Anti virus

[velijana]

Hello. Im new android user. Can anybody advise, do i have to install any kind of antivirus protection? Is there real risk without it? And how much antivirus apps slow down system speed and drain battery. Thanks a lot.

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[russel5150]

Im not sure how much it is needed. I went quite a while and didn't have one. I decided to use AVG on my note2. . Just in case. Its simple and uts free. And it doesn't have any noticeable affect on the battery.
On the plus side.. I had a lady come in to file a lost phone report a few weeks ago. She had left it somewhere and chalked it up as lost but AVG sent her an email saying a new sim card was in that phone. Even gave the sim number.
Thats was cool
Its prob not a have too, but I like having it. And I like seeing it scan new apps or updates

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[velijana]

Thanks for response

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[Golfdriver97]

Hello. Im new android user. Can anybody advise, do i have to install any kind of antivirus protection? Is there real risk without it? And how much antivirus apps slow down system speed and drain battery. Thanks a lot.

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Welcome to the forums!

I am inclined to agree that it probably isn't all that necessary, but since many of them are free, it's good to have, just in case. I also use AVG.

 

[Farish]

If you use common sense you should not need an antivirus. If you plan on downloading apps outside of the play store, I highly recommend one. Also remember that a lot of these antivirus programs offer great theft protection.

- - - Updated - - -

If you use common sense you should not need an antivirus. If you plan on downloading apps outside of the play store, I highly recommend one. Also remember that a lot of these antivirus programs offer great theft protection.

 

[Joyce Meghan]

Hi,
I do think AVG is kinda the best. I like avast as well actually. But AVG Is really good Here's a link which has all the features of avg listed-http://www.techyv.com/questions/anti-virus-softwares-mobile-phone

Be Smart about it as a antivirus on a smart phone specially is quite important.

Hope it helps

 

[iFebby]

I've always been a big supporter of the motherland kaspersky.

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[blaue_tinte]

I've always been a big supporter of the motherland kaspersky.

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You know, mc afee is even better that kaspersky. It consumes less battery, because it gives less load on the processor. Moreover, it works properly for phones and tablets.
Also there is an option to make a backup of media content and contacts

 

[shkim698]

I've always been a big supporter of the motherland kaspersky.

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Another note, if you are in UK and with Barclays bank, you get Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus App for free and for windows and mac.

 

[mlauzon]

Why not use TrustGo Antivirus & Mobile Security:

Mobile Security & Privacy - TrustGo

It's free, and you can compare it to 3 other mobile av apps here:

Compare TrustGo

Here is the URL for it on Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.trustgo.mobile.security

 

[Topgonzo]

I've always been a big supporter of the motherland kaspersky.

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I love this one! Best in my opinion

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[blaue_tinte]

kaspersky sucks ^_^

 

[mlauzon]

I've always been a big supporter of the motherland kaspersky.

I love this one! Best in my opinion

It's got the same install base as TrustGo, well Kapersky's Lite version does and has a 4.2 rating to TrustGo's 4.7 rating.

Hell, TrustGo even has a bigger install base than the paid version of Kapersky. Kapersky's paid version's rating went up by .2 to make it 4.4, while TrustGo is still at 4.7.

 

[MONDINGO]

Avast Mobile security is awesome!

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[monsieurms]

In addition to all the "lost phone" and backup features, Lookout will scan links as you browse and review files for viruses and malware.

Since I use AVG at home, had it really been obvious when I started on Android way back when, I might well have installed it instead, but I'm 100% happy with Lookout.

Further, to answer the question, you SHOULD have something. These are not phones. They are computers. They are subject to problems. It's a growing thing. It's easy to click on one of those disguised tiny url links in Twitter and wind up with something or in someplace bad.

Common sense is helpful, but it's not enough. Security is a multi-step process. You can get a virus even with an avg program if there is a zero hour exploit or something. But it is an essential layer of protection. It is really easy to have an issue or be fooled. Some hacker sticks up an .APK to download in Google Play that has something wrong. (It's happened, and thousands of downloads ensued.) Some friend on Twitter can have a hacked account and the hacker posts a disguised link to something really bad. (It's happened, and it actually happens a lot.) Common sense is your first layer of protection. But multiple layers are the best protection.

