antivirus

[tshareef]

Hi room...i have been thinking about installing an antivirus software to my SGS2... there Ian avg app in android market. is it worth installing it?or do i actually need an.antivirus on my phone? Thanks for your replies.

[hazi1964]

I've never bothered with an anti virus, not had the need for it.
Alison

[stonkr]

You need antivirus if you install stuff from all over the knot-end as it's possible to install malicious apps or code embedded within innocuous apps. But then some of the apps available recently had something nasty in them and had to be removed by Google from the market.

Trouble is, antivirus apps are always working away and seem to use your precious battery reserves. My findings, not written in stone...

You're best being aware but not too concerned.

My advice would be to download and install any antivirus you like, run the scan, then remove or deactivate it.

'Gosub'

At your own preferred interval, download/activate and scan again. Then remove/deactivate.

'Return'

'End'

[whitehart]

defo make sure you have anti virus software on your phone - its very easy to create a virus for andriod (easier than a MS windows product for example)

[hazi1964]

Hmm, I decided to try the AVG to scan for viruses. It found a threat but I have no idea what the threat is. It detected root as a threat which I ignored but in the apps, no idea what is the threat.

Screenshot included if anyone can shed any light on what it all means?
[IMG][/IMG]

Alison

[stonkr]

Doesn't say, does it?

Not very useful.

Try Lookout, Alison, see what that tells you.

[hazi1964]

Tried it stonkr, says no problems found. Wondering how reliable these apps are now as the first one said there were threats, even though it gave no information and lookout says it's OK.

Alison

[GuitarGuy]

I always use Netqin, it uses about 2% of my phones battery during the day and has realtime protection + has some very cool anti lost/stolen features!

https://market.android.com/details?i...=search_result

There is a newer version on the market - https://market.android.com/details?i...=search_result - but I don't think a lot of people like it as much as the older one, I personally prefer the older version too.

[hazi1964]

Just tried the old netqin but got a message saying it's not compatible with my phone when I opened the app.
Alison

[Jejoma]

I've come from the Symbian world where virus killers were not needed but Android does seem susceptible to viruses. You have to be careful with with anti-virus apps, best to go on recommendation. Some have a reputation of putting a "virus" onto your phone that they can then find to show how invaluable they are. I tried Norton but like its big brother on the PC it just kept growing. To me, bloatware is nearly as bad as a virus