Can Android be attacked by online virus?

dude0nvacation

Hi everyone,

I can't help but think. Earlier today I was about to renew my antivirus for my laptop and saw and ad that that particular antivirus brand is offering antivirus for Android - does this mean that Android phones, tablets and such can be attacked by virus? Unlike those Apple products which claims that they cannot be attacked by one.

Just a thought...

scooby359

From a technical point, yes, it can get viruses.

From a realistic point, as long as you're using just the Google Play store to download apps and use common sense, you'll be fine. Google checks all apps for malicious behaviour and removes any it has concerns about.

Most Android viruses are spread by people downloading apps off the internet and installing manually, usually because they're offered for free when there's a charge on Google Play.

So use common sense, stick to the Play store and you'll be fine - there's no reason at the moment to use an anti-virus programme.

(And Apple devices are also susceptible to viruses it's just not as common as Windows)

bertie1989

scooby359 wrote: »

From a realistic point, as long as you're using just the Google Play store to download apps and use common sense, you'll be fine. Google checks all apps for malicious behaviour and removes any it has concerns about.

I wouldnt say they screen everything thoroughly.

@op malware is much more of a threat from the free apps

UncleZen

It is possible for websites to drop or attempt to drop viruses onto your computer. I dont know how its done.
My wife once visited a seeming innocent knitting pattern website only for the AV to warn of imminent virus download.

waddler_8

UncleZen wrote: »

It is possible for websites to drop or attempt to drop viruses onto your computer. I dont know how its done.
My wife once visited a seeming innocent knitting pattern website only for the AV to warn of imminent virus download.

Microsoft Security Blog > What You Should Know About Drive-By Download Attacks

http://blogs.technet.com/b/security/archive/2011/12/08/what-you-should-know-about-drive-by-download-attacks-part-1.aspx

InsideInsurance

dude0nvacation wrote: »

does this mean that Android phones, tablets and such can be attacked by virus? Unlike those Apple products which claims that they cannot be attacked by one.

Both Apple and Android can be attacked by viruses as they are both based off of a *nix core.

There are a few things that apple do to make them less susceptible such as having a totally closed ecosystem and not allowing root access but even with that it doesnt make them immune.

Add to that the behaviour of apple owners is different. Somewhere in the region of 85% of people have upgraded to the latest version of iOS (over 300m installs to date) where as many android users are on a version at least one generation old, many older than that. Updates often include security hole closures

At this point an AV solution is probably not necessary on either device but certainly only installing trusted software from trusted distributors is a sensible precaution.

kwikbreaks

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Add to that the behaviour of apple owners is different.

It sure is....

mr_fishbulb

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Somewhere in the region of 85% of people have upgraded to the latest version of iOS (over 300m installs to date) where as many android users are on a version at least one generation old, many older than that. Updates often include security hole closures

And unless you're on a newer, popular android device, it's unlikely that the manufacturer and/or your mobile provider will patch it.

JJ_Egan

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

And unless you're on a newer, popular android device, it's unlikely that the manufacturer and/or your mobile provider will patch it.

Something that Google have not really grasped is the update path . With so many sources phone vendors models etc .
Many older models will run newer firmware but phone vendors have a tendency to ignore them .

As to the Android viruses 99% have been reported as China users and or users loading hacked warez apps .

jje