How secure is Samsung Note 8?

[DarthSpartanX]

I will be getting my Samsung Note 8 tomorrow and it will be my first time using Android device after 7 years of using iPhone.

I have warned that Android will be asking a lot of my permissions. While I am not worry about that, but I am concern of privacy invasion from another app, or hack into my device remotely (wi-fi or on cellular service). At the same time, I have been told that the Note 8 is highly securely due to mixed security features of Knox and Nougats version. Does that mean I do not need an anti-virus program for my Android device?

Myself: I know very well not to download anything from the public websites expected for Google Play Store. Also, I make sure that I am not connected to not secure Wi-Fi or public Wi-Fi due to hacker being on stand by or virus waiting to be released into my device. I looked everywhere on the websites to help me be prepared, but a lot of them are out of date.

So, is there anything you want to tell this newbie some tips or advices on what I should do or do not do? Thank you in advanced!

 

[Fast-T]

I will be getting my Samsung Note 8 tomorrow and it will be my first time using Android device after 7 years of using iPhone.

I have warned that Android will be asking a lot of my permissions. While I am not worry about that, but I am concern of privacy invasion from another app, or hack into my device remotely (wi-fi or on cellular service). At the same time, I have been told that the Note 8 is highly securely due to mixed security features of Knox and Nougats version. Does that mean I do not need an anti-virus program for my Android device?

Myself: I know very well not to download anything from the public websites expected for Google Play Store. Also, I make sure that I am not connected to not secure Wi-Fi or public Wi-Fi due to hacker being on stand by or virus waiting to be released into my device. I looked everywhere on the websites to help me be prepared, but a lot of them are out of date.

So, is there anything you want to tell this newbie some tips or advices on what I should do or do not do? Thank you in advanced!

I am coming from iOS and noticed the privacy (sharing permission etc.) can be controlled to a much deeper level on the note 8. I use the Verizon variant which comes with a pretty sophisticated security suite. You need to keep an eye on free apps: free means you are the price usually.
The Knox integration with Samsung made me choose this phone over others. I store company sensitive data in a special closed environment called secure folder, which acts like a sandbox within the phone. No other apps other than those in the secure folder can access the data stored in this folder. Think of it like a separate phone environment. It's awesome.
I feel much safer than I felt in iOS, but it requires me to be more observant on the apps I install.

Check out Firefox Focus. It's a complete private browser with tracking protection. It is my default for opening links out of other apps.

Summary: for professional use and enhanced security, the Note 8 is the phone of choice beside other functionality which make that phone so awesome.

 

[chanchan05]

Android is as secure as you want it to be, and iOS is as secure as Apple wants it to be.

The permissions are there because you control them. Apple doesn't ask your permissions because they decide for you what's allowable. So basically the same app from the same manufacturer will have the same access permissions in the system on iOS and Android, except on Android you can limit those permissions yourself.

Of course with great power comes great responsibility. This means you're responsible for making sure your own device is as secure as you are comfortable with.

 

[DarthSpartanX]

Thank you for making time reply my concerns. Now I am looking forward to receive my new Note 8 today

 

[DarthSpartanX]

I was told that if I reject, or reject at least one permission from the same app, that app will not function. Is that true?

 

[L0n3N1nja]

Been using Android since late 2010 or early 2011.

I've never had issues with virus or security concerns. A few browser redirects, but when I worked for Verizon I saw those on iOS just as often and it's easy to fix on Android. Wipe browser cache and reset the Google advertising ID.

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Google Chrome is popular with malware crowd and abuse. A drive by infection that you never even see. They are trying to harden and make it harder.

Side load Adguard.com for one.

Samsung Internet beta v. 64 is a strong ahead and accept adblocker extensions.

 

[jimd1050]

Thank you for making time reply my concerns. Now I am looking forward to receive my new Note 8 today

Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the world of the Note 8... give it some time getting used to it and you're going to LOVE it!

 

[DarthSpartanX]

I have took your advice and use Adguard.com. Thank you!

 

[chanchan05]

I was told that if I reject, or reject at least one permission from the same app, that app will not function. Is that true?

Not always. Some apps will function without certain permissions, of course with the caveat that the related features to that permission will not work. Properly coded apps will only ask your permission when you try to access that permission. An example is Facebook Messenger. It works fine, but if you try to send a picture on it for the first time, it will ask for storage access to be able to access the pictures.

 

[Aquila]

The Note 8 is in what I would consider to be the level 4 of Android security.

Level 1 is all devices that shipped with the latest version of Android (currently Oreo 8.1) and make use of all of it's security features and it's required that the device receive monthly security updates, without fail, in the month that they are publicly released, for 3 years from release.
Level 2 is all devices that shipped with the version prior to the latest (so Nougat) and make use of all or most of it's security features, and have been updated to the latest version (Oreo 8.1) and make use of all or most of it's security features and it's required that the device receive monthly security updates, without fail, in the month that they are publicly released, for 3 years from release.
Level 3 is all devices that shipped with the version prior to the latest (Nougat) and make use of all or most of it's security features and either have not been updated to the latest (8.1) OR do not receive monthly security updates, without fail, in the month that they are publicly released.
Level 4 is all devices that shipped with a version prior to the latest (Nougat or earlier) and make use of all or most of it's security features and either have not been updated to the latest (8.1) AND do not receive monthly security updates, without fail, in the month that they are publicly released, for three years.
Level 5 is all devices that shipped with a prior version of the latest (Nougat or earlier) and do not make use of all or most of the most important security features and are either not updated to the latest version (8.1) and do not receive monthly security updates, without fail, in the month that they are publicly released, for three years.

All currently updated iOS devices would categorize as level 1 or level 2 as a comparison.

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Facebook is resource hog, has gone beyond the supercookies of old and often heart of battery use issues and misbehaving. Fake ads, ads from other sites showing in TL.

My utility company got flagged by security suite, 3rd party, as it enabled by default without asking ALL permissions. Junk. Uninstalled immediately.

Use to say with Mac there's ten ways to do something. With iOS 11 there's only one way to uninstall. Android has a numbe r of ways and places. And not all apps have to be on desktop.