Avast internet security beta - Wildfire Themes and Apps

Avast internet security beta now available on android market for people who like and support them like me lol. Its a great software

apollopayne said:
Avast internet security beta now available on android market for people who like and support them like me lol. Its a great software
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Can you give me 3 reasons why I should install a virusscanner on a Linux platform?

fifarunnerr said:
Can you give me 3 reasons why I should install a virusscanner on a Linux platform?
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He/she not asking you to install it read their post.
OP thanks.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity

Nyssa1104 said:
He/she not asking you to install it read their post.
OP thanks.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity
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Thank for that and the link , it wouldn't let me link it? I'm a man lol If people want to know why i use it then its mainly for peace of mind that i have a AV checking everything that comes on my phone. I was just letting people know and spreading the word.

OP thats what this forum is about but any way each to their own..

Aside from the antivirus aspect of Avast Mobile Security, is there any real value in the other components of this software? Here's an excerpt from the description of this app:
"Control anti-theft features with remote SMS commands for: history wipe, phone lock, siren activation, GPS tracking, audio monitoring, and many other useful tools. Your ‘invisible’ app hides itself, making it extremely hard for thieves to find and disable. A standalone yet tightly integrated component of avast! Mobile Security, avast! Anti-Theft is the slyest component on the market. Formerly known as Theft Aware, the Anti-Theft portion of avast! Mobile Security has been recommended by leading industry experts that include T-Mobile, N-TV, AndroidPIT, and Android Police."
Is this just hype?
I am currently using Lookout for the "security" features, but some Lookout features are only available in the premium version, while the Avast app seems to offer similar features for free.

steevo1 said:
Aside from the antivirus aspect of Avast Mobile Security, is there any real value in the other components of this software? Here's an excerpt from the description of this app:
"Control anti-theft features with remote SMS commands for: history wipe, phone lock, siren activation, GPS tracking, audio monitoring, and many other useful tools. Your ‘invisible’ app hides itself, making it extremely hard for thieves to find and disable. A standalone yet tightly integrated component of avast! Mobile Security, avast! Anti-Theft is the slyest component on the market. Formerly known as Theft Aware, the Anti-Theft portion of avast! Mobile Security has been recommended by leading industry experts that include T-Mobile, N-TV, AndroidPIT, and Android Police."
Is this just hype?
I am currently using Lookout for the "security" features, but some Lookout features are only available in the premium version, while the Avast app seems to offer similar features for free.
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I've installed the anti-theft and it works great, it integrates in your phone and when you activate it the app locks down so nobody can edit it. Then you can send SMS commands from another phone you select to lock the phone, make it scream, report its location, wipe data, disable settings and even continue to do so if the SIM card is removed. The intruder can't access the app because it "deletes" itself and you literally have to "call" your code to reactivate. But there is a HUGE list of advanced SMS commands you can send to your phone if its lost or stolen, including updating the lock message, activating a data connection, making it call a certain number, and performing specific actions on your phone. The first version is annoying though with the always-on icon, but they've fixed it now

MattDN93 said:
I've installed the anti-theft and it works great, it integrates in your phone and when you activate it the app locks down so nobody can edit it. Then you can send SMS commands from another phone you select to lock the phone, make it scream, report its location, wipe data, disable settings and even continue to do so if the SIM card is removed. The intruder can't access the app because it "deletes" itself and you literally have to "call" your code to reactivate. But there is a HUGE list of advanced SMS commands you can send to your phone if its lost or stolen, including updating the lock message, activating a data connection, making it call a certain number, and performing specific actions on your phone. The first version is annoying though with the always-on icon, but they've fixed it now
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Thank you for the feedback. Sounds worthwhile. I'll give it a try.

Would be so nice when somebody could mirror the apk...as always, i can´t install it on my sgsII (due to density settings perhaps?!).
Is someone here who likes to do that for me?

brooon said:
Would be so nice when somebody could mirror the apk...as always, i can´t install it on my sgsII (due to density settings perhaps?!).
Is someone here who likes to do that for me?
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http://db.tt/kja9IP27

is free????

apollopayne said:
http://db.tt/kja9IP27
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Thanks so much!

radeon7 said:
is free????
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Oh yes its free!

