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Some people say android phones can get viruses and some people say they can't. So anyone know? Should I get a anti virus?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I've never heard of a virus for android. If you want, lookout mobile is free and has AV, plus backup, plus the ability to locate your phone. I use it, but ONLY for the find my phone feature. I used to have it do AV, but I just didnt see the point. Your call.
http://www.appbrain.com/app/lookout-mobile-security/com.lookout
Just search google for:
Android trojan
You will have the reason you seek.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
^ REALLY?!?!
Because all you get is "FIRST sms trojan" from just a few months ago... and who clicks links in text messages from people they don't know? Common sense.
AV will contribute to battery drain without any real benefit.
My phone is backed up with
Titanium because I like a one click restore
App Control because I like to keep multiple versions of my stuff and reload on the fly
Nandroid because I flash my phone as often as I flash my wife
All of which have been backed up to my home Network and if I get hit well I'll just reload. To me the price of having my phone scan every file when it loads or when I add something isn't worth the realestate the app takes up in my phones memory.
Honestly people who spread the fear of Viruses are those that create virus's and market their software to rid them. Bad, Bad tactics and honesly they are no worse than a shady Used Care Salesman or a high pressure Time Share Salesman.
I'm not saying the OP is a Salesman, but those that preach it are.
What I can tell you is have fun updating all in market, it will slow your phone down to a crawl.
Don't blame me, blame my keyboard's autocorrection algorithm.
mikey7436 said:
Some people say android phones can get viruses and some people say they can't. So anyone know? Should I get a anti virus?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
short answer: no.
What I think is not the virus, but the apps keep sending data to somewhere
I use lookout but often question whether it really does anything besides giving you the ability to locate your phone if it gets stolen. Basically, don't click on messages from people you don't know, stay away from sites that your anti-virus on your home machine warns you about and don't install warez and you should be fine.
No need y'all, waist of space, money and time... If it ever happened hard reset our flash a rom lol...
Forget about it...
funeralthirst said:
short answer: no.
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Click to collapse
The CORRECT answer is yes, ot course it *can* get a virus, but it is very unlikely. Now, regarding the spyware - that's a very different discussion....
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Simple Easy Way To Make Sure You Don't Get Viruses..Don't Go To Porn... Lol Jk
But For Real Just Make Sure You Download Your Apps From The Market And You Should Have No Problem
dbacchus said:
The CORRECT answer is yes, ot course it *can* get a virus, but it is very unlikely. Now, regarding the spyware - that's a very different discussion....
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
lolololol. anything, including your car's ecu *can* get a virus. will it?
and spyware? come on. what, do you have some anti-spyware app you need to sell? lol..
At the company I work for, an email came out from our care group that I thought everyone might find interesting. When I first read it, I immediately thought of the MIUI ROM that I installed....
"A new virus infecting the android based phones has been detected in china.It is being said that this is by far the most complicated and sophisticated Android virus that the security firm has come across.This virus is being dubbed as ‘Gemini’ and it has the capability of being remotely operated by the hacker once it is in the phone.Though many viruses have been detected earlier in Android apps. but this the is most sophisticated among all of them.
The Botnet feature of the virus is the major concern.Once the malware is completely installed on the user’s phone, it has the potential to receive commands from a remote server that allows the hacker to access the user’s data and all personal stuff.Once the privacy of the user is compromised,the hacker can do anything he wish to do.
Lookout mobile security,who basically detected this virus said that Gemini uses advanced and sophisticated techniques to hide it’s track.They also said that that the virus is capable of sending location coordinates and device identifiers to the remote server, helping it to generate a list of all installed apps on the infected phone and to install more infected ones.
All the infected applications that have yet come up have been downloaded from a third party Chinese application market. “Geinimi is effectively being ‘grafted’ onto repackaged versions of legitimate applications, primarily games, and distributed in third-party Chinese Android app markets,” the company wrote in a blog post.On the other hand,the same applications that are downloaded from official Android application market are safe.
Although it is not very clear that what actually is the intent of the authors of Gemini.The chief technology officer for Lookout,Kevin mahaffy said that “It could be anything from a malicious advertising network to an attempt to create a botnet”.Botnet basically is a group of infected computers or phones that the attacker controls to compromise for data and identity theft and also it can be used to launch attack on other machines.
The application which are grafted with virus are mostly games and a few applications.Some among them are:
• Monkey Jump 2
• Sex Positions
• President vs. Aliens
• City Defense
• Baseball Superstars 2010.
