Your views of Anti-virus 'Lookout'

[Baggy]

Whats your view of using anti-virus on Android? and Lookout in general..

 

[ianb11]

I have it but if I'm honest not sure what good it does.

99% of the apps I get are from the market so what's the chances of getting a virus from there?

I do get the odd APK from the web so suppose it will scan them for viruses.

 

[A.Nonymous]

There are no viruses for Android so an "anti-virus" program is a scam IMHO. I can't speak for the other security features of the program (locating your phone, etc...), but the "anti-virus" function is a complete sham.

 

[ItsBenaWhile]

does it really back up your pictures? like high res and im not worried about my contatcs cause i save them to my gmail not the phone

 

[dcarhart]

I uninstalled lookout because I didn't really think it did anything except take up memory and CPU time. Also if I tether my android to my PC and mount it, then run Norton 360, it also scans the phone. Since I usually have my phone connected to my PC at work to charge it anyway, this is how I take care of anti virus protection.

 

[cjr72]

Would Norton 360 recognize viruses that are written for linux based android phone?

 

[A.Nonymous]

Would Norton 360 recognize viruses that are written for linux based android phone?

Extremely doubtful. It's a Windows program designed to address Windows viruses.

 

[ScottyPro]

Extremely doubtful. It's a Windows program designed to address Windows viruses.

That could well be incorrect.

I use Macs, both at home and at work. One of the Macs has an Anti-Virus app on it for one purpose only, to scan discs, downloads etc for the 2 PC's at work, before anything gets near them. The downloads and discs are first run through the Mac and if everything is clear, are then transferred to the PC. The Mac Anti-Virus can detect Windows Viruses, so maybe a Windows Anti-Virus app will detect an android virus.

It may well be that, like a Macintosh, there are no wild Viruses out there

 

[Baggy]

I have it but if I'm honest not sure what good it does.

99% of the apps I get are from the market so what's the chances of getting a virus from there?

I do get the odd APK from the web so suppose it will scan them for viruses.

me nether have it on all 3 of mine, its ever found anything, up dates not very often. I like the online back up and if lost but for the anti malware i don't think our phones are at any risk. for one its Linux based and there isn't anything out there.. two you give apps permission to things so i don't know if the anti malware just looks for apps trying to access things you haven't gave permission too, or what and being Linux it wouldn't be able to get it anyway without permission.

 

[opelikamike]

My first DINC got caught in the endless reboot loop. The Verizon guy asked me if I had any AV installed. I told him Lookout and he said that might be the problem. maybe he was blowing smoke but I have not reinstalled it on my new DINC. Would love to just to have the phone locator function.

Thoughts?

Mike in AL

 

[othgar]

My first DINC got caught in the endless reboot loop. The Verizon guy asked me if I had any AV installed. I told him Lookout and he said that might be the problem. maybe he was blowing smoke but I have not reinstalled it on my new DINC. Would love to just to have the phone locator function.

Thoughts?

Mike in AL

I would not go by what a verizon guy told me. At least in my experience most don't really know what they are talking about. As for Lookout, I like it for the backup and lost phone function. I have doubts if the anti-virus portion is needed at this point though.

 

[A.Nonymous]

That could well be incorrect.

I use Macs, both at home and at work. One of the Macs has an Anti-Virus app on it for one purpose only, to scan discs, downloads etc for the 2 PC's at work, before anything gets near them. The downloads and discs are first run through the Mac and if everything is clear, are then transferred to the PC. The Mac Anti-Virus can detect Windows Viruses, so maybe a Windows Anti-Virus app will detect an android virus.

It may well be that, like a Macintosh, there are no wild Viruses out there

The flaw in your plan is that you assume the Mac antivirus program can detect viruses targeted at Windows. I don't know if that's the case or not. It may catch viruses targeted at Macs.

 

[Member113588]

I'm so sick of hearing people say "There is no such thing as viruses for anything but Windows!" I don't care what you use there is a virus out there for it, yes there aren't near as many and in most cases less severe however viruses do exist for platforms other than Windows.

Back to subject, I find an anti-virus app for Android very useless, if you do a lot of downloading apps from the web, then by all means go for it, but if you mostly use the market and read the comments before you download an app I don't see any need for it. If an app that ends up in the market happens to be a virus people will comment about it immediately.

