Confused new android user

[AC Question]

I'm new to android & am completely confused with all of the repeat apps from Google, Samsung & AT&T. I have ATT protect plus, Keeper, Knox & Lookout all installed & they're all running. Which one do I need to keep to protect & back up my note 4?

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! This is one of the main annoyances with non-Nexus devices--the bloatware that comes from the manufacturer and the carrier.

AT&T Protect Plus sounds like it might be helpful, since it backs up your data to the AT&T cloud, which can be important if something happens to the phone. But if you're fully invested in the Google ecosystem, most of that can be done using Google apps alone, so it may not be necessary--it depends on how you use your phone.

If the device comes with any preinstalled antivirus apps (like Lookout), you may want to consider disabling it, because (a) it's usually a memory and power hog, and (b) it's usually not crucial, as long as you follow some common sense guidelines. For the most part, it's still quite difficult to get an actual virus on your phone, because malware requires you to manually accept the installation (which is why they try to fool you into thinking you're installing something legitimate).

1. Avoid shady websites that deal with things like porn, gambling, and "free" (aka pirated) apps/music/movies.

2. Never ever tap on a link that appears in a popup while browsing, especially if they're warning you that your phone is infected--they're just trying to scare you into installing some bogus "antivirus" app that is probably malicious itself.

3. Only install apps from well-established app sources like Google Play Store or Amazon Appstore. Read a bunch of app reviews before installing an app to look for any complaints about adware or suspected malware.

4. Turn on Google's "Verify Apps" function. This allows Google to periodically scan your phone's apps to look for malware. It's usually in your Google Settings app, under Security (although it might also be in the main System Settings, in Settings>Security).

Samsung Knox is Samsung's own security software, so you're kind of stuck with it.

Other preinstalled Samsung apps that duplicate Google apps might offer some additional features that you find useful, but if not, then you can usually disable them in the App Manager (go to the App Manager, select the app, and tap Disable). You can't uninstall these preinstalled apps, unfortunately, unless you root the phone (which I wouldn't recommend, if you're a novice).