Here’s how it works:
When a host application containing Geinimi is installed on a client’s phone, the Trojan gets activated in the background and collects information that can compromise a user’s privacy.Geinimi attempts to connect to a remote server using one of 10 embedded domain names. If it connects, Geinimi transmits collected information to the remote server."
here you go http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40857219/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/
Interesting read. I wonder: If the infected app is removed, does the virus get removed with it?
rugedraw said:
Interesting read. I wonder: If the infected app is removed, does the virus get removed with it?
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Click to collapse
that would make for a pretty ineffective trojan. I highly doubt it.
also, as per the msnbc article, the virus is named "Geinimi," not "Gemini." Although I guarantee everyone will call it gemini because it's so much easier, at least to an english speaker.
Old news.
cjh6386 said:
that would make for a pretty ineffective trojan. I highly doubt it.
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Click to collapse
It does get removed if you remove it from applications. The only way it wouldn't get removed is if the app were to root the device first, and then push the apk to the apps folder. but this one doesnt do that.
I'm honestly surprised there aren't more of them out there, it would be way to easy to do.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
cjh6386 said:
that would make for a pretty ineffective trojan. I highly doubt it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point......I'm just not sure how viruses affect our phones compared to how they affect Windows based PC's.
Last-Chance said:
Old news.
It does get removed if you remove it from applications. The only way it wouldn't get removed is if the app were to root the device first, and then push the apk to the apps folder. but this one doesnt do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even then, you would still be able to remove it manually from the apps folder, no? Providing the user has root access, of course.
This is bull****. Why can't they leave viruses for windows computers?
Sent From My HTC Evo 4G On The Now Network From Sprint Using Tapatalk Pro!
I guess it's becoming an issue with the carriers too since our Care department is now getting swamped with calls from people who either "think" they're phones are infected or read that MSNBC article.....
In any event, I have to admit that I didn't even give it a thought that I might get a virus on my phone. I actually even saw quite a few virus programs on the Market and just ignored them. I'll now have to revisit that option, especially since I'm installing ROMS from every source that posts them....
rugedraw said:
Good point......I'm just not sure how viruses affect our phones compared to how they affect Windows based PC's.
Even then, you would still be able to remove it manually from the apps folder, no? Providing the user has root access, of course.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
probably, but if the app is smart enough to root android devices, chances are its smart enough to hide itself. With root access it can pretty much do anything it wants, including hiding itself, as well as accessing other programs, and what not.
Would a nand restore get rid of it?
Sent from my HTC Supersonic
If it needs root access to do it's thing, wouldn't that trigger the superuser app? And if a game triggers the superuser app, and a person clicks on "Allow"...then...maybe they deserve to be infected.
From what I remember of reading about this virus, it only affected users in China who downloaded it from a third-party market application and not Google's Android Market.
Viruses in android doesn't make any sense to me at all. Since android is so different. As another poster stated, doing a nand is in essence like wiping the total system, correct?
Sent from the Evo 4G
dglowe343 said:
Would a nand restore get rid of it?
Sent from my HTC Supersonic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in essence yes. But a person smart enough to code a virus that roots devices is probably smart enough to backdoor nand restore points as well.
Holyrolla said:
If it needs root access to do it's thing, wouldn't that trigger the superuser app? And if a game triggers the superuser app, and a person clicks on "Allow"...then...maybe they deserve to be infected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The chinese one doesn't need root. I was just saying that if it had root it would be a lot harder to remove. And the app is binded to other programs, so the person will probably not even know that the legit one doesnt require superuser.
mbaseball3 said:
Viruses in android doesn't make any sense to me at all. Since android is so different. As another poster stated, doing a nand is in essence like wiping the total system, correct?
Sent from the Evo 4G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why doesn't it? Millions of dollars are stolen each year by criminals that infect phones in order to dial out premium numbers.
Last-Chance said:
in essence yes. But a person smart enough to code a virus that roots devices is probably smart enough to backdoor nand restore points as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fear monger much?
EDIT: for those curious he's just drumming up nonsense to see if he can get you in a frenzy ... that or has has NO CLUE what he's talking about.
Even if someone was stupid enough to "Accept default permissions" and not question why your video game that you downloaded from a third party marketplace with "allow unknown sources to be installed" flag set needs to look at your phone calls and personal contacts ... there would still be a popup by superuser the moment it tried to do something that required root.
It's a perfect storm trojan: no more a risk to your phone than a phishing site is to your identity: that is a huge problem if you're an idiot.
Justin.G11 said:
fear monger much?
EDIT: for those curious he's just drumming up nonsense to see if he can get you in a frenzy ... that or has has NO CLUE what he's talking about.