Will give it a try, some functions sound interesting, altough not the antivirus part.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

The anti theft feauture is awesome
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA App

The anti-virus even with the latest version of avast has a problem for any app even if its clean but the anti-theft bit is great hence why i use on the anti theft bit and then use mylookout for the antivirus.
But would love to know which AV is the best for free of course!

Related

Should there be any worries about security?

Im still pretty new to the smartphone world. But after looking at various apps I noticed the app declares a list of permissions it will need to certain files on the phone. Im just concerned that any one of these apps are gathering sensitive information like our contacts or notes on our phones. How do we know exactly what is being accessed and sent out. I just realized an app like mixzing sends the developers information about the songs we listen to, our playlists, etc.. Now Im not too concerned about this in particular, but how do we know what other information they or any other developer are grabbing from our phones? On a PC you atleast have a firewall, router, security sofware, etc..
Its interesting that someone finally asked this question. I asked this very thing since i.had my G1.
I am in infomation security and as a security researcher, ive used a rooted device and the shark app which is like wireshark for packet captures from your phone. You could always stick your vibrant on your wireless network and watch the packets there as well.
Take a peek at this screengrab from an alt keyboard install from the sticky page. I would not trust any app at all
On a side note, if you saw the forensics app for these phones...wow
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
there have been apps said to collect sensitive data that it doesnt need to function... In russia there was also a tip calculator that sent sms messages to various numbers without your knowledge... at the moment there is no virus, or worm, or trojan for android atleast not on this side of the world...
Just be careful what you download, always read the apps permissions..
Or download a app that scans applications, I personally use Lookout. Not because im paranoid about viruses but there are other features implemented such as losnig your phone and includes tracking.
It's on the market, "Lookout."
Lookout is a great tool to have. I use it on all my phones, out scan every app as you install, if its bad, it'll tell you
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
paradox4286 said:
Lookout is a great tool to have. I use it on all my phones, out scan every app as you install, if its bad, it'll tell you
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
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SO how man y, if any, bad apps have you encountered? I havnt bought into the whole AV for mobile phones yet. I understand the potential risk, but the real world risk seems minimal to nearly nonexistant at this moment. Now I will probably be one of the first ones to go palm to face when the first virus makes its way around and I get it, but for now i'll stick with the ignorance is bliss unless this lookout app is actually kicking back potential risks.
Chief Geek said:
SO how man y, if any, bad apps have you encountered? I havnt bought into the whole AV for mobile phones yet. I understand the potential risk, but the real world risk seems minimal to nearly nonexistant at this moment. Now I will probably be one of the first ones to go palm to face when the first virus makes its way around and I get it, but for now i'll stick with the ignorance is bliss unless this lookout app is actually kicking back potential risks.
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It's 0.. I use it mainly incase I lose my phone. That's the thing about Lookout, it isn't intrusive at all. It runs weekly scans (disabled if you want), and scans when you install a new application.
It has a lot of other functionality other than scanning for malicious applications.

[Q] Is anti virus a waste?

