My first Android phone... LOVE IT :)

[Morty2264]

If you keep waiting for the next greatest thing, you will never get what you need now. I know people who fear to purchase now because of rumors of coming devices. They are frozen by choices. In fear of missing out, they never get.

Tech never stands still. It continues to evolve and offer, but even then sometimes the newest thing isn't the best thing. I have always thought it best to do due diligence. Listen to trusted people about what is good and make a choice.

I couldn't agree more with you. If you need a new phone "now," why wait when you can get what is currently available that is arguably just as good as what's about to come out? Sure, 2018 phones will have a bit faster processor, etc; but those kinds of things don't matter much to me. To me, the phones are all still comparable and worthwhile choices. I don't like waiting to see what's next sometimes, because I don't want to feel trapped, like what you are saying. It's better to get what you can now see in front of you. Like you say, there will always be something "new" coming out - you'll always be "missing out" with that kind of "wait and see" approach.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

If you keep waiting for the next greatest thing, you will never get what you need now. I know people who fear to purchase now because of rumors of coming devices. They are frozen by choices. In fear of missing out, they never get.

Tech never stands still. It continues to evolve and offer, but even then sometimes the newest thing isn't the best thing. I have always thought it best to do due diligence. Listen to trusted people about what is good and make a choice.

This is very true. It's something I've been saying for years with PC components.

There's always something newer a few months away, if you keep saying for it you'll never buy anything. It's always the "wrong" time to buy technology.

 

[davide445]

I'll be ordering my first Android phone OnePlus 5t next week, coming from BB10 instead of Windows Phone.
Chosen OP5t for about the same reasons. From you as fresh starter as me wanted to know if you feel the need to install security apps such as antivirus, antimalware, antispyware etc.

 

[Jcmg62]

I'll be ordering my first Android phone OnePlus 5t next week, coming from BB10 instead of Windows Phone.
Chosen OP5t for about the same reasons. From you as fresh starter as me wanted to know if you feel the need to install security apps such as antivirus, antimalware, antispyware etc.

Hi David, I'll start by apologising for the long response, but wanted to give you a quick analysis of my experience so far.

I've had my phone about a week now and haven't come across anything that would cause me a security concern. I haven't downloaded any antivirus software and am relying on whatever resilience OnePlus build in with thier Oxygen OS. Maybe a bit naive but I feel secure.

I think you'll love the phone. It's a great device. However, from a security perspective there is one thing to be aware of and it's the app store.

The first thing that struck me as a new android user is the sheer number of apps in the store. And I don't mean that in a good way. It's frankly overwhelming, and trying to find ones that are from reliable developers is difficult. It feels like total hit and miss.

For example, I was looking for a password safe app. As I'm sure you can appreciate, password safe is one of those apps you don't take a chance with. It's got to be rock solid and extremely secure. If someone cracks it they'll have access to every password, bank card and internet login you own.

In the windows store there are about a dozen password safe apps and all have been authenticated by Microsoft. In the Google play store there are thousands, and some of them are clearly nothing more than an individuals pet software project.

Ultimately, what I've decided to do to stay secure is to stick with major developer apps. So my phone has a very Microsoft feel to it. I've downloaded the Microsoft launcher, office, edge, news, weather, etc all from Microsoft so I trust they're secure.

I'm sure Google do a lot of store screening and purging whenever they find dodgy apps, but it still feels like you're walking around central park at 3am with your wallet hanging out of your pocket.

 

[davide445]

..........

The first thing that struck me as a new android user is the sheer number of apps in the store. And I don't mean that in a good way. It's frankly overwhelming, and trying to find ones that are from reliable developers is difficult. It feels like total hit and miss.

..........

Ultimately, what I've decided to do to stay secure is to stick with major developer apps. So my phone has a very Microsoft feel to it. I've downloaded the Microsoft launcher, office, edge, news, weather, etc all from Microsoft so I trust they're secure.

.....

Thanks Jcmg62 for your information. My idea is about the same as yours, will probably load BB Hub+ app so to use a trusted developer and find part of the UX I'm used to.
I've also a short list of apps coming from recognized companies. For other apps I suppose is about the same as in Windows desktop, you need to evaluate the trustability of the developer case by case knowing the professional brands, researching outside the store to find the most valuable.
Security is my first concern for Android considering the very personal usage and the long history of threats.

 

[Jcmg62]

Thanks Jcmg62 for your information. My idea is about the same as yours, will probably load BB Hub+ app so to use a trusted developer and find part of the UX I'm used to.
I've also a short list of apps coming from recognized companies. For other apps I suppose is about the same as in Windows desktop, you need to evaluate the trustability of the developer case by case knowing the professional brands, researching outside the store to find the most valuable.
Security is my first concern for Android considering the very personal usage and the long history of threats.

Absolutely. To be honest one of the big advantages to being on a insulated platform like windows phone was a sense of security. Hackers don't tend to target a small user base.

I'm feeling more confident with every passing day that Android/Google is probably reasonably secure and a lot of the virus/hacker stories are over exaggerated, but with that said I've never been the type of guy who needs to have hundreds of apps on his phone to feel alive and I'm sure not gonna start now I'm running office, outlook, my banking apps and a couple of trusted news apps and that's good enough for me.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

Absolutely. To be honest one of the big advantages to being on a insulated platform like windows phone was a sense of security. Hackers don't tend to target a small user base.