Even if someone was stupid enough to "Accept default permissions" and not question why your video game that you downloaded from a third party marketplace with "allow unknown sources to be installed" flag set needs to look at your phone calls and personal contacts ... there would still be a popup by superuser the moment it tried to do something that required root.
It's a perfect storm trojan: no more a risk to your phone than a phishing site is to your identity: that is a huge problem if you're an idiot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea bro, cause you know what you are talking about. How about you actually look up **** before talking.
1. A 3rd party app can simply ask for 1 permission, then root the phone and gain wide variety of permissions. When i say root, i dont mean the same way as you see here. It will gain permissions beyond what normal apps do. It wont ask for superuser permissions. It will only ask for 1 permission on install
2. Did you know that there is a Buffer overflow available on all phones that are running 2.1 of android? Did you also know that there is a buffer overflow for all androids that are running the latest webkit on 2.2? apparently not. fyi, a buffer overflow in a browser can represent a huge risk, meaning visiting a website that is infected will in return infect you. A buffer overflow will also not ask for any permissions and load a malicious application straight to your phone.
Next time when you talk to someone as if they were a kid, make sure that person doesn't happen to have a CS degree, and 8+ years of experience in computer security. Now gtfo.
those chinese have a strange sense of humor, I bet it started as a prank by some drunk college students to see if they could do something small that would make americans even more paranoid
NewZJ said:
those chinese have a strange sense of humor, I bet it started as a prank by some drunk college students to see if they could do something small that would make americans even more paranoid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you call being charged 100s of dollars on your bill because some virus made phone calls to premium rate numbers a joke, then yes they are very funny.
US federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into suspected privacy lapses in the “apps” that run on Apple and Google smartphones, according to the maker of one of the most popular mobile applications.
more...
sounds interesting but I don't want to register to read the article..
Athrun88 said:
sounds interesting but I don't want to register to read the article..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't have to register to read it. Sorry about that.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/federal-prosecutors-investigating-pandora-other-smartphone-apps/
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703806304576242923804770968.html?mod=e2tw
EdKeys said:
I didn't have to register to read it. Sorry about that.
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Click to collapse
Np! Just saying. I did find it on engadget later that day. This will be interesting for the mobile phone industry for sure.
Sent from my Virtuous Desire Z 1.0.1 using XDA App
While I hate to see Pandora be the target of this, it's still a good thing. On ANY PC the uncontrolled and sometimes (on phones) unknown transmission of personal and location data would be outrageous and flagged immediately as a virus by any AV program. I understand that they need to make revenue from these free apps somehow but at what cost? Not to mention most paid apps still transmit data.
Why not provide a way of killing the data transmission? You have that option on almost every program on a PC, why not here? Or maybe give the option of ads or data transmission. The modern smart phone isn't just a toy for a lot of people anymore, it's their life and also a necessity because it holds every bit of information about them.
Google also needs clear cut explanations in the market of what exactly an app accesses with the given permissions. So an app needs access to my sdcard.... why? What's it doing that requires this access? Something like that. The current setup is too generic; Phone... okay, what the hell does that even mean? It just needs to be more informative or they need to change the permission structure so there are more specific permissions so 'Phone' doesn't give access to 20 different things.
http://www.crn.com/240000735/printablearticle.htm
What software do you have to protect yourself/information?
Alias8818 said:
http://www.crn.com/240000735/printablearticle.htm
What software do you have to protect yourself/information?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before I open any app I open manifests.xml and change permissions. lol
Anything else We can do?
IMO, If you get anything like this. You deserve it! Almost just like on a PC. If your not smart enough to check your stuff before you put it on your phone, then stick to buying your apps. Don't open and launch things from emails you don't know about. Your not smart enough to know what sites are bad and how to control what your clicking through. By all means hurry and pirate an anti... app too please. Then I can charge you to fix it. XXX only make me money.
Did I miss anything? lol
Love,
Your loving IT Pro
Oh yeah I forgot. LBE security guard. Amazing root permissions app. It allows you to revoke certain apps permissions. Like if you don't want angry birds access to your data and wifi you can do that. An added plus is with that you dont get any more stupid adds.
Sent From My Sprint Galaxy Nexus via XDA Premium
Avast! Is pretty awesome, mostly anti-virus protection.........the malware stuff is a totally different kinda animal, would be great to see a good solid app.........gonna try Uber's recommendation.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
I use a combo of several apps
Superuser (with PIN) for SU rights
AdFree - to block most ads
Droid Wall - to totally block data & WiFI on an app by app basis
LBE Privacy Guard - to remove specific permission from apps that require data access
One of the easiest thing to do, is only get apps from trusted sources, which will drastically cut down on risks
Finally, think twice about installing an app with a low number of downloads.