Is anti virus a waste or is it worth having it run on your phone?
waste......
MrGibbage said:
waste......
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Why is that?
its a waste, when was the lest time u heard of someone getting a phone virus? lol, plus what are you downloading and running on your phone that might even pose a threat
I vote waste too, for current AV solutions. Like another poster said -- There really aren't any threats at the moment. It's real likely there will be at some point, but I see no reason to believe the current AV providers have any clue what these future hypothetical virii will look like. I'll trust an AV once it is written by a security researcher who has studied live Android virii. Until then they're just wasting resources.
I don't run AV software on my home computers or my phones. I am careful with the email that I open, and when I DL software, I try to be aware of where it is coming from. I am never the guy that that downloads something the day it comes out. If it is nefarious, I'll hear about it. Maybe I'm lucky, but I just don't see the need.
SMS Trojan for Android - http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1727325/android-virus-spotted
They do exist just not on a Windows level lol. I'm sure they will jump in numbers as the popularity of the platform continues to explode. Currently, Lookout is one of the top rated AV apps, and its free.
BTW when you install the "SMS Trojan" it asks for permission to send text messages that may cost money.
TOTAL Waste.
Just read the permissions requests when installing apps.
Or go read up on how Android's app sandboxing works. Either way, nothing can harm your phone unless you explicitly allow it to. And if you allow a photo app to read all of your data, and send text messages and connect to the internet, you deserve what you get.
reuthermonkey said:
TOTAL Waste.
Just read the permissions requests when installing apps.
Or go read up on how Android's app sandboxing works. Either way, nothing can harm your phone unless you explicitly allow it to. And if you allow a photo app to read all of your data, and send text messages and connect to the internet, you deserve what you get.
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Aint that the truth. Idiots need to pay attention to the Android Permissions screen and ask themselves "Why does this flashlight app need to read my contacts, google account and access my dialer, data connection and send SMS??"
Like others have mentioned, threat levels right now are so low that it doesn't warrant the use of money or system resources.
Some apps in the market that are labeled as such are just spam btw.
And also, we are far from a mass infection ala PCs. Just be very careful with what you download. Pay close attention to the permissions and use your very good judgement. If a music player asks permission to read/send/receive text messages and make phone calls, it's probably some type of malware.
jblade1000 said:
SMS Trojan for Android - http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1727325/android-virus-spotted
They do exist just not on a Windows level lol. I'm sure they will jump in numbers as the popularity of the platform continues to explode. Currently, Lookout is one of the top rated AV apps, and its free.
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WASTE ,..,.., hands down......
A virus that has to be manually installed by the user or creator on the host device ????? , and this is after all the warnings to the user before you press ok .,.,.,.,., never mind all the warnings telling you NOT TO DOWNLOAD outside of the market,unless you know what you are doing , download AT YOUR OWN RISK..... Not to mention the anti virus companies CREATING the need for you to install their app ... ever read some of the comments in the market about these "AV" apps ? > 'this app works great, protects my phone'<<<<<? protects it ? from what ???? WTF..
So yes I think it's a waste.....
People make viruses for a living so pretty soon someone will come out with a major one cause it being a phone means nothing its based off of linux and I know linux doesn't have any killer viruses but they do have some just not on a windows level. So ask it takes is one overseas a hole to create one just so he can get famous and then we will need an
Worth installing virus app.
O yea most people only read the permission when installing apps when they are new to android most people don't look at them.especially for apps they regularly use like handcent. Who know what they do with our info?
Sent from my Samsung Vibrant
hmmm lets see, would an app be able to slide in a permission without a warning? as in read contacts after installed but it never showed on the permission screen.
creglenn said:
People make viruses for a living so pretty soon someone will come out with a major one cause it being a phone means nothing its based off of linux and I know linux doesn't have any killer viruses but they do have some just not on a windows level. So ask it takes is one overseas a hole to create one just so he can get famous and then we will need an
Worth installing virus app.
O yea most people only read the permission when installing apps when they are new to android most people don't look at them.especially for apps they regularly use like handcent. Who know what they do with our info?
Sent from my Samsung Vibrant
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None of that supports a need for an Anti-Virus. Android sandboxes each and every application on the system. It's not like any other Linux distro in how it handles security. It's MORE secure than linux. You can hack individual apps (and thus use their permissions - ie the browser), but that's quickly patched.
The biggest security threat to Android is the same as the biggest security threat for EVERY OS: Lazy users.
reuthermonkey said:
None of that supports a need for an Anti-Virus. Android sandboxes each and every application on the system. It's not like any other Linux distro in how it handles security. It's MORE secure than linux. You can hack individual apps (and thus use their permissions - ie the browser), but that's quickly patched.
The biggest security threat to Android is the same as the biggest security threat for EVERY OS: Lazy users.
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Thats so true but im speaking on the basic users who dont need a dumbphone instead of a smartphone cause when/if a virus does come out those are the people who ill be flooding the forums. While we sit back and laugh.
everyone is talking **** about anti-virus for taking up resources, but i've found Lookout to be very unobtrusive. Also, besides virus scan, it will locate your phone, send a siren to your device, backup your info, all at schedules you determine.
jamesey10 said:
everyone is talking **** about anti-virus for taking up resources, but i've found Lookout to be very unobtrusive. Also, besides virus scan, it will locate your phone, send a siren to your device, backup your info, all at schedules you determine.
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Sure, those are a few reasons to keep Lookout installed. But I don't need it scanning all my files for threats that don't exist yet and it probably wouldn't recognize anyway. Fortunately, the AV component is optional.

