Do I really need anti-virus for Android phone?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Eugene F.
  • Start date Start date
E

Eugene F.

Hi,

AVG provides a free application for Android that have good reviews. But do I really need it?

How much Android (as off-shot of Linux at least at its core) is prone to malware?

TIA, Eugene
 
Hi,

AVG provides a free application for Android that have good reviews.
But do I really need it?

How much Android (as off-shot of Linux at least at its core) is prone
to malware?

TIA, Eugene
Click to expand...

Yes you should utilize an antimalware program with Android phones.
 
Eugene said:
Hi,

AVG provides a free application for Android that have good reviews. But do I really need it?

How much Android (as off-shot of Linux at least at its core) is prone to malware?
Click to expand...
I don't think it matters much what OS these devices use.
There are so many of them that it is fertile ground for
emerging malware.
 
I don't think it matters much what OS these devices use.
There are so many of them that it is fertile ground for
emerging malware.
Click to expand...

Yep. If Linux were on more than 1% of the desktops, you would see just as
many them as for winders.
 
Bear said:
Yep. If Linux were on more than 1% of the desktops, you would see just as
many them as for winders.
Click to expand...
I don't know about 'just as many', but I know what you mean. One reason
for departure on this minor point is that Windows is pretty homogeneous
- if you're running Windows a malware writer can make certain
assumptions about your environment/applications/utilities. Linux is much
less homogeneous so fewer assumptions can be made.
 
I don't know about 'just as many', but I know what you mean. One
reason for departure on this minor point is that Windows is pretty
homogeneous - if you're running Windows a malware writer can make
certain assumptions about your environment/applications/utilities.
Linux is much less homogeneous so fewer assumptions can be made.
Click to expand...

Yes plus the fact that root has been much more protected with Linux than
winders for a long time...still is better than UAC kinda but at least
UAC is the step in the right direction IMO.

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mail
 
Dave,

Thank you very much for the response.

I've realized that I made my question too broad in scope. Let me narrow it down to my particular situation.

I get my Android apps from the Market only. I download only ones that have tons of users and good reviews. I believe it's unlikely that I would install a malicious by design application.

So, my question is: How likely to meet an Android application that acquired its malicious payload (got infected) without its authors knowledge? Not a Trojan but virus infection?

TIA, Eugene

=========================================================================
 
From: "Eugene F. said:
Dave,

Thank you very much for the response.

I've realized that I made my question too broad in scope. Let me narrow it down to my
particular situation.

I get my Android apps from the Market only. I download only ones that have tons of
users
and good reviews. I believe it's unlikely that I would install a malicious by design
application.

So, my question is: How likely to meet an Android application that acquired its
malicious
payload (got infected) without its authors knowledge? Not a Trojan but virus infection?

TIA, Eugene
Click to expand...

Personally I don't touch cell phones so that isn't my arena but if it is a smartphone and
you can browse the Internet then there's the possibility of any kind of malicious
software.
 
Eugene said:
Dave,

Thank you very much for the response.

I've realized that I made my question too broad in
scope. Let me narrow it down to my particular situation.

I get my Android apps from the Market only. I download
only ones that have tons of users and good reviews.
I believe it's unlikely that I would install a malicious
by design application.
Click to expand...

So, the classic trojan vector is practically a non-starter, but there
are other non-viral vectors besides the classic trojan.
So, my question is: How likely to meet an Android
application that acquired its malicious payload (got
infected) without its authors knowledge? Not a Trojan
but virus infection?
Click to expand...

Good question, I think viruses are much less likely than
some other forms of malware. However, antivirus programs
can be helpful in detecting non-viral malware that may
gain entry through a vulnerability in said application.

A very good percentage of attacks are against application
software that has tons of users and good reviews.:o)
 
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