DCRocks said:
I use a combo of several apps
Superuser (with PIN) for SU rights
AdFree - to block most ads
Droid Wall - to totally block data & WiFI on an app by app basis
LBE Privacy Guard - to remove specific permission from apps that require data access
One of the easiest thing to do, is only get apps from trusted sources, which will drastically cut down on risks
Finally, think twice about installing an app with a low number of downloads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do you have LBE and Droid wall. You do know LBE has that function too right? Internet Firewall....
Sent From My Sprint Galaxy Nexus via XDA Premium
ÜBER™ said:
Oh yeah I forgot. LBE security guard. Amazing root permissions app. It allows you to revoke certain apps permissions. Like if you don't want angry birds access to your data and wifi you can do that. An added plus is with that you dont get any more stupid adds.
Sent From My Sprint Galaxy Nexus via XDA Premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree 100% with this. The UI is super simple, and you can see how much data each app is using. It opened my eyes the first few times I used it as there were apps using data that had no real reason to. It didn't make sense to me.
As UBER mentioned, you can also disable GPS for apps like Angry Birds Space. I love how when you install a new app, a notification shows up up top reminding you to set permissions for that app.
Very basic, easy to use, and most importantly, powerful.
Thread Cleaned
And reopened
FNM
MALWARE Reply
So many people have Android devices now that it ruins it for everyone. That is what makes it a popular platform for that kind of stuff. Nobody ever released malware for Windows Mobile.
- 2 Bunny
kainppc6700 said:
So many people have Android devices now that it ruins it for everyone. That is what makes it a popular platform for that kind of stuff. Nobody ever released malware for Windows Mobile.
- 2 Bunny
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see the issue I download everywhere and even sites I know aren't protected yet I have no malware or problems.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Alias8818 said:
What software do you have to protect yourself/information?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My brain
VIRUS Reply
XxLostSoulxX said:
I don't see the issue I download everywhere and even sites I know aren't protected yet I have no malware or problems.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. What kind of places do you actually have to go to to get a virus?
- 2B
kainppc6700 said:
Same here. What kind of places do you actually have to go to to get a virus?
- 2B
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most likely, any Russian or Chinese market for cracked apps, as most of the infected apps come from these two regions.
Also, any hacker board for cracked apps has a higher than average chance of having an infected app
SECURITY ON MOBILE Reply
DCRocks said:
Most likely, any Russian or Chinese market for cracked apps, as most of the infected apps come from these two regions.
Also, any hacker board for cracked apps has a higher than average chance of having an infected app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't live in Russia or China, so I can't say I've ever been to one of these "cracked markets".
Could you provide an example of a "hacker board for cracked apps"?
- 2B
Used to use lookout, but I flash my phone so often I haven't downloaded it in a while.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA
Can someone suggest best antivirus for ICS?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
None. Antivirus software for Android = a scam to make the antivirus vendors money.
Just read reviews for apps before installing them from the Market. Malware is usually pretty obvious.
Norton,avast,dr.web they were tested by some big world company wich test antiviruses so type at google best android's antivirus
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Entropy512 said:
None. Antivirus software for Android = a scam to make the antivirus vendors money.
Just read reviews for apps before installing them from the Market. Malware is usually pretty obvious.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really true. If you are tech savvy enough to be sure you don't have anything with malware then best of luck to you. You are well respected on this forum so I'm sure you'll be fine.
I'm technically minded and a software programmer by trade but I couldn't be sure that any app on the market is safe without fully reverse engineering it (which I'm not eating my time attempting) and even then some sneaky developer could push something dodgy out in an update so I'd have to check them too.
Also checking apps doesn't protect you from dodgy messages, emails, etc.
So, I have AVG on all my Android devices just in case. It uses very little resources and has caught a couple of suspect things over the last 6 months since I moved to 'Droid!
I am using Kaspersky Mobile Security. Very System friendly.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note using XDA Premium App
I am taking the small risk of a data leak over a performance loss, so I am currently not running one, having said that I do run it on my pc :-/
emuX said:
.
I'm technically minded and a software programmer by trade but I couldn't be sure that any app on the market is safe without fully reverse engineering it (which I'm not eating my time attempting) and even then some sneaky developer could push something dodgy out in an update so I'd have to check them too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not about needing to reverse engineer code!
It's more about paying attention to the permissions that the app requests when you go to install it and deciding if they are appropriate.
For example, an app that just makes farting noises almost certainly doesn't need access to your contacts, and services that cost you money.