Do we need a good firewall app?

After the recent article on apps that are sharing our personal information, it occurred to me that this should be an easy problem to fix. All we need is a good personal firewall app. Heck, iptables would be a great start, but it can be hard to implement that on an app by app basis. It will be hard to set up for apps that have legitimate needs to connect over port 80 for legitimate needs, but also uses that same port for less than legitimate needs. So I guess it will also take some blacklisting of certain servers, perhaps along the lines of the ad blockers apps that modify the hosts file.
Or does such an app already exist?
Skip
Here you go:
http://www.appbrain.com/app/droidwall-android-firewall/com.googlecode.droidwall.free
MrGibbage said:
After the recent article on apps that are sharing our personal information, it occurred to me that this should be an easy problem to fix. All we need is a good personal firewall app. Heck, iptables would be a great start, but it can be hard to implement that on an app by app basis. It will be hard to set up for apps that have legitimate needs to connect over port 80 for legitimate needs, but also uses that same port for less than legitimate needs. So I guess it will also take some blacklisting of certain servers, perhaps along the lines of the ad blockers apps that modify the hosts file.
Or does such an app already exist?
Skip
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1. There's already a couple adblock apps like Adfree which block a lot of stuff.
2. If you read the permissions for the apps you CHOOSE to download, then you'll know exactly what access to data they'll have. If you don't like that PaperToss wants access to your device ID, then just don't install PaperToss.
And of course, such an app would undoubtedly cause more issues than the perception of "security" it would provide, since you'd probably not be able to use half the apps anymore. Or they'd stop being ad-supported, and would begin to charge instead.
From the article:
Google requires Android apps to notify users, before they download the app, of the data sources the app intends to access. Possible sources include the phone's camera, memory, contact list, and more than 100 others. If users don't like what a particular app wants to access, they can choose not to install the app, Google says.
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Just read the app permissions. That tells you almost everything you need to know.
The problem is, the app permissions don't tell you what you need to know. Here are the permissions for Paper Toss by Backflip Studios:
Your Location (coarse network-based location)
Network communication-full internet access
Phone Calls - read phone state
While the Location permission would be suspect, and would cause me to question whether or not I should download this app, the other two permissions are not so immediately obvious that they are "bad". Network communications is a permission needed by every app that has in-game ads such as AdMob. And I don't know why this app needs the Phone Calls permission, but almost every single app in the market uses that permission. At least it isn't asking for access to the address book or anything like that.
What I would like is for the app to tell us what it needs internet access for, and to tell us what information it is sending to third parties.
MrGibbage said:
The problem is, the app permissions don't tell you what you need to know. Here are the permissions for Paper Toss by Backflip Studios:
Your Location (coarse network-based location)
Network communication-full internet access
Phone Calls - read phone state
While the Location permission would be suspect, and would cause me to question whether or not I should download this app, the other two permissions are not so immediately obvious that they are "bad". Network communications is a permission needed by every app that has in-game ads such as AdMob. And I don't know why this app needs the Phone Calls permission, but almost every single app in the market uses that permission. At least it isn't asking for access to the address book or anything like that.
What I would like is for the app to tell us what it needs internet access for, and to tell us what information it is sending to third parties.
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Click to collapse
Maybe to detect a phone call and pause the game.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
MrGibbage said:
The problem is, the app permissions don't tell you what you need to know. Here are the permissions for Paper Toss by Backflip Studios:
Your Location (coarse network-based location)
Network communication-full internet access
Phone Calls - read phone state
While the Location permission would be suspect, and would cause me to question whether or not I should download this app, the other two permissions are not so immediately obvious that they are "bad". Network communications is a permission needed by every app that has in-game ads such as AdMob. And I don't know why this app needs the Phone Calls permission, but almost every single app in the market uses that permission. At least it isn't asking for access to the address book or anything like that.
What I would like is for the app to tell us what it needs internet access for, and to tell us what information it is sending to third parties.
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All free apps will collect some information .... so they know what ads to aim your way ..... so they can make money ... Every one does this .... on your computer its the same as your cookies .... and only the really paranoid will set their browser cookies settings to "ultimate :block all cookies "...
Here's the difference, android openness will allow others to research and publish their findings, un like others that are closed and will not allow research, and if anyway is found to get the research. done the publication will be deleted from the web ......
The openness is why you see soooooo many articles on this issue over n over, none of them mentioning that the paid versions of these apps don't collect any thing .....
How much personal information are you planning on storing in the paper toss game?
Consider this in your answer, android system runs apps in sand box mode meaning, one app cannot access another without YOUR permission, or if an app is infected with malware, that malware will only operate in that app, unlike your windows machine where it would have a free for all .....
ferhanmm said:
Maybe to detect a phone call and pause the game.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
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That's my point. That would be a legitimate need for access to the phone state. However, granting that permission also gives the app permission to make phone phone calls. I still think the apps need to be more specific about the permissions they need.
The bottom line is, these phones are great, they can run all kinds of awesome software, but the people writing the software need to make a living too. If someone really wants to prevent their phone from sending out personal information, then they should not install any software, and maybe shouldn't even be using the phone at all. But I still see a need for a firewall app (possibly DroidWall, as mentioned above) to help us prevent this type of thing from happening.
A permissions firewall would be much more interesting and useful in my opinion.
Being able to block a certain thing like "read contact data" for all apps and only permit access with a white list would be very useful to me.

