• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Which Firewall and Antivirus to use?

Upvote 0
Unless you have apps on your handset acting as publicly-visible servers and accepting unsolicited requests from outside sources, a firewall is not necessary. Without a server anything that does come knocking on your door will simply get no answer.

but:thinking:but:thinking:but .... what about all those apps out there i read about that are conecting to the internet and steeling my info :eek:
 
Upvote 0
Nothing can steal your info unless you let it. Take care when installing apps that their required permissions make sense for what the app does, only install apps from trustworthy known sources, and you'll be safe enough. The How To Be Safe.... sticky at the top of this section is an excellent guide, if you haven't already found it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ardchoille
Upvote 0
I'm sorry, I should have explained that better.

Unless you have apps on your handset acting as publicly-visible servers and accepting unsolicited requests from outside sources, a firewall is not necessary. Without a server anything that does come knocking on your door will simply get no answer.
This is a much better explanation. Thank you, Slug :)

but:thinking:but:thinking:but .... what about all those apps out there i read about that are conecting to the internet and steeling my info :eek:
Any app can steal information, consider the recent news about the Dolphin HD browser - tracking and uploading all of the URLs you visit. although it now seems it was unintentional, it did happen. A firewall isn't designed to protect against this because a web browser needs internet permissions. I doubt there is an app around that could have prevented this. The weakest link in any computer system is the user.
 
Upvote 0
Which FREE Firewall and Antivorus are the best to use on a Samsung Galaxy S. Please give reasons that you can confirm as to why your choice is the best.

While I do agree that being careful of the apps you download, I still use one. I use Lookout Premium. Love the remote locate and swipe the internal memory and SD card. Safe browser when using both non mobil and mobil websites. Backup and restore. App Permission notices and phone/app scans.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nosnibor
Upvote 0
While I do agree that being careful of the apps you download, I still use one. I use Lookout Premium. Love the remote locate and swipe the internal memory and SD card. Safe browser when using both non mobil and mobil websites. Backup and restore. App Permission notices and phone/app scans.
Although I haven't used it yet, I have heard good things about this app from many people.
 
Upvote 0
Sometimes it's not about being safe. There is more and more bundling of crap with some computer apps, and I'm sure Android won't be far behind.

Mozilla is bringing out a FF version with BING as the default browser. I want no part of Bing, it's blacklisted on the computer. Groupon is another site that is blacklisted.

I want to blacklist these on the phone. I rooted to get rid of bloatware and other stuff I did not want, so getting other apps I do not want bundled is a pain.
 
Upvote 0
There are apps that you can install that prevent other apps from getting permissions to parts of the phone that you don't care for it to have. But they all require root access.

LBE Privacy guard is a good one and is probably the best overall. I also use DroidWall to prevent any freshly installed app from getting internet access, although LBE can prevent that as well (but LBE defaults everything to on, which I don't like).

As for malware protection, I don't feel any of the malware protection apps are worth their salt. Now, they also have additional features that may make them worth it (remote data wipe and location services, for example), but I wouldn't use one just because I feel threatened by malware.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nosnibor
Upvote 0
There are apps that you can install that prevent other apps from getting permissions to parts of the phone that you don't care for it to have. But they all require root access.

LBE Privacy guard is a good one and is probably the best overall. I also use DroidWall to prevent any freshly installed app from getting internet access, although LBE can prevent that as well (but LBE defaults everything to on, which I don't like).

As for malware protection, I don't feel any of the malware protection apps are worth their salt. Now, they also have additional features that may make them worth it (remote data wipe and location services, for example), but I wouldn't use one just because I feel threatened by malware.

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.gmail.exathink.appshield&feature=search_result
Not all.
There are a few, actually.
 
Upvote 0
While I do agree that being careful of the apps you download, I still use one. I use Lookout Premium. Love the remote locate and swipe the internal memory and SD card. Safe browser when using both non mobil and mobil websites. Backup and restore. App Permission notices and phone/app scans.

SeekDroid 99 cents.

No Hidden or Monthly Fees!
Control the following from our secure website:
- Locate your device
- Remotely Enable GPS
- Display its location on a map
- Audible alarm (even on silent)
w/ custom message
- Text Messaging support
- Setup SeekDroid Remotely via SMS
- Lock device w/ custom code
- Retrieve recent calls
- Remotely wipe entire phone
- Remotely wipe SD Card
- Hide from app drawer
- Disable App from being
uninstalled
- Virtually no battery drain
- Works without a SIM Card
- Reteive SIM ID, IMEI, and
active phone number
- More features coming soon!
Setup is easy! Install the application on your device and create a username and password when the application launches. Make sure GPS is enabled for more accurate results, and your Google account is setup on your device. That's all! You can do everything else from our secure website at seekdroid.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nosnibor
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones