good free firewall?

[diablo2]

Is there a good free firewall, cant use droidwall my android isnt rooted? I didnt see one in the sticky the best category __________ apps


thanks

 

[amlothi]

What do you want to use the firewall for?

I don't believe you can have a "real" firewall unless you root, but perhaps if you explain what you want to do, there is another way to do it.

 

[diablo2]

I got avg antivirus app on my android. I know android isnt like windows but I'd probably be using wifi at home and at hotspots most of the time, so i thought there may be a security issue. Just started working with android, not exactly sure how the insides works, what apps are accessing the internet whats outgoing and incoming?? When i installed the OS Opensuse on my laptop and fooled with that, i thought there was a firewall, not too sure it was a while ago.

Thanks

 

[itsallgood]

Is there a good free firewall, cant use droidwall my android isnt rooted? I didnt see one in the sticky the best category __________ apps


thanks

I use Lookout Premium, cost $2.99 per month. (Used the free version for over a yrs.) They do have a free version too, with less protection. I love it, works really well for both versions. Check out this video. Also, this video is kinda old, but gave more detail info. that was useful, I think. There have been upgrades to Lookout since then.

YouTube - ‪Lookout-demo.wmv‬‏

 

[AngryHatter]

AV software is a waste of time.
Not one of the AV suites picked up an instance of malware.
The community has, Google has, but not Lookout nor AVG nor any other have found a thing.
A smart user is far better than relying on snake oil software and that false sense of security.

 

[diablo2]

can i root this lg thrive i have?

Basically, I want to get rid of the apps that I can't uninstall right now.
If I root it, will I still be able to install updates for the OS android?
Will the service provider know that its rooted ?

Can I unroot it later? I saw somewhere on youtube one person had a one click unroot option somewhere on his phone.

thanks

 

[amlothi]

I thought this thread was about firewall apps. Now antivirus, then how to root. What exactly do you want to do with your phone? If you are worried about viruses, then you should know that rooting, while giving you more power, potentially opens your phone up to allow bad apps to do anything they want. IMO it is better to not root and beware of what permissions each application needs.

So, again, what is your goal in starting this thread?

 

[Roze]

can i root this lg thrive i have?

Basically, I want to get rid of the apps that I can't uninstall right now.
If I root it, will I still be able to install updates for the OS android?
Will the service provider know that its rooted ?

Can I unroot it later? I saw somewhere on youtube one person had a one click unroot option somewhere on his phone.

thanks

Yes, rooting your phone will give you the ability to uninstall stock apps you don't want. You should be careful doing this since there are some carriers that won't let you get update if they see that their firmware has been altered (you get a failed OTA). Unless you know that's not the case, it's best to just freeze your app.

If you didn't unlock the bootloader, yes you can unroot. Different phones do it differently. Some root process will allow you to unroot if you do a factory reset while others, you need to load the stock SBF on your phone.

 

[zuben el genub]

I'd want some way to ban stuff I don't want. Online Armor firewall has a Hosts file you can add to on the computer. Bing and Groupon are in it.

The phone is rooted, but according to posts there are apps that are better to be left alone.

But since Google is making profiles public, I want to forestall any troll type pests.
As of July 31st, all Google profiles will be public


Since I bought my phone outright, I wouldn't give Samsung the right to sneak any type of promotional crap, self or otherwise on the phone. Pests have no rights, either.

 

[diablo2]

Goal- "To learn"

I figure if i couldnt use a firewall with it now id root it use a firewall and get rid of my bloatware but I guess It more dangerous to root it.

what should i be looking for in what permissions each application needs? is that like outgoing requests and incoming requests?
all I know from windows is my programs accessing the net, incoming and outgoing, then Id block the unsafe ones with my firewall, ie, IP addresses, programs, ports? I know whats safe and whats not on windows, whats should i look for in android?

I deal with freezing later, sounds like something you can do without rooting if i read the post right??

thanks

 

[ardchoille]

The reason you need a firewall on your desktop computer is because there are world-facing services that allow incoming connections from anyone. Android doesn't have world-facing services that allow incoming connections from anyone by default.. so a firewall would be like hiring a security guard, placing him in an open meadow and telling him there is nothing to guard.

 

[Roze]

Goal- "To learn"

I figure if i couldnt use a firewall with it now id root it use a firewall and get rid of my bloatware but I guess It more dangerous to root it.

what should i be looking for in what permissions each application needs? is that like outgoing requests and incoming requests?
all I know from windows is my programs accessing the net, incoming and outgoing, then Id block the unsafe ones with my firewall, ie, IP addresses, programs, ports? I know whats safe and whats not on windows, whats should i look for in android?

I deal with freezing later, sounds like something you can do without rooting if i read the post right??

thanks

Sadly no, you're tempering with the system files so it requires root.

Here is a really good beginner guide to Android that is very helpful in explaining some of the basic of apps: http://androidforums.com/android-applications/36936-how-safe-find-trusted-apps-avoid-viruses-guide-those-new-android.html

Just be more cautious when you download apps. Read the reviews and what people have to say about the app. Look at what permissions are required and if you feel safe with the app having those permission. Check out the developer's website to see how legit they are. If you have any concerns, email the developer about it and other checks like that.

Read up on root and how to smartly root your phone. Knowledge is power. If you do go down this path, there's an app call 'Permission' on the android market. It gives you the ability to disable the permissions that an app request. Just be careful that you don't disable a permission that's required for the core function of the app as the app won't work then.

 

[AngryHatter]

The OP was asking about protection.
The question is "from what?"
Various explanations followed.

 

[amlothi]

Diablo2, I recommend you read the permissions guide posted by "alostpacket". He is a very knowledgeable Android dev, and makes a lot of great contributions to this forum.

He has made an app version of his guide here: http://androidforums.com/android-ap...ermissions-app-version-my-security-guide.html

The link to the forum version is also in that post.