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
Moved to proper section
Hi guys, I just bought a Note 2. The only reason I bought it because on iphone I wasn't able to hide my apps without jailbreaking. I was really looking forward to some on android market that would allow me to hide certain apps and password lock them along with password locking settings options. Yet I have not been able to find any. I have a few apps that I want to hide from my family and friends.
I would rather not root my phone as I am not that technically advanced! If there was such an app I am happy to pay even high money for it! Come on guys you are the best in the development world and I am sure you can help me.
Try This,
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...xLDEsImNvbS5wYW50cy5hbmRyb2lkLmFwcGhpZGVyMiJd
toastmost said:
Hi guys, I just bought a Note 2. The only reason I bought it because on iphone I wasn't able to hide my apps without jailbreaking. I was really looking forward to some on android market that would allow me to hide certain apps and password lock them along with password locking settings options. Yet I have not been able to find any. I have a few apps that I want to hide from my family and friends.
I would rather not root my phone as I am not that technically advanced! If there was such an app I am happy to pay even high money for it! Come on guys you are the best in the development world and I am sure you can help me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may give HI App Lock a try
You may give HI App Lock a try
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2287214
Hi there, welcome to Android world!
Search "application lock" or "application hide" on play store, and judge the good ones by the feature list and rating.
My personal favorite had been app locker ii which throws a fake crash error and hides an unlock screen behind it which can be accessed by secret methods. Whatever app you use, make sure you lock down your settings, otherwise someone will just uninstall or clear the data of the app and the protection will be gone
Sorry if the question has already been asked and or answered but I have been looking and maybe I just don't know what to search for.
I have Verizons Samsung S3
SCH-I535
Android: 4.1.2
I am looking for an app (paid or free) I can install on my device that has the ability to track via gps, and either turn on or off the microphone with the ability to take pictures via camera OR use the video camera (with sound of course)
Thank You for any responses
Try any one of the popular security apps currently out...such as... Lookout, Avast, Norton, NQ, AVG, not sure but MAYBE McAfee, Avira, Webroot, B-Secure Tracker, QuickHeal Mobile Security, Vipre, TrackMyDroid, GPS Tracking Pro, GRIP Security, CMC, Symantec, 12Track..... Again that is just a FEW of whats available lol....and so ya know EVERY SINGLE one of these tracking/security apps can be found in the Google Play Store... I hope that this helped ya put in someway bubba...take care
Thanks
I went with mspy.com pro plan. will let you know how it works
iKeyMonitor is worth trying
iKeyMonitor is a great invisible spy app for Android. It offers free version for testing. I suggest you have a try!:victory:
I need a download link.
Hello everyone, it seems that there certain applications such as Samsung's very on Internet browser and a few others that I am interested in obliterating doesn't seem to allow me disable them.
Did I miss out on a specific security/developer settings that has caused this to happened or it this something else like a carrier-lock "feature"?
Really annoyed seeing those useless application clogging up in my launcher!
Any advice would be very much appreciated. And non-root solutions please. I'm hoping to stay un-rooted for the first time in my android device history all for the hype of Samsung Pay!
But if that disappoints, I'm rooting this sweet piece of cake IMMEDIATELY.
Thanks in advance everyone.
Not every app is able to be disabled. You can't disable the stock browser, stock messages app, stock email app, and I'm sure there are more.
Hi,
I used to surf around xda-devs since its early beginnings, but This is my first interaction with this great community, and I am sorry 'cause it is a question.
So, I'm really wondering if there's any dialer or contact list App which don't steal users data .. I really hate it when I find a top rated Apps that requests almost every single permission available on the SDK, it's really disgusting. :banghead:
Even if there's such dialers that would ask for bunch of permissions, if you really know that it's from a clean company and it wont steal information from you, that would be helpful. :thumbup:
# Why I'm thinking of such a Dialer?
Because I was using android for years now, and I figured out that I don't really needs other apps to know my contacts and read my call history, I literally get no benefits from that, So I think if I used a 3rd party Contact list, apps like Facebook will be no longer able to fetch phone numbers out of my Android, by talking about Facebook it was very mean when I learned that they still going to copy your phone book to their cloud even if you consciously touched the 'Skip' button :banghead:
# Otherwise:
How can I prevent such apps from taking my contact list without rooting the device, (you know you try to control your privacy by rooting that device but what are you actually doing is giving access to many apps to many secret places).
Thanks in advance
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app