For the modest cost, plus the find phone, wipe phone, features....it's a no brainer to have something like Lookout.

 

[STARGATE]

My Sprint Galaxy S4 came with the free version of Lookout preinstaled.
I was wondering if I should install Avast instead.

Sent From a Galaxy S4 Away

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

The actual "necessity" of antivirus (AV) apps is a debatable subject, however I will agree that since there's little harm in running them, the "Better safe than sorry" approach is probably the best advisable route to take, especially since many of these apps, like AVG, also provide other anti-theft features as well.

Having said that, it's always important to keep in mind what AV apps are designed to do...*detect* malicious code. AV is only as good as the definitions and other detection methods they employ, and the developers of malicious apps will naturally always be one step ahead of those aiming to thwart them. It should also be noted that detection does not always equal removal, especially if the malicious app(s) are able to be installed or run prior to detection. In other words, one should not allow AV apps to provide a false sense of security to a degree where safe practices and common sense should be ignored. Whether you choose to run AV software on your phone is up to you, but should always follow the prescribed guidelines of never installing apps from unknown or un-trusted sources, and reviewing app permissions prior to installation. By simply doing this, you may not ever actually *need* AV software, but running AV software certainly doesn't make your device immune from attack either.

I make the above statement as a generally warning about AV software for any platform, not just Android phones, but also your home PC and other computing devices as well. AV software should be part of your defense against malicious software, but certainly not the only thing you rely on.

 

[packerbacker]

I have Lookout on mine... seems to work okay.

 

[monsieurms]

T

Having said that, it's always important to keep in min
I make the above statement as a generally warning about AV software for any platform, not just Android phones, but also your home PC and other computing devices as well. AV software should be part of your defense against malicious software, but certainly not the only thing you rely on.

Absolutely--as I indicated, protection is a multi-layered approach. Nothing is perfect. But I do think it has become fashionable to decry the value of AVG programs, and that's a huge mistake. The usual rationale for this has been the zero hour exploit issue I mentioned, or the similar comment you made on definitions. But just because they can't pick up 100% of the problems, doesn't mean they're not important. The good ones update frequently (and you can usually control how often you take the new updates) and cover a lot of stuff. I view it as a required layer of protection, plus one with little downside. There is no good reason not to use them.

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

Absolutely--as I indicated, protection is a multi-layered approach. Nothing is perfect. But I do think it has become fashionable to decry the value of AVG programs, and that's a huge mistake. The usual rationale for this has been the zero hour exploit issue I mentioned, or the similar comment you made on definitions. But just because they can't pick up 100% of the problems, doesn't mean they're not important. The good ones update frequently (and you can usually control how often you take the new updates) and cover a lot of stuff. I view it as a required layer of protection, plus one with little downside. There is no good reason not to use them.

I never said there was...my only point was that you should never allow anti-virus apps to provide a false sense of security or preclude you from using safe practices and common sense. I agree with your statement, and it certainly was not my intent to "decry the value of AV programs", however I do feel that is it just an important for people to have a realistic understanding of the level of protection AV programs provide.

Side note: I work with computers for a living, and because of that, I also have the fortunate pleasure of being the "go-to" guy for most of my friends and family when the they have computer problems. I cannot tell how many times friends will come to me with a computer problem that is obviously due to a virus and/or malware of some kind...and I almost always hear the same thing, "How did that happen?!? I have anti-virus software!!!" (one look at their web history often explains *how* their computer computer got infected), and I explain exactly what I put in my post above. Granted, PCs are much more susceptible this sort of thing than phones because phones generally can't install and/or run apps directly from a browser session.

So yes, absolutely you should install AV...but you should probably also think twice about clicking that that link in the SPAM email you received prompting you "click here to claim your free iPad!!!"