Is your app spying on you?

Most of the app now require acces to the phone calls..even a news app requires it, sms app such as go sms also requires it. So I want to know after knowing that an app will be able to acces your phone call you still download it? And does anyone in what way the developers use such info?
Sent from my E10i using XDA App
Excellent topic, I'm really troubled by this. The business world makes a whole lot of money based on the average persons inertia - their lack of information or willingness when it comes to the products and services they use and the money they use to pay for them. Particular mobile phone network providers come to mind, who are happy to charge the most expensive prices because people don't know or don't care.
This lazy attitude is seeping into the Android app world. It will be a small per centage of us who will realize this threat and do something about it - exactly like cookies and public wifi privacy etc.
For those of us already interested, are there websites or apps which can guide us on this?
I had thought about it before but it seemed to be all apps out there at least need to access your internet, calls, phonebook and etc.. Not sure really if some of these nasty apps has the evil purpose to steal our vital informations in the phone... say if we're checking our bank account or something similar..
What I practice:
1) Installed AVG pro and do scan regularly, and set to scan every newly installed apps.
2) Use both cache cleaner and history eraser to clean up all traces once a day.
3) Hope they don't see me as a target.
Don't worry.
I think access to the phone calls is just to minimize the running app in case you receive a call. In other case you would not even realize an incoming call?!
Deehee3 said:
Don't worry.
I think access to the phone calls is just to minimize the running app in case you receive a call. In other case you would not even realize an incoming call?!
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What about data? When you install an app in most cases you allow data access to it.
Searching for updates or viewing developers homepage maybe?
Sent from my U20i using XDA App
Deehee3 said:
Searching for updates or viewing developers homepage maybe?
Sent from my U20i using XDA App
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What if not? What if app you´ve installed is spying on you and sending info to hackers. How would you know?
On android we have the luck that there are a lot of applications that are open source. When I have to choose an application, I always choose and support the open projects!
You will notice that most of those applications don't need all that personal information! Makes you wonder...
On other systems, apps usually have an user/administrator scheme, where the 'user' has access to some things and 'administrator' has access to everything.
There is no such thing on Android (except if you have a rooted phone and some app asks for superuser access, but you get a requester asking for permissions as well).
Each app has to specifically ask for permissions or the system will deny it. A spyware has to ask for those permissions or it won't work.
Some permission requests to look out for:
- "Call phone"
can be used by the application to silently dial some "premium" numbers
- "Send SMS"
can be used to send SMS to special "premium" numbers
- "Record phone calls"
can be harmful if associated with "internet access" permission
- "Access fine location"/"access coarse location" and "internet access"
can be used for tracking purposes
Many apps ask for:
- "Phone identity" / "internet access"
they use it for "statistics purposes" (flurry.com mostly) but it is bad. The developer should always inform the user about those.
BTW, that an app is open source makes no difference. Someone can always (willingly or not) tamper with the final build. And not everyone reviews open source apps.
zapek666 said:
A spyware has to ask for those permissions or it won't work.
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Sure. But if an app legitimately ask for data transmission and file system access, AND you grant it, how would you know it is not using the granted rights for something else?