 

[candi3188]

So...I can turn the anti-virus feature off though right? I am really more interested in backup and lost phone features.

 

[Holydoc]

There are no viruses for Android so an "anti-virus" program is a scam IMHO. I can't speak for the other security features of the program (locating your phone, etc...), but the "anti-virus" function is a complete sham.

I am not sure it is a SCAM since it is free.

I uninstalled lookout because I didn't really think it did anything except take up memory and CPU time. Also if I tether my android to my PC and mount it, then run Norton 360, it also scans the phone. Since I usually have my phone connected to my PC at work to charge it anyway, this is how I take care of anti virus protection.

From my experiences (using Task Panel Paid version as an indicator), Lookout uses very little resources. Though I have my doubts that the Virus scan is of much value, the ability to backup your pictures, sound an alarm on your phone to locate it, or utilize the GPS on the phone to locate it on a map on the Lookout website if you left it at a friends house is INVALUABLE for the price you pay, uh... FREE.

I guess my question is "why wouldn't you have some type of program on your phone that gives you the capabilities listed in the above paragraph if it is free?" Makes no sense to me to not have this extra security on a $299 phone.

 

[A.Nonymous]

From my experiences (using Task Panel Paid version as an indicator), Lookout uses very little resources. Though I have my doubts that the Virus scan is of much value, the ability to backup your pictures, sound an alarm on your phone to locate it, or utilize the GPS on the phone to locate it on a map on the Lookout website if you left it at a friends house is INVALUABLE for the price you pay, uh... FREE.

I guess my question is "why wouldn't you have some type of program on your phone that gives you the capabilities listed in the above paragraph if it is free?" Makes no sense to me to not have this extra security on a $299 phone.

Personally, I find those a little over rated. I've got a Photobucket app that backs up pics automatically when I take them. I've personally never wished I could sound an alarm to find my phone so that feature is completely useless to me. If I want, I can call my phone to find out where it is (which I've never had to do either) and I can do that right from my computer as well.

The GPS thing is way overhyped by several different applications. Again, if my phone is lost I can call it and make it ring. When I've lost my phone in the past I've had a pretty general idea of where it was. I knew it was in my office somewhere or in my house somewhere. GPS can't tell me "On the shelf in the bedroom". It just tells me it's in my house. I already know that. If the phone is stolen, GPS is completely useless. It does me no good to know where my stolen phone is. I'm not going to go over there and get it and neither are the cops.

 

[Holydoc]

Personally, I find those a little over rated. I've got a Photobucket app that backs up pics automatically when I take them. I've personally never wished I could sound an alarm to find my phone so that feature is completely useless to me. If I want, I can call my phone to find out where it is (which I've never had to do either) and I can do that right from my computer as well.

The GPS thing is way overhyped by several different applications. Again, if my phone is lost I can call it and make it ring. When I've lost my phone in the past I've had a pretty general idea of where it was. I knew it was in my office somewhere or in my house somewhere. GPS can't tell me "On the shelf in the bedroom". It just tells me it's in my house. I already know that. If the phone is stolen, GPS is completely useless. It does me no good to know where my stolen phone is. I'm not going to go over there and get it and neither are the cops.

A.Non,

What Lookout does is turn the phone ringer on full blast and sounds the alarm to locate your phone. I know I have turned the ringer off or on vibrate and forgot to turn the ringer back on. Lookout will do this for you.

What if you left your phone somewhere or it fell out of your pocket? My friend was able to locate his phone that slipped out of his pocket in the movie theatre using this app. He used my phone to see that his was still at the theatre. We turned around, went to the theatre, and he was able to retrieve his phone. Calling would not have worked since it was on silent.

Just some thoughts for you. I have no affiliation with Lookout. I just don't understand not wanting SOME program that has these type of features especially since it is free. My wife has Mobile Defense on her phone. Was not available for my phone since it went out of Beta distribution. That is why I have Lookout.

