Antivirus?

[carlarcher]

Should I have a antivirus app installed?

 

[B. Diddy]

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). Use common sense:


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, under Security (although it might also be in the main System Settings, in Settings>Security).

 

[belodion]

On my Nexus 5, Verify Apps was in Settings, Google, Security. For some reason, whether a default setting perhaps, Improve Harmful App Detection was Off. You can bet that I soon put that right.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[kramer5150]

Yep... Settings => Google => security

I switched mine on too !!! Thanks!

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Digvijay_Singh]

There is hardly any use of antivirus in smartphones because any app cleaner or boosting app can make your phone clean and easy to use.

 

[B. Diddy]

I agree that antivirus apps usually aren't necessary (see my previous post), but I would disagree about cleaner or booster apps. These kinds of apps often do things that are counterproductive, since they go against how the system is designed. For example, if a RAM booster app is set to automatically close apps out of RAM to "free up RAM," this is almost immediately countered by the system automatically opening up an app to fill that empty RAM, because that's what Android does--it wants to keep RAM relatively full. If the booster app then closes apps again automatically, that sets up an endless cycle of close-open-close-open that requires energy and also slows down overall performance.

 

[chewyboy0]

Just as B. Diddy was saying I also agree. The way that the Android system is made is so you don't have to have "cleaners" or "boosters" that clear the apps that are running (RAM). Running boosters can actually lower the performance and battery life in devices. In some instances that the booster does help is because of an app being poorly designed or that drains battery fairly quickly in which case the RAM cleaner is closing that app which you could just uninstall.

 

[bitek]

I own blackberry priv and I feel safe from hacking

 

[JenniferPratt]

Antivirus apps are a process of locating threats to your phone. There are many antivirus apps accessible for free from the Google Play Store, and finding which are best is tough. Antivirus apps for Android operate in a related way to the antivirus software work for your PC. If it is installed, you can practice them to scan the files on your Android phone or any other phone for unreliable software you may have accidentally downloaded, and the antivirus app will show any problems.

 

[carlarcher]

Thanks JenniferPratt, I installed AVG. I'm so new to phones, I'm in the stage where I have to try everything myself. I've had AVG on my PC for years.

 

[smithe24]

I think verify apps are by default "ON". I check my phone it was already "ON" there.

 

[Tech-Newb]

I think verify apps are by default "ON". I check my phone it was already "ON" there.

Its not on by deafult. When you setup your phone, you will be asked to allow google to check for risks and malwares daily on your device.

I think for now, antivirus is not needed on android yet. If you dont browse strange websites and only download from safe sites and google play store, you are safe from viruses.

Posted with ❤Love❤