Just wondering, has anyone made a virus that targets android devices?
im asking this because the userbase of android devices is large and growing, so for a hacker it would be profitable for him to target android phones instead of ones with other operating systems. this is even more worrying since phones can contain more personal info than a computer, like the numbers of people you know.
If there are viruses out there, what can we do to protect out android devices
Well not sure abt virus but nowadays malware is increasing popular.. instalng anti virus is wat i do
Sent from my GT-S5670
There is a lot of malware for android, so as MajinSaiyan4 i use an antivirus (you can find lots of them in the Market/Play).
But the most important is looking the permissions of the apps that you are installing, they will tell you what the app can do on your phone!
Use an antivirus program, try Avast! antivirus its free on the market and you could also scan your SD card with it
Related
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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Click to collapse
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.
hi every one I need to ask a question is there any need of anti virus for my phone?
Be honest please.
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
if you download pirated apps without any filtering thoughts such as
hey that looks fishy
you DO need antivirus. however, if u are a legit user
no need. It is a waste of resources and battery. and it barely works.
Ok even if android is based on linux kernel can anti virus run in android?
Please elaborate the concept of virus attacking in android I'd really appreciate it.
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
I personally don't use an antivirus, but I try not to install fishy apps, only reviewed apps downloaded from sites that I trust.
YES! Of course it is needed! How else would anti-virus companies survive? If you have any compassion for the engineers working at anti-virus companies, you'll buy the most expensive and bloated anti-virus program you can find.
Instead of worrying about viruses, worry about the the legit programs you download from the Market. Examples of legit programs that steal your info and sell it for marketing: http://www.fastcompany.com/1692088/...personal-data-to-ad-firms-says-taintdroid-app
Install this to test out your apps: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.xeudoxus.privacy.inspector
Just a waste of space recources and battery.
If you afraid about personal data leaking, then you should be more concerned about various "legit" apps that floating around market and the internet and send your private info to God knows where.
If you afraid about viruses that can damage your phone then...if you think about it, by flashing scripts, roms, kernels, OC etc all the time then the possibilities are to harm your phone easier this way
Dont bother about AVs
anti virus sucks, stating that openvpn setting is malicious, ive never got a news about someone suffered of having virus on android os
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA Premium App
The android system is pretty secure considering that it runs linux (windows viruses will not work). The only viable risk is if your phone is rooted, which grants access to most of your phones resources. If you are smart with the apps that you download, it's no biggie. The android browser is pretty secure itself too, with little vulnerabilities, so the only big risks are from downloaded applications (that you installed willingly).
Some antivirus used in the desktop will detect android threats. So you can use them to scan any suspicious files on your pc before copying them to the phone (however, the best protection should be to not put anything in your phone that you don't really trust). I use F-secure antivirus on my pc and it warned me about z4root when I downloaded it to my pc since it could be a potential threat, since it actually roots the phone
Hi Guys,
What is your opinion, do you think that today's android operating smart phones are so vulnerable to the visus threat as for exemple our PCs so that we should all run a dedicated program in order to cope with that?
I don't use any. If you don't download any pirated apps from untrusted, you should be safe, however no guarantee, install it if you need it for a peace of mind.
I use LBE Privacy Guard, so everytime I install an app, I can see what it accesses and block it accordingly. For example, many games want direct access to calls, sending sms, which I block with LBE. As far as protection, I think this is probably the safest bet for android.
Maybe scanning apps you install could be a good start , but I don't think having an antivirus running all the times is really benefic ,attacks on such devices are possible but rare compared to computer's one ( related to the fact using 3G network )
As most of users here, I again say, it is really unnecessary to run Antivirus unless you install new apps or anything.
LBE on other hand is good start for checking what apps can do.
I would say not yet but keep an eye on the future .
jje
Hi guys, I'm wondering if our Desktop antivirus could detect malwares on apk files?
For example I decided to download the apk using my desktop and scan it first using the antivirus of my desktop before installing it to my Android phone?
Would this work or the antivirus companies have different database for desktop and mobile devices for the list of Malwares, etc?
Thanks
I am not so sure about that, I don`t think so... you can install AV on yours mobile phone, or watch for permissions when you install application on phone....
it couldnt. because a virus is coded in a different way for windows and linux , so the database differs too.
although there is not much virus/malware for android(as per people usage reports here), you can always install anti virus apps like avast on your mobile to ensure security.
Thanks for the reply guys.
One more question, does the antivirus (Avast) not eating too much resources (like background processing) that could make our Galaxy S3 decrease its performance?
And also aside from Avast, what other antivirus for Android do you recommend that has good performance in our smart phone?
Thanks
I installed avast and its great. Thanks again
Guys......I was going through the information regarding sandbox, which allows all the applications to run in an isolated form......but says due to sandbox technique no anti-virus app can do deep down system safety....which is the very purpose for any anti-virus software.....
So....do we need Anti-Virus at all.....if so what and all it can safeguard......
If my question seems silly....please ignore....
It depends on your usage my friend...
If you download so many apps from so many websites than yes..
And if you are a limited user and not a app freak than not...
2)if you use mobile banking and other financial work on your mobile than you must have a strong anti virus...
Otherwise not
Its up to your privacy your choice
we all should be polite enough to press thanks for anyone who helped US.
What is the best antivirus for android?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
This question has been asked many times before and a search would have found thread after thread about it, but anyway.
Personally no I see no point in anti-virus software, its more of a money making idea for all those windows users who fear that viruses will get them everywhere.
All a anti virus app does is check its database of known bad apps to see if the apps you install are on it. This means if a new 'bad' app is on the market and you install it before the anti virus has it added to the database it cant do anything anyway!
So instead just make sure you read the comments on any app you install to make sure its not a fake etc, and check the apps permissions before you install and think "does this app need this permission?" if you think the answer is a no dont install it and maybe ask the dev why its there.
There are some features that some anti virus apps have like anti theft measures (report tracking etc) which are useful but there are plenty of standalone apps that do these sort of things anyway.
SO the TL;DR
NO anti virus apps are pointless and battery sucking just read comments and check permissions of apps
I thought in line with you....
Am not going to use antivirus for my android.....
Right now...I have my blue screen in my android (spice mi 425) after successfully rooting....but mishandled it....cant recover it....taken service centers help after using "fresh stock rom recovery" .....the method I used is from the link ....http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1742545
waiting for the result....
dude....can you help me by suggesting some links or some sort of that......as I am interested in learning about android and programming in it.....am a Visual Basic programmer...have learnt Java....
Thanks in advance....:fingers-crossed: