What types (and maybe specific) apps do i need as far as spyware/adware/security...

[Paisley]

(new to android). Thanks.

 

[neonworm]

You do not need antivirus apps if you are careful. But, if you want the added security or want to take advantage of the anti-theft features some antivirus apps offer then go ahead. If you are going to use an antivirus, I suggest Avast Antivirus. It has anti-theft features as well as a firewall (which you can only use if you are rooted). It also has a feature where you can monitor which permissions certain apps are using. Antiviruses are also known to sometimes flag a non-infected app as infected. That usually gets fixed quick by an update but can get annoying because it might make the app run funky. If you decide not to go with an antivirus, here are some security tips:

*Always download apps from the play store.
*Don't click on sketchy links or go on sketchy websites. An example of links not to click on are short links (unless you download an app called url ripper, you can find it here: https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...etails?id=com.parrot.urlripper&token=8KB9OAwI. It expands the short links into the full long link that it is going to be redirected to.)
*Pick trustworthy keyboards.
*Monitor what permissions apps are using (You can use Avast for that as described above). It shows a combined list of all the permissions your apps are using and then when you click on a permission it will show you all the apps that are using that permission.

I hope that helped you!

 

[Paisley]

You do not need antivirus apps if you are careful. But, if you want the added security or want to take advantage of the anti-theft features some antivirus apps offer then go ahead. If you are going to use an antivirus, I suggest Avast Antivirus. It has anti-theft features as well as a firewall (which you can only use if you are rooted). It also has a feature where you can monitor which permissions certain apps are using. Antiviruses are also known to sometimes flag a non-infected app as infected. That usually gets fixed quick by an update but can get annoying because it might make the app run funky. If you decide not to go with an antivirus, here are some security tips:


*Always download apps from the play store.
*Don't click on sketchy links or go on sketchy websites. An example of links not to click on are short links (unless you download an app called url ripper, you can find it here: https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...etails?id=com.parrot.urlripper&token=4OAvCZFy. It expands the short links into the full long link that it is going to be redirected to.)
*Pick trustworthy keyboards.
*Monitor what permissions apps are using (You can use Avast for that as described above). It shows a combined list of all the permissions your apps are using and then when you click on a permission it will show you all the apps that are using that permission.

I hope that helped you!

Thanks! yes, very helpful. I like avast, used it for my home computer for years. I'll go with them. I briefly read somewhere that some apps on google play had adware in them, could that be the case?

 

[neonworm]

Thanks! yes, very helpful. I like avast, used it for my home computer for years. I'll go with them. I briefly read somewhere that some apps on google play had adware in them, could that be the case?

Yes, some apps do have adware. You just have to watch the permissions on the app. If an app has permissions that it doesn't need (like a flashlight app that can access your location info) then don't install it. When you push install, the permissions will show up and you can review them there. If you are not sure or want to learn more about a certain permission, then you can select the permission and a popup will appear with more information about the permission. Hope that helped!

 

[Paisley]

Big thanks! And if i may, what do you think are must have operations utilities. I've been putting together apps on my googleplay wishlist. Not even sure which ones i need in general, but i've chosen one in each category that get the best reviews. So which types of utils would really be something almost everyone should have? or are just really fruitful/useful.

a back up app? (super backup?)
are storage analyzers useful? (i'll only have a 16GB phone)
a cleaner? (i have master cleaner wishlisted)
Tasker? (i have no idea what this does but everyone seems to use it for things)
a launcher? (i have nova launcher bookmarked).
a task killer? (i have advanced task killer wishlisted)
keyboard/swiftkey (obviously)
and i have a battery widget wishlisted, is this actually useful for anything?

 

[neonworm]

Big thanks! And if i may, what do you think are must have operations utilities. I've been putting together apps on my googleplay wishlist. Not even sure which ones i need in general, but i've chosen one in each category that get the best reviews. So which types of utils would really be something almost everyone should have? or are just really fruitful/useful.

a back up app? (super backup?)
are storage analyzers useful? (i'll only have a 16GB phone)
a cleaner? (i have master cleaner wishlisted)
Tasker? (i have no idea what this does but everyone seems to use it for things)
a launcher? (i have nova launcher bookmarked).
a task killer? (i have advanced task killer wishlisted)
keyboard/swiftkey (obviously)
and i have a battery widget wishlisted, is this actually useful for anything?

1. I haven't had experience with backup apps but I have heard good things about carbon backup.

2. I don't really think that storage analyzers are useful. They may be for
some people though.

3. I don't have any experience with cleaners.

4. Tasker is useful because it will do actions on your phone based on triggers. Check out the description on the play store. It is really cool

5. I used nova launcher for a while and I loved it. It is really smooth and has plenty of options.

6. You don't need a task killer. Android handles it well.

7. I used swiftkey for a while and I loved it but now I have started using Google keyboard and I really like it. Check it out and give it a try to see if you like it.

8. Battery widgets take up battery but they are sometimes useful if you don't go to your home screen a lot or don't have a battery percentage. Try one out to see if you like it. You can get a full refund on a paid app if you push the refund button within 15 minutes.

I hope that helped you!

 

[Paisley]

Great, thanks so much! Took off my task killer and storage analyizer. : ). Looking forward to messing around with tasker, whatever it is.