ppirate said:
On android we have the luck that there are a lot of applications that are open source. When I have to choose an application, I always choose and support the open projects!
You will notice that most of those applications don't need all that personal information! Makes you wonder...
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Don´t tell me that you evaluate the source code of each application you load from the market. And even so, how would you know the difference between what is shown to you and the final build, available on the market?
vlissine said:
Sure. But if an app legitimately ask for data transmission and file system access, AND you grant it, how would you know it is not using the granted rights for something else?
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Filesystem access are limited to the external memory card. An app with such permission cannot access other apps' private data (which are stored on the phone).
Android apps are all sandboxed into their own homes.
A good example of a suspicious application is HTML5 Reference.
"This HTML5 reference lists all tags supported in the HTML5 specification.", fine. Let's look at the permissions:
Network communication: full Internet access
Phone calls: read phone state and identity
While the first 2 could be produced as a side effect of the developer implementing some "statistics library" (flurry.com or so), the next 2:
Your location: fine (GPS) location
Your personal information: read sensitive log data
Are a giveaway that this app does a bit more than just listing HTML reference tags
zapek666 said:
Filesystem access are limited to the external memory card. An app with such permission cannot access other apps' private data (which are stored on the phone).
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Click to collapse
Ok, how about a picture viewer, which usually picks pictures from each and every
directory, no matter if you want it (and not only from memory card).
Hey vlissine and zapek666. You both have a point.
One individual cannot review every code he or she uses. And also one does not only uses his or her own builds of the projects. But every now and then, I have to go into a project, mostly to add functionality. During that time, I usually have to go over a lot of code to understand the program. It is no guarantee, but you can imagine that some strange code will stand out.
I'm surely not the only person. So while one individual is not capable of such an endeavor. A lot are.
Your other point is as valid as can be. But here again, builds are comparable.
Surely, one does not have to find himself or herself obliged to use certain kind of projects. But to me, when I have the change, I use and support the open source project. One important reason is because of the concern raised by the original poster!
http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2011/03/update-on-android-market-security.html
Apparently we were not that paranoid, thinking of spying apps
Two options:
1) To avoid being spy and get super paranoid about it... ditch your smartphone and get those early 2000 phones with only calls and sms capable.
2) Use the smart phone eg: X10 mini/pro or any android phones and ignore these spying scene and live with it like nothing ever going to happen since this new technologies really live up our life nowadays..
farsight73 said:
Two options:
1) To avoid being spy and get super paranoid about it... ditch your smartphone and get those early 2000 phones with only calls and sms capable.
2) Use the smart phone eg: X10 mini/pro or any android phones and ignore these spying scene and live with it like nothing ever going to happen since this new technologies really live up our life nowadays..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One more option - stop giving stupid advises when you have nothing to say.
maybe apps need to call functions or need it to run?
write them your self if your that bothered?
...
Sent from my E10i using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

