Help Virus Protection

[Robert257]

New to Android, new to the forum. Hope my question is specific enough to warrant a response.
Have a Samsung SIII Smartphone, carrier is Total Wireless (through, I believe, Verizon)
Occasionally get "Warning Your phone has been infected, etc. Followed by a pitch to buy some ap or another to rid me of the virus. Have ignored these with no ill effect and assume they're bogus, BUT,
Thinking I should have some kind of "protection" and so my question:
Are there good and free aps available?
Should I quit being such a cheap s.o.b. and buy my way to relative security?
Either way, sure would appreciate any advice Y'all could offer.
(Addition info you need from me? Other than my SSN? ;-))
Thanks,
RCrosby257
p.s. Running Android 4.1.2

 

[Hadron]

The main thing is to be careful where you download stuff from. There are no true viruses for Android (self-propagating malware), but there are trojans (apps that contain malware hidden inside them). This is rare in the major curated apps stores (Google or Amazon), and the open-source F-droid repository is pretty safe. But if you start downloading stuff from random sites, especially those that allow anyone to upload stuff (e.g. aptoide) or places that offer pirated apps, then that's the easiest way to get infected. And with an older android version like that some malware can install itself to /system even without you being rooted (so a factory reset won't clear it). So stick to safe sources when downloading apps and you avoid the main risks.

And you are right, a pop-up like that does not mean you are infected. The Android OS never generates messages like that, it's a script from some website you've visited. Clear all of your browser caches and you should get rid of it. And far from protecting you, clicking on the message is likely to download something unpleasant (at best some data-stealing crapware like CM Security, at worst some full-blown malware).

Leave the option to install from unknown sources (i.e. not the Play Store) switched off. Even if you do need to use it, just enable it when you do then turn it off again afterwards.

With the above tips you should have little to worry about. If you feel the need to install something, then stick to companies who have a known reputation in the AV field: Malwarebytes, Avast, Kaspersky, someone like that.

 

[Robert257]

Hadron,
VERY helpful! Thanks! Rob

The main thing is to be careful where you download stuff from. There are no true viruses for Android (self-propagating malware), but there are trojans (apps that contain malware hidden inside them). This is rare in the major curated apps stores (Google or Amazon), and the open-source F-droid repository is pretty safe. But if you start downloading stuff from random sites, especially those that allow anyone to upload stuff (e.g. aptoide) or places that offer pirated apps, then that's the easiest way to get infected. And with an older android version like that some malware can install itself to /system even without you being rooted (so a factory reset won't clear it). So stick to safe sources when downloading apps and you avoid the main risks.

And you are right, a pop-up like that does not mean you are infected. The Android OS never generates messages like that, it's a script from some website you've visited. Clear all of your browser caches and you should get rid of it. And far from protecting you, clicking on the message is likely to download something unpleasant (at best some data-stealing crapware like CM Security, at worst some full-blown malware).

Leave the option to install from unknown sources (i.e. not the Play Store) switched off. Even if you do need to use it, just enable it when you do then turn it off again afterwards.

With the above tips you should have little to worry about. If you feel the need to install something, then stick to companies who have a known reputation in the AV field: Malwarebytes, Avast, Kaspersky, someone like that.

 

[steiny180]

The best virus protection is - YOU !!! ...