Anti Virus Program, necessary?

[stmartin84]

I'm not sure if this has been spoken about, but is an anti-virus program necessary for the Droid Eris? I hear mixed opinions.

 

[pavirotten]

I wouldn't worry about viruses.

 

[GrdLock]

A virus can't do any real damage to your phone without root access anyways.

So I say no to worrying about a virus scanner. Just seems like something that'll slow down the phone and drain battery life to me.

 

[stmartin84]

I will probably uninstall then. Thanks.

 

[willdogs]

How about Malware? Spyware?

these don't need root access.

How about this scenario.

You download an App from the MKT

Its a fun little game, and catches on like wildfire. Thousands download it.

Little do they know that it has an embedded keylogger/email sniffer/etc etc. But they run silently. No one has the slightest idea.

You log into mobil banking and BAM all of your login info is captured by the malware.

I could see this happening more than a virus needing root access.

 

[Caddyman]

How about Malware? Spyware?

these don't need root access.

How about this scenario.

You download an App from the MKT

Its a fun little game, and catches on like wildfire. Thousands download it.

Little do they know that it has an embedded keylogger/email sniffer/etc etc. But they run silently. No one has the slightest idea.

You log into mobil banking and BAM all of your login info is captured by the malware.

I could see this happening more than a virus needing root access.

same thing i would worry about. on a not so sinister note even for harvesting emails i am sure an app could do that...

 

[aleis]

ugh!
i would never do mobile banking on a machine not protected by microsoft security essentials
but from what i understand, all apps are "sandboxed" meaning they could not work with another app unless specifically made to. so its "virutally" impossible to inject a virus but...with that said...it is a mini computer so anything is possible.
i read alot about hacking computers so EVERYTHING scares me.
so i would NEVER do anything critically sensitive on this device.
but...i even worry at home. i can tell you, i keep the bulk of my money in an account i never link anything to and rarely access online. my advice would be DONT EVEN TRUST THE ANTIVIRUS PROGRAMS!

 

[rigamrts]

guys let those dumb anti virus apps die. this is linux and it's a locked down version at that. there no way to get to the kernal where a virus is made to attack. that's one of the perks of linux your root level stuff has to be accessed using an admin account then you have to enter another password to get to the root functions. a virus makers not going to waist his time cracking that kind of security when there are alot more windows machines and jailbroken iphones which are easier to hack.


stop being a tool and thinking in the windows mentality.

i'm suprised google hasn't ripped those apps down cause they don't work.

if you bought one from the market you just waisted your money on a non working app.

 

[rigamrts]

same thing i would worry about. on a not so sinister note even for harvesting emails i am sure an app could do that...

but that anti virus software you downloaded is bogus. cause it will never tell you there's a virus sorry guys you got ripped off.

Note to new Linux users: No antivirus needed

this site will help the non beleivers.

please don't get fooled once you hit accept on the terms any app to allow internet access antivirus will not save you.

 

[Caddyman]

i havent bought anything and i dont think anyone is being a tool either....we are learning together, hashing out ideas, getting info, why be so brash?

 

[rigamrts]

i havent bought anything and i dont think anyone is being a tool either....we are learning together, hashing out ideas, getting info, why be so brash?

i'm just stating a point on how this subject has been brought up many times and everytime they've been told anti virus is useless yet this topic still gets recreated over and over.

please people and i mean everyone do us a favor see the little tab at the top of the page that says search use it. then if that does not work then post. cause i can find atleast 3 topics about antivirus just in this forum alone using the search function.

 

[stmartin84]

i'm just stating a point on how this subject has been brought up many times and everytime they've been told anti virus is useless yet this topic still gets recreated over and over.

please people and i mean everyone do us a favor see the little tab at the top of the page that says search use it. then if that does not work then post. cause i can find atleast 3 topics about antivirus just in this forum alone using the search function.

I apologize for posting this thread then. I was unaware of the search feature. I will reference that from here on out.

 

[Caddyman]

i am a huge proponent of search, i have the same frustrations...believe me, but its not enough to make me mad.

 

[stmartin84]

i am a huge proponent of search, i have the same frustrations...believe me, but its not enough to make me mad.

Again Caddy, I will use the search feature now that I know where it's located.

 

[Caddyman]

like i said man, i ain't mad, it happens....

