Antivirus

[idonthaveaclue]

Is antivirus needed?



Sent from my Eris using Tapatalk

 

[Matlock]

I honestly would like to know that as well. I know apps can carry Viruses and such, and I don't really know anything about the only Antivirus program on the Market and if it is really laget.

 

[Gevis]

No. Android is based on Linux which does not have many (or any for my knowledge) viruses.

 

[theboo7]

so i dont need lookout?(scans all downloaded files)

 

[willdogs]

Already Covered here

http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-eris/27934-anti-virus-program-necessary.html

 

[jdailey1981]

Always protect your phone.

 

[theboo7]

Already Covered here

http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-eris/27934-anti-virus-program-necessary.html

maybe im completely dumb, but didnt seem to find a deffinant yes or no answer

 

[JohnnyThumbz]

Always protect your phone.

Lol Real Talk!

 

[jdailey1981]

I don't use AntiVirus. They eat battery and don't do anything for the phone.

 

[JohnnyThumbz]

Nor do I, but it cant hurt to protect the outside!..." In case I trust"

 

[Lucidot]

No. Android is based on Linux which does not have many (or any for my knowledge) viruses.

Obviously not a Linux user.

There are in fact viruses/malware that attack Linux. Now whether or not you need it on this phone is another question.

Since you (the operator) are in control of the phones permissions and functions it will most likely be you that infects your phone and not some in the wild virus or drive by when browsing.

I would venture to say that the main thing you need to be worried about on this phone would be information stealing apps which would most likely be considered spyware/malware and not a virus.

In my personal opinion it would be extremely easy for someone to write an app that would collect a persons contacts, emails, texts, etc... without the knowledge of the user.

As the thread referenced above points out, you need to be cautious what you are giving permissions to as far as apps are concerned. Even with that said I think this could be a major problem in the near future.

 

[Bluemumba]

So here is an off the wall question then. In ones personal opinion what would be a safe app. EXP I mean some app ask for permission to use gps. Other ask for permission for data download. Any real thoughts on this please comment.

 

[Lucidot]

So here is an off the wall question then. In ones personal opinion what would be a safe app. EXP I mean some app ask for permission to use gps. Other ask for permission for data download. Any real thoughts on this please comment.

That is the $1,000,000 question.

As far as I know there are no packet sniffers available so you really don't know what info is being sent where. Sure, you can read all the reviews in the market and see where people say it's great and better than sliced bread, but do they truly know what that app is doing. I doubt it.

 

[aleis]

That is the $1,000,000 question.

As far as I know there are no packet sniffers available so you really don't know what info is being sent where. Sure, you can read all the reviews in the market and see where people say it's great and better than sliced bread, but do they truly know what that app is doing. I doubt it.

+1

also, you could easily download an app that YOU give permission to access your gps and contacts (with good intentions), that is actually a rootkit!
then the author has it send your information to them without you even knowing...
Exhibit C!

Rutgers University Study: Smartphones Highly Vulnerable to Hacks

 

[Caddyman]

say hypothetically the dev for astro file or handcent went rogue and pushed an update withe a virus, malware, spyware, rootkit, whatever, on it, 1000's of people would get GOT.

be careful

 

[Lucidot]

The main problem is the fact that this will never be detected by a virus scanner because it is not a virus. Social engineering is not a virus. You think you are getting an app from a reputable source (The Market) and before you install it it asks you for permission to access and use certain things on your phone. None of it looks out of the ordinary for that app so you click "OK" and install.

There is no virus, just an app that you have given permission to because you thought it was legit.

I would not be the least bit surprised if we all have at least one app that is sending info somewhere that we never intended it to go. Who is policing this? Google on their market? Nope.

 

[aleis]

its simple...DO NOT DO MOBILE BANKING!!
over the air its ok, on mobile sites... R U STUPID?
i wanna go as far as saying dont even do it on a computer!
people are making full time careers (and getting full time jobs) to hack computers, spread malware and spy on you with spyware.
i mean, it isnt necessary to pull out the foil hats yet...but!

 

[Lucidot]

say hypothetically the dev for astro file or handcent went rogue and pushed an update withe a virus, malware, spyware, rootkit, whatever, on it, 1000's of people would get GOT.

be careful

Considering they said that Motorola was shipping something like 50,000 units a day. The number would be more like 100,000's of people. Probably closer to 1,000,000's.

Edit: This is what I would call a data miners wet dream.

 

[Caddyman]

yeah, and some of those top apps have very high download counts.

bottom line, like someone said above, i would not do banking, or anything very sensitive like that, on my phone.

 

[Lucidot]

yeah, and some of those top apps have very high download counts.

bottom line, like someone said above, i would not do banking, or anything very sensitive like that, on my phone.

Not a chance here either.

But would you consider any of the info stored on your phone sensitive? GPS coords, contacts, texts, emails? You don't have to do banking or the like to lose sensitive info.

I'm trying really hard not to be paranoid about this, but the more possibilities I post the more concerned I get.

 

[Caddyman]

GPS coords? come and get me

contact, well, that would suck for them to be added to a phone list, but not the end of the world

text, nothing of importance there

emails, maybe some important info, server logins and stuff, but nothing groundbreaking.

 

[Lucidot]

I wouldn't be worried about them coming and getting me.
6" 215lbs keeps me safe . That and a CCW and a Glock 23.

My concern would be them seeing that I am not at home.

 

[aleis]

im clean as a whistle!
though...hmmm...lets see.
sometimes i send email to myself with my companies computer. they could trace that back to see what my company is using for email then exploit it...
when i log into facebook they could be doing recognizance gathering info on me...but...the bulk of my money is on an account i dont use other then to put money in (yeah they could still get it if they wanted...its a way im sure).
other than that im an open book. my contacts arent famous so...u can call them all u want!
my gps location...(glock 22) come and get me!
im not a good target for the sophisticated guys. unless they wanted my identity to get credit cards in my name...could happen.
as u can see im not really pressed as my life is just NOT interesting enough.
but people with company phones...just BE CAREFUL!

 

[OfTheDamned]

The statistics show that only something like 5% of identity theft comes from online sources. The other 95% of it comes from people going through your trash. I am more concerned with shredding my mail than I am with people attacking me online. I do all my banking online and my bank itself is entirely internet based. I even deposit my checks online via a scanner.

God help someone if they try to go through my trash.

On that note though, there was an app in the market that someone was using to get people bank account info a while back.

http://phandroid.com/2010/01/11/phishing-android-app-steals-banking-info/

 

[Bluemumba]

I wouldn't be worried about them coming and getting me.
6" 215lbs keeps me safe . That and a CCW and a Glock 23.

My concern would be them seeing that I am not at home.

6 inches. that nothing I seen ants bigger than that. But packing the heat now he the one man army.LOL I know you meant 6' Feet hopefully.