Hi,
Can some one please suggest some antivirus software for O2 xda exec .
Thanks a lot in Advance
VJ
You don't need one. Nor for any other Pocket PC or smartphone - just be prudent about what you install or accept via IR or bluetooth and you'll be fine.
AVs waste resources and will probably never be called upon to protect your device from a threat. If such a threat does materialise, the AV will rely on regular updates to catch it - updating every week for years isn't worth the effort - backing up every week and restoring in case
is better because it needs to be done anyway and it protects against much more possibilities.
0-day viruses are a significant threat no AV has yet to adequately fend off and they are the most likely sort of threat a mobile device will face. Currently, there are free pocket AVs - but for how long?
Verdict: Snakeoil.
You don't really need it. PPC people are still not that popular to have viruses (if there is any). Rathre difficult to have one passing to another. If you really want, try this one (I think it is the only one)
google for "air scanner mobile"
all very good advice so far... however if you still want one try eTrust Antivirus which comes free with jasjar or go to:
http://www.clubimate.com/p-6792-etrusttrade-antivirus.aspx
there are others like Trendmicro Mobile Security 2.0, but you are all right. It is not necessary to install AV Software on PocketPCs right now.
thank you very much for all that usefull information
Has anyone else noticed that if they have both Co-Pilot, and the anti-virus application - Both supplied with my Ameo.... and soft reset, the phone will go in some strange loop.
Shows the T-Mobile screen, then the Microsoft Push Email, flashes the today screen for less than a second, back to T-Mobile screen... repeat.
Only way I've seen to get round it is safe mode the unit and uninstall the antivirus.
I know most will say why bother with antivirus... but for a sense of security I would prefer it, does anyone else have this problem? Anyone know of any better anti-virus software? Or a fix for this one?
Cheers
I agree with you that anti-virus software of a good practice. I'm also keen in looking for a good one.
However, I experience what you described when evaluating the spb tips and spb mobile shell. I had to do a safe mode reset too.
eaglesteve said:
I agree with you that anti-virus software of a good practice. I'm also keen in looking for a good one.
However, I experience what you described when evaluating the spb tips and spb mobile shell. I had to do a safe mode reset too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't tend to use SPB Tips, want to have Mobile Shell, had that on my Compact III and thought it was great, but heard people on here reporting incompatibility with Ameo regarding speaker issues so going to wait until the next release...
Or have you got it working well?
Regards
Anti-virus for PDA = 100% Marketing
That's what I think. I'm sorry.
Deleted Post
mahjong said:
Anti-virus for PDA = 100% Marketing
That's what I think. I'm sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can pick up a lot of virus' simply by surfin on the internet with the pop up etc, why can you not pick them up when viewing them on an alternate device?
You will soon have no choice but to add anti-virus to your list of essential applications for the phone. Trust me on this.
I have to agree. There was a time the PocketPC was safe, unless you download warez there was no chance of being infected. Even then it was rare.
Its seems that the success of HTC and the windows mobile phones puts them in the windows desktop attack bracket. Now there are so many, and they are all getting data connections its worth attacking them.
Sorry to say it, but while AV on ppc at the moment is dubious, it will soon be required.
I dont know why WM6 doesnt have DEP (data execution protection) etc like vista. They could make it much more secure but havent bothered.
btw, itxda, sounds like your making a threat there! lol. Your not writing a virus are you?
Consideration 1.
A virus need to be programmed for the machine and OS you need want to infect. Can someone tell me a reported case of a virus programmed for Windows Mobile? Please don't report what Symantec or Panda said about it... I mean a real case reported by some user. None.
Consideration 2.
Virus propagation. The way to propagate a virus is into excutable code (this means EXE files) or finding a way to introduce and executable code in a non-executable file, like a .zip file. Then you need to spread that infected code. How in a PDA? Exchanging files? A few exchange of EXE is done in PDA. Thru the network? Cmon... there is a few opportunities for a PDA virus to exist and a few to spread.
Consideration 3.
Don't get confused. Having PocketPC IE doesn't mean that you are on risk of the troyans or virus or even spyware that IE for Windows XP has. First of all because the code to be executed on a PC is not executable in a PPC and second that the target APIs and files in a PC are not in a PPC.
Consideration 4.
Please don't mention Bluetooth virus. The ones existing (if any) are for Symbian and even in Symbian world there are so many incompatible versions of symbian that a given virus has real troubles to spread in the network.