Android Security

I posted this in another forum but I want to know what you guys here think about android security.
How worried are you all about security on the android platform? Don't you find it a little unnerving that anybody could upload and app to the android market and there is no verification of the app like on IOS platform. Anybody could write an app that looks legit but does devious things. All this along with there are very very few security applications and they are in the infant state. Don't you find it very dangerous? How do you try to maintain security on your android device? Don't download apps? Only download from known publishers? Or do you roll the dice and download anything? If you use a security app which one?
the_main_app said:
I posted this in another forum but I want to know what you guys here think about android security.
How worried are you all about security on the android platform? Don't you find it a little unnerving that anybody could upload and app to the android market and there is no verification of the app like on IOS platform. Anybody could write an app that looks legit but does devious things. All this along with there are very very few security applications and they are in the infant state. Don't you find it very dangerous? How do you try to maintain security on your android device? Don't download apps? Only download from known publishers? Or do you roll the dice and download anything? If you use a security app which one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are viruses for Android.....right ?
Besides , if you're smart enough you can check whether an app needs such permissions when installing , through the Mart or an .apk .
I don't like the way iOS works , they give too limited functionality .
Forever living in my Galaxy Ace using XDA App
the_main_app said:
I posted this in another forum but I want to know what you guys here think about android security.
How worried are you all about security on the android platform? Don't you find it a little unnerving that anybody could upload and app to the android market and there is no verification of the app like on IOS platform. Anybody could write an app that looks legit but does devious things. All this along with there are very very few security applications and they are in the infant state. Don't you find it very dangerous? How do you try to maintain security on your android device? Don't download apps? Only download from known publishers? Or do you roll the dice and download anything? If you use a security app which one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont use a security app, i use common sense.
a game doesn't need access to my contacts...
notepad app doesn't need access to my private information...
this is why android phones are for the power users and shouldn't be used by soccer moms and grandmas - because they have no clue what they are doing with these phones except for when a phone call or text message comes in... let them have the iphones.
but if you are tech savvy, and want to squeeze every bit of user capability out of your phone, a high end android phone is for you.
the people that are tech savvy also have the awareness because they treat their phone like a computer, and not a phone.
just my thoughts.
I think the best thing would be if android embraced that the user can choose which permissions to give to apps. I mean, an app may want to know your location, you denies it, and the app continnues happily without using that functionality, or quits saying its essantial.
cobraboy85 said:
i dont use a security app, i use common sense.
a game doesn't need access to my contacts...
notepad app doesn't need access to my private information...
this is why android phones are for the power users and shouldn't be used by soccer moms and grandmas - because they have no clue what they are doing with these phones except for when a phone call or text message comes in... let them have the iphones.
but if you are tech savvy, and want to squeeze every bit of user capability out of your phone, a high end android phone is for you.
the people that are tech savvy also have the awareness because they treat their phone like a computer, and not a phone.
just my thoughts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
very well put, unfortunately most dont think like this..
It is always a good habit to check the permissions an app needs before installation.I personally think that a system should be implemented in android market where all apps are erquested to give informaation on "Why they need certain permissions?".Certain apps do that.
An antivirus program is also useful in my opinion.I use Lookout antivirus,as i find it simple to use and does not slow down my phone.I tried avg but it slowed down my phone terribly.
hiitti said:
I think the best thing would be if android embraced that the user can choose which permissions to give to apps. I mean, an app may want to know your location, you denies it, and the app continnues happily without using that functionality, or quits saying its essantial.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But, as a matter of degree, this just what we wish. The fact may be far beyond our imagination. Sometimes, malware still run certain functionalities even you cancel it. It's worse that some apps run secretly in system. I'm a little scared about security issue based on my PC.
cobraboy85 said:
i dont use a security app, i use common sense.
a game doesn't need access to my contacts...
notepad app doesn't need access to my private information...
this is why android phones are for the power users and shouldn't be used by soccer moms and grandmas - because they have no clue what they are doing with these phones except for when a phone call or text message comes in... let them have the iphones.
but if you are tech savvy, and want to squeeze every bit of user capability out of your phone, a high end android phone is for you.
the people that are tech savvy also have the awareness because they treat their phone like a computer, and not a phone.
just my thoughts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But a game might ask for internet/network permissions which you would probably accept. How do you guard against this? How can you prevent a malicious app that asks for relavent permissions but abuses them?
I never take the time to study the permissions required when I download an app from the market.