 

[A.Nonymous]

That's the thing. If I left my phone somewhere I know where I left it. IN your case, you left the theatre and your friend realized he didn't have his phone. If you didn't have the app, what would you have done? You'd have turned around, walked back to the theatre and probably would've started looking around where you were sitting. You'd have found your phone there. I can say that I have never ever lost a smart phone. I used to lose dumb phones all the freaking time, but I always had some idea where it was. (i.e., it's in my house somewhere) My smart phones I've never ever lost and I'm on my second one right now.

 

[Roze]

I think the anti-virus scan is kind of pointless...it scans the apps AFTER they are downloaded. I like the other features though. I would get Wavesecure, but it's $20/year and I hate subscription.

 

[sookster54]

Lookout is pretty nice, as already mentioned the backup and location. Now that there's an article about Lookout probably going premium, I may remove it, the antivirus part is pretty unnecessary unless you download apps from a 3rd party then again I don't know if it actually scans the integrity of apks.

The best antivirus for Android is your responsibility on looking at what permissions apps need. Such as the infamous wallpaper app needing "services that costs money" or "phone calls" permissions, think "does this app really need those?". There are alot of free apps that aren't internet related yet they include "full internet access" and "gps location" found on some flashlight and battery monitor apps.

 

[Roze]

Lookout is pretty nice, as already mentioned the backup and location.

Oh boy...if it goes premium, I better see some MORE features on it!!! I might think of buying the app if it is a one time thing...but if they are going to do a subscription, I'm not too sure. Might get wavesecure instead.

The best antivirus for Android is your responsibility on looking at what permissions apps need. Such as the infamous wallpaper app needing "services that costs money" or "phone calls" permissions, think "does this app really need those?".

RED LIGHT ALERT!!! Should be going off your head when you see that

There are alot of free apps that aren't internet related yet they include "full internet access" and "gps location" found on some flashlight and battery monitor apps.

Well for most free apps, the full internet access and gps is for ads GPS is to give you more personalize ads that is specific to your area.

 

[xdafan81]

I would only use it for the backup and location feature however there are other apps that will do that just as well. I did read an article a few weeks back saying Android will become targeted by Virus writers more with time however.

 

[hrbib21]

I think the anti-virus scan is kind of pointless...it scans the apps AFTER they are downloaded. I like the other features though. I would get Wavesecure, but it's $20/year and I hate subscription.

Had Wavesecure for free lifetime but only with my Eris. I miss it but I'd rather have the DInc. Lookout is a good substitute, though.

 

[Roze]

Had Wavesecure for free lifetime but only with my Eris. I miss it but I'd rather have the DInc. Lookout is a good substitute, though.

Yeah, I was sooo mad when I heard that wavesecure was doing subspription when it got out of beta end of Feburary. Though, to rewards all of its beta users, they get lifetime use (on that phone). I didn't get my phone for another 2 weeks...so I was very *argh* since that was the first app I wanted to get, lol.

 

[Baggy]

just got a mail from them...

/////Hello,
We're excited to let you know that we'll be releasing Lookout Mobile Security Premium for Android later this year. We will continue to offer our award-winning free Lookout product and we will be adding a premium offering for those of you who want added protection. While we can't reveal the details of the Premium version just yet, we can tell you what will happen for our existing users.

For you, nothing changes-- unless you want it to! Because you are an existing Lookout user you can continue to use the same great Lookout product you know and love for as long as you want, free of charge. While we will continue to offer a free product, a few of our free features will become premium features for new users. Existing users like yourself will get to keep using those features free of charge for the life of your account. If you are interested in upgrading to the new Premium product, you'll have the option to do that. And if you change your mind, you can always go back to what you have today for free.


Here's How it Will Work:
- We will continue to have a great free version of Lookout
- Lookout Premium will be coming out soon (more details, including price, to come)
- You'll have the option to upgrade to Lookout Premium
- For existing users, you get to continue using all the features in your Free product today, for the life of your account
- Note: The first version of Lookout Premium will be for Android users only. Additional platforms will follow.


When we release more information about Lookout Premium, you'll be first to know. Stay tuned and thank you for supporting Lookout. If you have any questions, please send us a note at support@mylookout.com.

In the meantime, tell your friends to sign up for Lookout now!


Best,
John Hering
CEO, Lookout Mobile Security///////

I'd get it now before it premium