I'm feeling more confident with every passing day that Android/Google is probably reasonably secure and a lot of the virus/hacker stories are over exaggerated, but with that said I've never been the type of guy who needs to have hundreds of apps on his phone to feel alive and I'm sure not gonna start now I'm running office, outlook, my banking apps and a couple of trusted news apps and that's good enough for me.

Security through obscurity is a real thing, but it can be dangerous. A lot of Apple users still think malware isn't a thing on their devices as a hangover from the 90s.

Explain to Jennifer Lawrence how secure iOS is. Bet she still uses an iPhone though lol.

 

[newcollector]

As long as a person avoids malicious apps and does not leave their phone laying around for someone to grab and install something on, Android is basically secure. The odds of a person's phone being hacked or getting a virus is very small.

 

[Morty2264]

As long as a person avoids malicious apps and does not leave their phone laying around for someone to grab and install something on, Android is basically secure. The odds of a person's phone being hacked or getting a virus is very small.

For sure! You have to intentionally click into something - like those stupid website popups - for a virus or similar issue to crop up.

 

[Jcmg62]

For sure! You have to intentionally click into something - like those stupid website popups - for a virus or similar issue to crop up.

That's true. In a week of using the platform I've not once felt like I'm putting my personal data at threat. I think it's like any platform...just apply common sense, don't click on links and be careful what you download.

With that said , I do get the sense that the app store is bursting at the seams. It's like a spoilt kids toy cupboard. There's just way more stuff in there than will ever be used. Do Google do regular clean ups? And what is their app onboarding and authentication process like? Do they screen before letting things in?

 

[Morty2264]

That's true. In a week of using the platform I've not once felt like I'm putting my personal data at threat. I think it's like any platform...just apply common sense, don't click on links and be careful what you download.

With that said , I do get the sense that the app store is bursting at the seams. It's like a spoilt kids toy cupboard. There's just way more stuff in there than will ever be used. Do Google do regular clean ups? And what is their app onboarding and authentication process like? Do they screen before letting things in?

You are right. There are so many apps! That can be a blessing and a curse!

Hmm, I'm not too sure what their cleanup/authentication processes are like... But perhaps other users here will know!

I tend to only consider downloading an app if it has something like 10,000 or 100,000 downloads. If that many users decided the app was legitimate enough to download, I usually feel safe about doing so.

 

[newcollector]

You are right. There are so many apps! That can be a blessing and a curse!

Hmm, I'm not too sure what their cleanup/authentication processes are like... But perhaps other users here will know!

I tend to only consider downloading an app if it has something like 10,000 or 100,000 downloads. If that many users decided the app was legitimate enough to download, I usually feel safe about doing so.

Usually I check with some friends I know who are developers and also check well known android sites for their recommendations.

 

[Morty2264]

Usually I check with some friends I know who are developers and also check well known android sites for their recommendations.

Those are smart rules to live by, as well!

 

[Jcmg62]

Aaaaand the joy of owing a one plus is gone

Received an email yesterday from oneplus saying they'd been hacked and there was every chance my card details had been compromised......

Sure enough checked my account and there are withdrawals made to PayPal accounts. Not much but about £80 in two days.

That never happened with Microsoft........

Nothing kills love for a brand quite like a bit of fraud

 

[Vega007]

I was hit with fraud as well, but it was caught so fast by my Credit Card company that the charge was denied, the card was cancelled, and a new card is incoming. These things happen, and can happen anytime you put your card out there. I wish it didn't, but oh well. Identity Theft would be a truly brutal blow but a CC being compromised is not really that bad of a headache, and it doesn't ruin my thoughts on OnePlus. I like their phones, a lot.

 

[newcollector]

I was hit with fraud as well, but it was caught so fast by my Credit Card company that the charge was denied, the card was cancelled, and a new card is incoming. These things happen, and can happen anytime you put your card out there. I wish it didn't, but oh well. Identity Theft would be a truly brutal blow but a CC being compromised is not really that bad of a headache, and it doesn't ruin my thoughts on OnePlus. I like their phones, a lot.

Well said, Vega007, we'll said.

 

[Morty2264]

I was hit with fraud as well, but it was caught so fast by my Credit Card company that the charge was denied, the card was cancelled, and a new card is incoming. These things happen, and can happen anytime you put your card out there. I wish it didn't, but oh well. Identity Theft would be a truly brutal blow but a CC being compromised is not really that bad of a headache, and it doesn't ruin my thoughts on OnePlus. I like their phones, a lot.

Agreed. Plus, as others have said, it wasn't *actually* OnePlus that had been behind this - it was their third-party software company that processes the credit/electronic transactions that suffered the breach. While the breach still affected OnePlus' website which therefore makes OnePlus at least partly accountable for it as far as reaching out to customers to rectify the situation/ensuring that their security system is top notch; it doesn't mean that OnePlus' products are bad, nor that OnePlus is 100% at fault.

Like you said, this could happen anytime one does an online transaction. I'm not making excuses for OP - especially since I do not own a device and am looking to upgrade to another manufacturer as it is - but as bad as all that was, it wasn't as if OnePlus had been behind the incident.

However, it does put a bit of a damper on the brand name; regardless of everything I've just written. Some people will think about this when they think about OnePlus. However, with every phone "incident" that crops up, this one will go by the wayside when something else happens. In any case, this hasn't been a good month for OnePlus press-wise - especially to have these things happen on the heels of its Sandstone Version release - so I'm hoping things get better for them.