I tend to avoid the low number of d'load apps..... partly as there is less feedback to judge.... and partly as any app thats worth the download will have high stars and many d'loads.
Works for me so far.
Netquins running in the background just in case...... but whose to say they dont upload my contacts for spamming?
Prof Peach said:
I never take the time to study the permissions required when I download an app from the market.
I tend to avoid the low number of d'load apps..... partly as there is less feedback to judge.... and partly as any app thats worth the download will have high stars and many d'loads.
Works for me so far.
Netquins running in the background just in case...... but whose to say they dont upload my contacts for spamming?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But what about new apps that may be legit? They won't have any reviews yet or stars. If everybody did the same as you it would never get reviews or stars? There's got to be a better way, don't you agree?
the_main_app said:
But a game might ask for internet/network permissions which you would probably accept. How do you guard against this? How can you prevent a malicious app that asks for relavent permissions but abuses them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the only question above that can't be answered by LBE Privacy Guard.
Someone mentioned a game that wants access to your contacts. What if you really want the game? You just don't allow it access to your contacts and then play it anyway.
Most apps ask for access to your IMEI (you'd be surprised how many!) With LBE they don't get it.
Antivirus software is all well and good, but it's not the same as on a PC where pattern matching can be used. AV software on Android basically opens the apk file and has a look round to see if anything looks suspicious. Other than that, there's nothing it can do to stop a clever developer bypassing it.
Seriously, if you have concerns then get LBE and start restricting permissions access on an app-by-app basis.
johncmolyneux said:
That's the only question above that can't be answered by LBE Privacy Guard.
Someone mentioned a game that wants access to your contacts. What if you really want the game? You just don't allow it access to your contacts and then play it anyway.
Most apps ask for access to your IMEI (you'd be surprised how many!) With LBE they don't get it.
Antivirus software is all well and good, but it's not the same as on a PC where pattern matching can be used. AV software on Android basically opens the apk file and has a look round to see if anything looks suspicious. Other than that, there's nothing it can do to stop a clever developer bypassing it.
Seriously, if you have concerns then get LBE and start restricting permissions access on an app-by-app basis.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this.
i was JUST about to say the same thing about the android "anti-virus" scam... not really a scam, but a false sense of security. as you said, not the same at ALL. people need to get out of the PC mindset with these phones. this is not windows, it's linux.
and i'm going to give LBE a shot. seems pretty legit.
for all of those running antivirus "software" on your phone, how many of you have actually run a virus scan and had it give a detailed description of a malicious "virus"....
Liking lookout
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
ummm, anyone ever heard of antiviruses (Kapersky, maybe?)? Or at least look up the app's access to things... If it accesses something you don't want it to access (or think the app doesn't need to access it), don't install it!
I know out-of-the-box Androids aren't so vunerable to viruses, compared to rooted ones... So...?
First look up the developer of the app, then if you trust him, install, if you never heard of him, google it (or look at the comments at where you're downloading from), and if you had experience with the developer before (and if the experience is bad, like trojans, etc.), don't install!
(I don't understand half of what I'm typing XD...Don't blame me for misspellings, please )
Cant say I can rave or not when it comes to the anti virus apps.
Have used Lookout in the past and currently using netquin.... neither of which ever flagged up a virus, malware or whatever.
Its nice to think its running in the background but dont know whether it will do anything if its needed.
I was tempted to download a load of apps in a zip file but 20 secs in my Avast siad there was a virus. I'd like to think the market would have its own precautions but having searched the site, cant see any mention of its security for the apps we download.
Its a different thing altogether but we cant take the fact that its the market and relax...... the worst virus my laptop ever had came in an update from Microsoft...... and another directly from google tools.
Kapersky for Android then? You can pick up free full non-trial versions on the web...
About the Market - yes, that's true. You'd expect them to check if apps are infected or at least leave a bot to do it...
Sorta lame...
The best security is the brain.akp just like brain.exe is on windows - best thing it's free, godgiven and everyone got a copy
Zeze21 said:
The best security is the brain.akp just like brain.exe is on windows - best thing it's free, godgiven and everyone got a copy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah but not everyone got the full version. A few of my friends got a corrupted exe and then this girl I know got the 30 day trial
not that good
Prawesome said:
It is always a good habit to check the permissions an app needs before installation.I personally think that a system should be implemented in android market where all apps are erquested to give informaation on "Why they need certain permissions?".Certain apps do that.
An antivirus program is also useful in my opinion.I use Lookout antivirus,as i find it simple to use and does not slow down my phone.I tried avg but it slowed down my phone terribly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have both Lookout and AVG, neither has stopped my phone from getting up to 10 junk downloads, you have won an ipad, iphone etc., a day, not sms or email, I have to have every form of external contact turned off, the moment I get wifi or mobile access it starts downloading spam.
If anyone knows of a way to stop it I would appreciate the feedback
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