

[jerofld]

Welcome to the forums!

Reviews can be faked. Read this:

http://androidforums.com/android-ap...ps-avoid-viruses-guide-those-new-android.html

Knowledge is the best defense against Android malware there is. Every piece of malware discovered so far is an app that needs to entice people into downloading them and not paying attention to what they're doing.