SO...
If I question the fact of someone coding virus for this particular machine and OS, and I question the regular ways of spreading virus, and I question the network and IE risks... What's left? The marketing interest of anti-virus makers.
All this applies to anti-virus programs for Apple Mac, Linux of all kind, symbian phones... and phones in general.
Motorola got a lot of market share in USA... doesn't someone ever in USA got a virus on a Motorola? Never ever. Same for PocketPC. Trust me.
Regards,
mahjong
mahjong said:
Consideration 1.
A virus need to be programmed for the machine and OS you need want to infect. Can someone tell me a reported case of a virus programmed for Windows Mobile? Please don't report what Symantec or Panda said about it... I mean a real case reported by some user. None.
Consideration 2.
Virus propagation. The way to propagate a virus is into excutable code (this means EXE files) or finding a way to introduce and executable code in a non-executable file, like a .zip file. Then you need to spread that infected code. How in a PDA? Exchanging files? A few exchange of EXE is done in PDA. Thru the network? Cmon... there is a few opportunities for a PDA virus to exist and a few to spread.
Consideration 3.
Don't get confused. Having PocketPC IE doesn't mean that you are on risk of the troyans or virus or even spyware that IE for Windows XP has. First of all because the code to be executed on a PC is not executable in a PPC and second that the target APIs and files in a PC are not in a PPC.
Consideration 4.
Please don't mention Bluetooth virus. The ones existing (if any) are for Symbian and even in Symbian world there are so many incompatible versions of symbian that a given virus has real troubles to spread in the network.
SO...
If I question the fact of someone coding virus for this particular machine and OS, and I question the regular ways of spreading virus, and I question the network and IE risks... What's left? The marketing interest of anti-virus makers.
All this applies to anti-virus programs for Apple Mac, Linux of all kind, symbian phones... and phones in general.
Motorola got a lot of market share in USA... doesn't someone ever in USA got a virus on a Motorola? Never ever. Same for PocketPC. Trust me.
Regards,
mahjong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your post, very imformative.
You've converted me,,, for now.
But at the end of the day, what I think sells the software is the fact that it gives the end-user peace of mind.
You can tell people that they don't need something, don't have to do something until you're blue in the face and with all the facts in the world. But there will still be a large number of people that will want it anyway, just for peace of mind...
Also.... can anyone tell me have they had the problems that I had on post #1 :-D ... I've hard reset and installed but still get the problem, without the antivirus installed....
I think it's now looking to be the fault of SPB software, has anyone discovered a fix?
The main purpose of AV software on PPC devices is to scan synched email; if you get email on your Athena, then plug into Outlook, it may (theoretically) pass a virus on.
You know we tend to do quite a bit of testing out new and interesting applications downloaded free. Could'nt a virus be disguised as a free applications and when we run the CAB, confidential info will just simply be extracted, or registry item be manipulated etc?
eaglesteve said:
You know we tend to do quite a bit of testing out new and interesting applications downloaded free. Could'nt a virus be disguised as a free applications and when we run the CAB, confidential info will just simply be extracted, or registry item be manipulated etc?
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Click to collapse
Now that's a well thought out statement and question.
As easy as it is to develop applications on the Windows Mobile platform, it's only a matter of time before we start seeing serious viruses and trojans. There are a few out there already but aren't wide spread yet. As on any system, if you open attachments via e-mail or download from the Internet, it's only going to be a matter of time. Time is coming soon. Trust me on this point. Not everyone will be hit but it'll make a mark.
What about writing a virus that can infect your phone, sms your info and GPS coordinates to someone? ;-)
Viruses aren't difficult at all to write. On any platform, Wintel/Linux/Mac/etc.
When one of the scriptkiddies determines that he's been bored all week because he's home for summer vacation and looks over at daddies cell phone....one of them will wonder..."how fast can I propogate a virus throughout cell phones".
Not an if it happens just a when. Let's just be patient and we'll be hearing about the first infections in no time at all.
Heck, someone on this forum could one day write something that infects everyone. You never know.
Hmmm I see what all of you meant but remember the key is "coding a virus for a given machine and OS"... If you don't code the virus that way will not affect the PDA.