Some people think that an Android antivirus program will protect them against such threats, and they will if the application has been "blacklisted". However, most of these programs rely on blacklists, so until a particular application is flagged as malware, you are still at risk!
The moral of the story is, nothing beats eternal vigilance!
Regards,
Dave
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
emuX said:
Not really true. If you are tech savvy enough to be sure you don't have anything with malware then best of luck to you. You are well respected on this forum so I'm sure you'll be fine.
I'm technically minded and a software programmer by trade but I couldn't be sure that any app on the market is safe without fully reverse engineering it (which I'm not eating my time attempting) and even then some sneaky developer could push something dodgy out in an update so I'd have to check them too.
Also checking apps doesn't protect you from dodgy messages, emails, etc.
So, I have AVG on all my Android devices just in case. It uses very little resources and has caught a couple of suspect things over the last 6 months since I moved to 'Droid!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And neither will these 'antivirus' software help if a developer slips something in, the truth is the best thing you can do it check comments malware is far less a problem on android then Windows, these companys simply try to sell you this software as so many people are used to needing it on windows they think android is the same.
All the apps do is detect known 'black listed' apps which are either not going to be on the market or have bad comments already.
While the main reason for these apps is pointless I will say some of the extra features are quite useful including device tracking etc.
However I would never buy one of these apps for sure
Avast Free s the best, enough said.
John
Tinderbox (UK) said:
Avast Free s the best, enough said.
John
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep
The additional 'Theft Aware' software, is free as well
emuX said:
Not really true. If you are tech savvy enough to be sure you don't have anything with malware then best of luck to you. You are well respected on this forum so I'm sure you'll be fine.
I'm technically minded and a software programmer by trade but I couldn't be sure that any app on the market is safe without fully reverse engineering it (which I'm not eating my time attempting) and even then some sneaky developer could push something dodgy out in an update so I'd have to check them too.
Also checking apps doesn't protect you from dodgy messages, emails, etc.
So, I have AVG on all my Android devices just in case. It uses very little resources and has caught a couple of suspect things over the last 6 months since I moved to 'Droid!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You my friend, are to paranoid.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
lamou1nr said:
You my friend, are to paranoid.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Better that than having all my account details hacked because some dodgy app is snooping.
Responding to the others who replied to me...
If you choose a reputable AV company like AVG or Norton you should be safe.
And, you can't tell much from the permissions. Yes, if the app asks for access to your contacts and phone identity then you could just not install it, but what if it was an alternative dialer that was ad supported? - then it would need internet access and permissions to read your phone details (like Go Dialer) and then you are stuffed.
I've got a door at the front of my house. Even though I live in a good area and have neighbours around most of the day, I still lock it!
foxmeister said:
It's not about needing to reverse engineer code!
It's more about paying attention to the permissions that the app requests when you go to install it and deciding if they are appropriate.
For example, an app that just makes farting noises almost certainly doesn't need access to your contacts, and services that cost you money.
Some people think that an Android antivirus program will protect them against such threats, and they will if the application has been "blacklisted". However, most of these programs rely on blacklists, so until a particular application is flagged as malware, you are still at risk!
The moral of the story is, nothing beats eternal vigilance!
Regards,
Dave
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
emuX said:
I've got a door at the front of my house. Even though I live in a good area and have neighbours around most of the day, I still lock it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To use your analogy, your "antivirus" app is like a bouncer on your front door. If a known threat pitches up and wants to come in, the bouncer will stop them, but for new and unknown threats, he'll happily wave them through.
Given that reputable app stores like Google Play or Amazon are quick to remove known threats, all you've done is bought yourself a false sense of security! Good luck with that!
Regards,
Dave
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
I was just asking about this kind of thing just the other day.
Here is what I found (http://www.av-test.org/en/tests/android/)
The Best stuff at the moment seems to be
avast! Free Mobile Security
F-Secure Mobile Security
Kaspersky Mobile Security (Lite)
. . . .McAfee Mobile Security >_> (Apparently...)
and
Zoner AntiVirus Free
I'm using COMODO on Android (good antivirus, real time scaner and great anti theft options) and on PC i'm using COMODO Internet Security (antivirus+firewall+sandbox). It's free both on Android and PC.
Avast
Avast...without doubt.Run it on my PC too.
I'm using LBE to adjust/monitor permissions for apps. I don't think antivirus programs will do you any good.
Avast is the best in my opinion. Even though its a really good AV and its also free I still dont use one. Don't need one on my mobile.
Even on Windows I never get viruses.
Most malware and viruses come in with dodgy emails and dodgy websites. Avoid those and you'll be fine.
I just use Avast even though I like it more for the Anti-theft feature than the actual anti-virus feature.