 

[djspock3030]

I agree you should stop being so "Brash", I am a Expert user in V.Bulletin for many years and support forums of my own. I know how to use the search feature and it just happens to be that on this forum it doesnt work all that "Grand". I had to do type the title of my post before it gave me any type of result. Where as prior to that i almost made a dupe post for typing Anti-Virus is it needed. So possibly instead of insulting others you should check to see if the "search" function works correctly then maybe tell the admin to update or fix etc instead of harping on others.

 

[RC Addict]

May I be so bold as to get the thread back on topic--even if there are other threads out there?

In my talks with Verizon and others it is my understanding that anti-virus IS needed. Why? Because Android is "open-architecture" not unlike Internet Explorer for Windows. Does anyone know how much malware and spyware comes into your system via Explorer?

I come from BlackBerry where this wasn't an issue because of the "closed-architecture" of the BB operating system. That is why our government uses BlackBerrys exclusively--they are secure!

Now you all can get back to dumping on people for not using search...

 

[RC Addict]

You download an App from the MKT

Its a fun little game, and catches on like wildfire. Thousands download it.

Little do they know that it has an embedded keylogger/email sniffer/etc etc. But they run silently. No one has the slightest idea.

I have downloaded several apps and gotten a pop-up saying something like: "This app may contain embedded key-loggers, do you wish to download" or something to that effect.

And yet there are those that say there is nothing to worry about. Sure...

 

[rigamrts]

not being brash just making a point. it may have been a little harsh it was like the 3rd time an antivirus thread was opened. plus i don't really monitor this page anymore as much. cause nothing new ever happens here except the same complaints and rehashing the same arguments about what phone is better or some other flame war starting topic.

there are too many people whining in the eris forum i just stop in just for a LOL! once in a while now.


Android Forums - Search Results

just found 2 pages of threads with the word antivirus in it and i just used antivirus as my search target word.

this thread being at the top 3.

please lets not argue over this. i've been over this for about a week now.

if a mod would just stickie a thread saying to use search then i'd just hot link that thread in a repeate thread and be done with it.

 

[RC Addict]

So much for trying to actually further a legitimate discussion? I DID try to add something of value and substance...

 

[rigamrts]

May I be so bold as to get the thread back on topic--even if there are other threads out there?

In my talks with Verizon and others it is my understanding that anti-virus IS needed. Why? Because Android is "open-architecture" not unlike Internet Explorer for Windows. Does anyone know how much malware and spyware comes into your system via Explorer?

I come from BlackBerry where this wasn't an issue because of the "closed-architecture" of the BB operating system. That is why our government uses BlackBerrys exclusively--they are secure!

Now you all can get back to dumping on people for not using search...

the problem is the antivirus programs can not scan any app downloaded or ran from your menu due to the sandbox all apps are placed in. it's hard to explain without getting technical about how linux works but antivirus won't work in a linux enviroment.

your verizon rep who told you this is just guessing.

 

[thetomlin2]

Here is the best way to search ... go into the forum you want to search. For Eris owners, that will usually be HTC Droid Forum:

HTC Droid Eris - Android Forums

Your screen will look like this:

Click the search button I circled above and enter what you want to search. This will search only the HTC Droid Eris Forum, not the rest of the site. It works very well.

 

[rigamrts]

So much for trying to actually further a legitimate discussion? I DID try to add something of value and substance...

what apps were these you say popped up? did you report them to google for being bad? cause everytime i find an app that don't work or is some kind of scam i report it. maybe it picked up on a java string that is harmless or maybe it picked up on native android code that helps apps work but flags it anyways. there no real way to scan a file in linux till it is on the phone and by that time the sandbox is gone and the app is dead till you start it.

95% of all android apps work like viruses due to the way they interact with the kernal. it's just how the linux game works

 

[RC Addict]

Honestly I do not remember. There were several. One would think that the apps would be fully vetted by Google before they got onto the Marketplace but who knows.

 

[RC Addict]

the problem is the antivirus programs can not scan any app downloaded or ran from your menu due to the sandbox all apps are placed in. it's hard to explain without getting technical about how linux works but antivirus won't work in a linux enviroment.

your verizon rep who told you this is just guessing.

Actually it was a high-tier technical support advisor but he could have been guessing. Dunno. Just going on what I was told by someone you would think would be in the know.