Anti-Virus or NO Anti-Virus
- Thread starter nathanb7
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- htc droid incredible
killadanny
Android Expert
I keep in just in case. It is annoying when your trying to install apps and pops up a lot.
Mastermind
Well-Known Member
You won't find any AntiVirus software on my phone. Not necessary, in my opinion.
nathanb7
Newbie
The Anti-Virus that i am speaking of is called "Lookout" i believe it is free from the marketplace and has three functions.... Anti-Virus, Data Backup, and Missing Device
It just runs in the background and in the notification bar always....and wasnt quite sure if it was necessary.
If there is no way to get viruses then i would say that its prob not necessary
It just runs in the background and in the notification bar always....and wasnt quite sure if it was necessary.
If there is no way to get viruses then i would say that its prob not necessary
It's not impossible to get a virus, but it is VERY VERY VERY unlikely. There really are very few android viruses out there, and they really aren't widespread. Mostly it's just hackers flexing there muscles saying "LOOK WHAT I DID". They generally never try to distribute them. It is much more likely to cause you more harm than good.
It's a good idea to use lookout, or something similar, for the Missing Device features though.
It's a good idea to use lookout, or something similar, for the Missing Device features though.
Azelis
Well-Known Member
I think the only real damage a virus could do, unless it asked for superuser and you allowed it, was to eat up storage space and maybe database space. It can't replicate and propigate and infect like a traditional virus on a computer. I don't even think with superuser access it can modify most internal volumes because don't they boot as read-only?
adrynalyne
Android Expert
No, a malicious app cannot.
Not within the OS. If you are allowing something to reboot to do something, beware.
NAND is locked; /system and /boot are protected while within the OS.
Not within the OS. If you are allowing something to reboot to do something, beware.
NAND is locked; /system and /boot are protected while within the OS.
The Titanic was unsinkable. Vista UAC was supposed to make your system saf, etc. The history of man and the history of computers is filled with claims of infallibility. While there may be no current threats, give the little hackers time, and some little turd will find a way. Now whether an anti virus will work is a while different question, but don't believe the hype that android is unhackable.
sabrewings
Android Expert
It's not that Android is unhackable, it's that linux is damn close. Permissions and superuser are where it's at. It's a completely different environment that programs run in than how something like Windows does it.
I downloaded a wallpaper and it caused my phone to act crazy; flickering fast and switching between pages, etc. I was finally able to get on the internet by force and downloaded an antivirus program. It scanned and found a virus in the wallpaper. Removed it and am using Lookout now.
sabrewings
Android Expert
I have Lookout and just let it do it's thing. While I have faith in the system, hindsight is always 20/20. I also like the recovery option.
adrynalyne
Android Expert
Hardware protection preventing writing to key parts of the system, which CANNOT be circumvented during running of the OS is not hype, its reality. Thats before an attempt even gets to Android itself.
FierceDeityLink1
Android Enthusiast
Never needed an anti-virus on a PDA or smartphone before. Maybe if there's some random outbreak, but then it'll probably be a 0-day exploit that no one knows about.
Just be careful with what you install...
Just be careful with what you install...
The way I look at it is this. It's the first phone that would cost more than $200 unsubsidized that I have purchased. I had Lookout on it at the beginning but removed it because everyone said that it was unnecessary. After seeing two stories about malicious apps and that Lookout caught them, not Google, I put it back on. It uses some battery, but it's nothing outrageous. On something like this I'd rather be proactive than reactive.
Maybe it's because my desktop got the AV Security Suite Virus a couple of weeks ago and turned it into a large paperweight, but being vigilant is not necessarily a bad thing. That's just me, not saying anyone has to install it, but I wouldn't fault anyone for doing so either. If I did and their phone got screwed up, I'd feel bad about it.
Maybe it's because my desktop got the AV Security Suite Virus a couple of weeks ago and turned it into a large paperweight, but being vigilant is not necessarily a bad thing. That's just me, not saying anyone has to install it, but I wouldn't fault anyone for doing so either. If I did and their phone got screwed up, I'd feel bad about it.
sucker4pa1n
Member
I never tried lookout (I use Mobile Defense for location/lost phone stuff) but I had AV Free for a while and it definitely did not sit well with my phone. Mainly it would continually break my messaging (losing texts is rather annoying to a person who has saved texts for years... just in case.) To each their own, but as others have said, AV on an Android phone is only necessary if you aren't selective in your market browsing. or if you download and install unsigned apps you find on like... limewire... lolz.
I'm running anti-virus. its only a matter of time the virus designers start making them for phones to 1. to make them useless and 2. steal your info and your contacts. Granted you would have to install it at this point but I'm pretty sure they will figure out a way to give you one in a message or email like they have with other operating systems on phones
