Antivirus on Android Phone. Yes/No?

bod1467

As per subject really. I have a Nexus 4 and I'm wondering whether there's a discernible benefit to installing an AV app on it. I use Avast free on all my PCs/laptops, and there's an Avast app in the Play store.

Please vote in the poll, if you wish, and say why you voted that way.

Johnmcl7

No, I don't use antivirus on my Android devices as I don't see it as any use at the moment. The design Android devices use make it very difficult for malware to install itself without user permission which also makes it difficult for an antivirus product to work properly. By far the biggest malware threat to an Android system is an infected piece of software on the Playstore or a sideloaded APK with malware so as long as you are careful not to install suspicious pieces of software you eliminate the main threat. I usually check any software I'm planning to install and look through the permissions it needs, the latter is usually an obvious giveaway if a simple application is requesting far more permissions than it should.

Comparatively I always run AV on Windows machines as there are far more infection methods that can occur simply by opening a webpage. It doesn't even need to be dodgy webpage as legimate webservers have been targeted as they're more likely to catch people out and there's also the possibility of exploits that can be used in Java, flash etc.

John

devizes18193

if you dont do banking or only use the play store then no , but if you play with 3rd party sources for apps then I would .

paddyrg

devizes18193 wrote: »

if you dont do banking or only use the play store then no , but if you play with 3rd party sources for apps then I would .

And if you don't understand that statement, just keep using Google for your apps and you'll most likely be fine. Basically, stick to well trodden paths and you'll avoid the pimps and muggers in the backstreets.

bod1467

The only thing I have side-loaded is the Flash APK (which works with Firefox on the N4). I then turned back on the security option to prevent side-loading, and everything else comes from the Play store.

JJ_Egan

It is sources side load apps from genuine sites ok .
99% of the Android viri problems are in China .
As Avast costs nothing might as well use it .

AlecEiffel

I didn't because, they sapped my battery, slowed my phone, annoyed me.

But then I only used Google Play for apps and stayed away from 'dodgy' stuff and never accepted Bluetooth stuff from strangers etc etc.

redcard

Never used it.

As far as I can tell, the only reason to use anti virus is to pretend to yourself that you're tech-literate.

forgotmyname

I use lookout. Not because it scans the files but because the tracking of the phone worked when i tested several different options.

It located the phone reliably and would let me make it scream or even lock it.

I didnt try the lock but locate and scream worked.

If you don't install apps from unknown sources and especially dodgy websites with full version ones that may have been tweaked then you dont need one.

JJ_Egan

Likewise Avast is used by me for the firewall and individual settings blocking data .

JasX

forgotmyname wrote: »

I use lookout. Not because it scans the files but because the tracking of the phone worked when i tested several different options.

I use this too and it's pretty good on the preserving battery life front, unsure how it scores in tests but when I asked on here if anyone rated it I got zero replies

What I did find is it pairs quite well with androidlost you can use the latter to turn on data / GPS and operate other functions via SMS so if you ever lose your phone when you had data switched off (to save battery life or you were roaming etc etc) you can flick it back on remotely easily