What app do you guys use for an android cleaner?

[Spikes333]

What app do you recommend for cleaning your phone?

If you do recommend cleaning

And what do you recommend for virus scanning?

 

[hallux]

I do none of the above. Why? First - what do you mean by "cleaner"? An app that clears memory (RAM) or one that cleans storage?

Memory 'cleaners' are as much a detriment as they are a benefit. Android works to keep your frequently-used stuff readily accessible. The Windows idea of keeping as much RAM free as possible for faster performance is the opposite of what you want for Android. By clearing RAM you can actually SLOW the device, as it needs to access the slower storage chips to load your app when you call for it. This also "costs" battery power/life.

I don't run a virus scanner. I'm conscious of what I'm doing on my device and careful about not clicking on random pop-ups. I have never had my phones or tablets in a state where I felt they had been 'hacked' or compromised.

 

[Javier P]

Same here, none on both accounts

 

[Mooncatt]

I don't use either as well.

To elaborate on the virus issue, Android is a very secure system out of the box. You basically have to be trying to get a virus, and even then the exploit may already be patched so it can't work. On Android, you must approve any app installation. As long as you stick to apps on the Play store and aren't clicking random pop-ups and such and then approving whatever app they are offering, you should be fine. Many malware apps are actually disguised this way. You'll get a notice that your phone is infected and suggest you download their anti-virus app because they claim only it will fix it. In reality, the notice was just a fancy animation and the "anti-virus" app you approve is what actually delivers the infection.

 

[Spikes333]

So all these people who claim their phone has been hacked are kind of delusional

Which I believe by the way

Or they have been stupid in how they use their phone

 

[Mooncatt]

So all these people who claim their phone has been hacked are kind of delusional

Which I believe by the way

Or they have been stupid in how they use their phone

I think it's a little of all of the above. It's hard to say for sure because most of the posts are made anonymously and the OP rarely comes back to give needed additional info or reply to our questions. I don't think they are intentionally being dense, but it does seem to primarily stem from a misunderstanding of how Android works and reading sensationalist articles. This article is a good balance to the sensationalism.

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3411440/android-security-scares.html

 

[B. Diddy]

Here are my tips on avoiding malware: [GUIDE] How To Avoid Malware - Android Forums at AndroidCentral.com

In terms of phone "cleaners," the only one I'd recommend would be Files by Google, which has a feature that can clear out temporary and cached data for you, which can be helpful sometimes if you tend to run low on storage. But that's only a stopgap -- if you're constantly running up against low storage warnings, then it's pretty much time to get a new phone with more internal storage (or it's time to uninstall large apps you don't use much).