A Real American! Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 I have been using AVG since last few weeks now. But It has never detected anything malicious till date. Now this isn't a bad thing but the question is do we really need an AV on Android? Is anyone else using any AV on their phone? or Do you rather have none to save memory/ ram/ cpu? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulrian Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 I really can't see the point of AV on my phone - it's just going to use up my precious battery life which isn't the greatest anyways. Comes down to the general rules of using the internet - use your head and don't visit dodgy sites or download random programs. I think it becomes easier on a phone to be honest. Don't install apps unless they have good reviews and try not to visit those weird sites (if you want to do that use your PC with AV or in a sandbox etc). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nexus18 MVC Posted May 6, 2015 MVC Share Posted May 6, 2015 No. As long as you don't: - install dodgy apps - install apps outside the play store - visit dodgy sites or/and click on dodgy downloads You will be fine. The Evil Overlord, Psion7 and HoochieMamma 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompkin Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 My G3 came with AV software and I just let that do it's thing. It scans whenever I download something or apps update. I can "scan on demand" but otherwise it scans about once a week i think. If you download a lot of games and stuff I could see where it might be more dangerous but I just download "known" apps so I feel that i"m pretty low risk. (although not 100% safe). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timster Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 No. As long as you don't: - install dodgy apps - install apps outside the play store - visit dodgy sites or/and click on dodgy downloads You will be fine. same applies to a computer. stay away from shady sites and unknown sources. T3X4S and Psion7 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
link6155 Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 No, unlike Windows or other PC operating system, Android is restricted when it comes to what an application can do. The Play Store *should* be malware free, so the only way you could get malware is to go onto some shady website, download an APK, enable 3rd party installation, install it, and run it. It's a lot of steps before an Android 'malware' could actually do anything. The worse an Android malware could do is nag you to pay for something, see your contacts, and see what apps open. Even if you're rooted, you would need to grant the app root permission before it could do any real harm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techbeck Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 No, just keep to installing things from the Play Store and you should be fine. I dont know anything who uses AV on Android, and I know lots who use Android, and they never had a problem. I do periodic checks every now and then as well as I do with any other system just to be sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obi-Wan Kenobi Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 I use eset. Just to be on the safe side. goretsky 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draconian Guppy Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 For tech savy people I would say no. But I witnessed people nigerian scams (in 2015)... so yes dumb people need protection from themselves. T3X4S 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimefighter Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 My G3 came with AV software and I just let that do it's thing. I was going to call BS as never heard of a phone coming with AV software... Googled it. Those damn OEMs and carriers will load any bloatware they can freaking find on the phones they sell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompkin Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 I was going to call BS as never heard of a phone coming with AV software... Googled it. Those damn OEMs and carriers will load any bloatware they can freaking find on the phones they sell. No link? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimefighter Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 For tech savy people I would say no. But I witnessed people nigerian scams (in 2015)... so yes dumb people need protection from themselves. Yes, dumb people do need protection from themselves and Android provides that out of the box so no need for AV software. Apps are scanned on the Play store and sandboxed when run on your phone. In addition, users would have to root their phone for any elevated privileges so no worries. Draconian Guppy and xendrome 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimefighter Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 No link? I was saying didn't believe you UNTIL I Googled it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psion7 Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 same applies to a computer. stay away from shady sites and unknown sources. Yup. Ever since Vista I just kept UAC and the default Windows Firewall settings enabled and have not once in almost 10 years had any virus problems on Windows Vista, 7 or 8. I don't run any extra software I just don't do stupid things like download music or films that come with a bloody mp4.exe. Had a few close calls with junkware from dodgy software installers but paying attention and reading up on new software first has always saved me at the last minute. Now I like to get the zip/portable versions of apps instead of the installers as they are always junk/spyware free. I don't quite understand how people mess up their computers so badly these days. Back in the XP days sure but now it is pretty damn hard. Ian W 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompkin Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 I was saying didn't believe you UNTIL I Googled it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompkin Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Not long ago I went to the Walgreens site. When I went there I got a warning from Chrome saying their cryptography was obsolete. I have just gone there and it appears that they have corrected the situation because I no longer get that message. Interestingly though, after going to their page there is a brief message that appears at the bottom of the browser that says "Waiting for localhost...". What???? Another separate thing I'm curious about. To give an example, when I'm on the Neowin site in my Chrome address bar it shows 'www.neowin.net'. When I go there in IE the address bar says, 'https://www.neowin.net'. I only ask this because there was a very humorous video that went around not long ago that depicted a "dumb user" that got around a browser security warning by typing in www.blahblah.com, instead of using the 'http://blahblah.com' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draconian Guppy Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Yes, dumb people do need protection from themselves and Android provides that out of the box so no need for AV software. Apps are scanned on the Play store and sandboxed when run on your phone. In addition, users would have to root their phone for any elevated privileges so no worries. granted google is just now getting strict with the play store Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obi-Wan Kenobi Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 01Michael10...dumb people also throw their two cents in when it's not warranted. on topic, better safe then sorry. Call it stupid if you want. I call it thinking ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplezz Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 same applies to a computer. stay away from shady sites and unknown sources.That's somewhat harder to do (at least on Windows) when the internet is the primary source of software and root access is easy to get (single click). When there's a good App Store like the PlayStore, it's a lot easier to stay safe. I rarely sideload apps on Android. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acido00 Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 It is simple: Have kids? Do the kids are going to use your phone sometimes? the answer is: Yes, mandatory. at least you train them about how to use the store and all that stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick H. Supervisor Posted May 6, 2015 Supervisor Share Posted May 6, 2015 I have 360 Security installed, although I tend to ignore the warnings that it throws up as I like to think that I know what I'm doing. I just find it always good to have that extra little notification that will make me pause before continuing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimefighter Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 It is simple: Have kids? Do the kids are going to use your phone sometimes? the answer is: Yes, mandatory. at least you train them about how to use the store and all that stuff Why would the kids ever use one's phone unless they want their fingers broken? When they are old enough to have one, they will have their own phone AND it still won't need AV software. simplezz, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jose_49 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimefighter Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 I have 360 Security installed, although I tend to ignore the warnings that it throws up as I like to think that I know what I'm doing. I just find it always good to have that extra little notification that will make me pause before continuing. You install a lot Chinese software on your phone? That could be why some people need AV software. LOL simplezz 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick H. Supervisor Posted May 6, 2015 Supervisor Share Posted May 6, 2015 You install a lot Chinese software on your phone? That's could be why some people need AV software. LOLChinese software does not automatically equal "rubbish" or "scam." I went and did some research on the various software available, and while I was using Lookout in the past my research found that many places considered 360 to be a great option. Having used it for a while now I tend to agree. But if you would like to knock something just because of where it's from, I won't stop you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimefighter Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Chinese software does not automatically equal "rubbish" or "scam." I went and did some research on the various software available, and while I was using Lookout in the past my research found that many places considered 360 to be a great option. Having used it for a while now I tend to agree. But if you would like to knock something just because of where it's from, I won't stop you. Once again, the issue is not the performance or quality of the advertized features of the software... It's from a Chinese company! Assume it's freaking back doored! Most security experts agree to stay away from Chinese owned software and hardware. There is a number of good AV software products NOT made in China so why not use one of them (not that you need an AV app for your phone anyway) instead? Please don't say because it's the undisputed best AV software out there. Why is it, the only tech blog I ever see 360 (Total) Security meationed is Neowin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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