Antiviruses

**DroidN3WB** · 12-27-2012, 08:19 PM

Just got a SGS3 and was wondering if antiviruses are actually a necessity. And if so, which one is the lightest on resources/best?

I also wanted to mention this is a lovely community and I've already done a ton to my phone thanks to all the valuable information I've gleaned off the threads.

**Shanicenicolle** · 12-27-2012, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by DroidN3WB

Just got a SGS3 and was wondering if antiviruses are actually a necessity. And if so, which one is the lightest on resources/best?

I also wanted to mention this is a lovely community and I've already done a ton to my phone thanks to all the valuable information I've gleaned off the threads.

I use webroot. light on both desktop and mobile also has backup options and lost device tools

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**FuzzyB** · 12-27-2012, 08:57 PM

I use AVG. Better safe than sorry with anti virus

**Kelly Kearns** · 12-27-2012, 09:07 PM

I use Lookout for Mobile Security, had more options besides just AV.

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**jcp007** · 12-27-2012, 10:19 PM

I use Kaspersky Mobile Phone Security which has some nice anti-theft features as well as malware protection.

Sent From My Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablet

**DroidN3WB** · 12-27-2012, 10:53 PM

But how prevalent are viruses?

**Kelly Kearns** · 12-27-2012, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by DroidN3WB

But how prevalent are viruses?

VERY

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**xplode196** · 12-27-2012, 11:56 PM

The way I view it, if you're smart about what you do on your phone, you won't really need antivirus.

Although on my pc I have it and lately I've been considering getting an android antivirus.

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**Kelly Kearns** · 12-28-2012, 12:10 AM

Apps get into the Play Store with bad stuff in it. The tech guy with AT&T told me the other day that most droid phone issues he sees are due to a virus or crap that is attached to some app.

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**gingerc76** · 12-28-2012, 12:18 AM

I use avast on both my computer and phone. You would think Google would at least have their playstore secured at maintaining applications but hard to keep up with the traffic i guess. I do know you can get viruses from using 4shared or any other third party app stores.

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**Kelly Kearns** · 12-28-2012, 12:23 AM

I think the trade off is getting AV and having more apps available. iphone store has more control but less apps really, especially free and cheap ones.

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**DroidN3WB** · 12-28-2012, 12:43 AM

^This is very true. I just switched from an iphone and anything decent is far overpriced.

**nrm5110** · 12-28-2012, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by DroidN3WB

But how prevalent are viruses?

Viruses in the traditional sense are actually seldom. When these guys are talking about a "virus" they are talking about apps that have tons of push adds and stuff that make them more money.

When I think virus I think of something legitimately malicious in nature and cause actual harm to the filesystem or rack up charges or do things without your permission such as install other apps.

Apps of that type are seldom and totally avoidable with common sense. I have never once had an antivirus software and I have been in the android game for a long time. Read the reviews go over ratings make sure the dev is reputable download only from trusted sources just like any PC. There are a lot of misconceptions about security and android. But you clearly see the permissions that every app asks for if you don't like it don't download it. I'm comptia security+ certified and see these things get blown out of proportion by tin hat wearing kids thinking because they can put a computer on a network they know everything.

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**nelschroeder** · 12-28-2012, 01:18 AM

So far my experiences have been that AVG is one of the better ones. Easy to set up and just plain good. Doesn't use up a lot of memory either. It scans every app you download automatically as they install as well as the fact that you can set it to periodically scan your device. A great little app.

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**J Teezy** · 12-28-2012, 01:48 AM

Lookout on both s3 and note 10.1

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**AndroidS3** · 12-28-2012, 05:55 AM

I use avg, no problem at all, always scan s my phone, everything I download/install it scans

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**DroidN3WB** · 12-28-2012, 09:26 AM

Just downloaded AVG - if I close it from one of the programs when I hold home, will it still be running?

**Athenazoe78** · 12-28-2012, 09:29 AM

I use avg, too. Think and expect it to run "in the background"...

**meyerweb** · 12-28-2012, 09:50 AM

The anti-virus makers love paranoia. Take a look through these forums, or do a google search. How many issues do you see with Android viruses. Pretty much zero. There have been a very few cases of rogue apps, mostly from China, it seems, that have been malicious, but very, very few. None of the viruses or trojans targeting PCs will affect your phone at all.

**funkylogik** · 12-28-2012, 10:59 AM

I use AVG and ZONER. still got a virus.
My advice now is to only download from play store unless you REALLY cant afford something *COUGH Droidicon"
My virus wouldnt let me use safe mode so dont rely on that :thumbdown:

P.s, root and make a backup. A reset was all i needed but unfortunately hadnt rooted yet

MERRY XMAS!!!X
Unbranded international s3 with Official 4.1.2 JB. Paisley, Slotland, Western Europe :beer:

**Ricky Babalu** · 12-28-2012, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by DroidN3WB

Just got a SGS3 and was wondering if antiviruses are actually a necessity. And if so, which one is the lightest on resources/best?

I also wanted to mention this is a lovely community and I've already done a ton to my phone thanks to all the valuable information I've gleaned off the threads.

I have never had any AV program in all the years of owning several Android phones. Like others have mentioned, it you are "wise" and use common sense, then there is little to be concerned about.

**AxlMyk** · 12-28-2012, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by DroidN3WB

But how prevalent are viruses?

Phones are the new targets for virus/malware writers. I use AVG.

--Tapatalk on Samsung GS3.

**nrm5110** · 12-28-2012, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by AxlMyk

Phones are the new targets for virus/malware writers. I use AVG.

--Tapatalk on Samsung GS3.

:rolleyes:

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**DroidN3WB** · 12-28-2012, 03:49 PM

Lol I can see this a bit of a point of contention within the community. I asked a bit earlier in the thread, if I close the virus scanner (such as when you close a program when holding the home button) will it still be running in the background?

- - - Updated - - -

Lol I can see this a bit of a point of contention within the community. I asked a bit earlier in the thread, if I close the virus scanner (such as when you close a program when holding the home button) will it still be running in the background?

**Kelly Kearns** · 12-28-2012, 03:59 PM

Virus writers targeting phones make sense, they don't do viruses to be helpful.

Mac users used to think they didn't need AV, they were wrong after it was too late.

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