Talking about virus I remember the slogan of the New York Mafia: "First we created the need of having protection... them we sell it". (just a joke don't flame... people).
ltxda said:
As easy as it is to develop applications on the Windows Mobile platform, it's only a matter of time before we start seeing serious viruses and trojans. There are a few out there already but aren't wide spread yet. As on any system, if you open attachments via e-mail or download from the Internet, it's only going to be a matter of time. Time is coming soon. Trust me on this point. Not everyone will be hit but it'll make a mark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People have been saying "it's coming soon" for years. It has always been easy to program for the Windows Mobile platform, but that hasn't changed the fact that it has now been seven (or five, depending on how you count) years without a virus on Windows Mobile.
Let's hope that people are smart enough to keep it that way. Virus programmers need to get their heads checked...
Moskus said:
People have been saying "it's coming soon" for years. It has always been easy to program for the Windows Mobile platform, but that hasn't changed the fact that it has now been seven (or five, depending on how you count) years without a virus on Windows Mobile.
Let's hope that people are smart enough to keep it that way. Virus programmers need to get their heads checked...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL, agreed.
Kids don't always think logically. We have all done stupid things in our youth. That tradition will never die.
I think this is a useful thread, but not sure it answered the original question, so can I re-state and add?
1. Is the included F-Secure a/v programme the best one for the job?
2. Is it worth-while paying to keep it updated?
Many thanks
Robert
So after seeing the post about the Lojack virus, I want to know: What Anti-virus program do you like best? Please try and site some specifics about the program (ie not a memory hog or is a memory hog or locks up the device...etc).
It probably sounds cheesy, but the best anti-virus for a phone should be the user. If you don't download from 3rd party sites and watch where you surf you should be fine.
Or you could habitually reflash/hard reset/format your device and never have to worry.
I think any anti-virus software for the ppc would be very bloated and suck up quite a bit of battery life... reminds me of trying to run Norton on my old 400mhz PIII.
You may want to try Airscanner though.
It seems the best solution would be if the PC virus scanners detected the CE viruses and perhaps scanned the phone on sync.So long as you dont download programs over the phones internet connection and instead upload them from the pc,you should be protected (at least untill they start exploiting security flaws to get you over the network. Unfortunately,this does not exist yet to my knowledge.
On the plus side,it does not seem to bad yet. I can just imagine a flaw where a malformed text message causes the phone to execute malicious code and install a virus. God I hope they don't add things like java and active-x to text messaging like they did with email.
Airscanner
David
OK. I have never owned or used a Winmo device, so prefer to take advice from actual users, rather than random google hits.
As we are getting so close to actually owning these hot devices (UK), I was just wondering anout web security, what with it being a Microshaft OS, and all.
I would be using the device quite a lot for Internet browsing, etc, so . . . .
Should i install antivirus software, and/or anti spyware software?
If so, what do other Winmo users recommend, Allbeit for other devices, and what would be available for X1 anyway?
Cheers for any help, people.
Stay happy, John
Hi,
Read the following article;
Title: "Mobile security: An ounce of prevention"
Link: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/totalaccess/columns/mobile-security.mspx
Links five antiviruses on that site. I also hear that McAfee also provides a mobile solution - if so, then i'm probably gonna try out that first. But am hoping that Xperia does come with it's own protection software...
Best Regards.
Is there really any point?
They're 500 viruses for ALL mobile OSs maximum...
And most of them arent that harmful at all, it'll be quite hard to get infected and not that hard to get rid of it...
Yeah, don't think the overhead is worth it. I don't leave my Bluetooth on and don't open attachments you don't expect...you should be fine
Cool... since this'll be my first WinMo device, i was wondering if i needed an antivirus or not. I figure not.
i realise this is quite an old post but i'm also a noob and was thinking the same thing. Another forum told me it was essential to buy a virus protector but here it seems not. Now the xperia is released and known...how important is it to get one? Thanks
put an antivirus on your pda si one of the most stupid things you can do
hehe i was thinking as much! some people in other forums are obviously a bit stupid then haha. thanks
Just scan all the files before you transfer them on the desktop if you're worried and only get "over the air" cab files from places you trust..
Attachments can be (and should be Imo) set to download manually in email settings on your device.
am a windows platform owner since 2001 and since then i have never used a security software and never been hit or attacked though i would call my self a heavy internet user since i use internet as a dataplan and through active sync and even back in those days i used to use it as dialup
Do you people have installed any antivirus on TD2...I could not find any thread on antivirus...As it is running windows, and phone generally remains connected to internet by wifi/3g/gprs, so i think we should have some antivirus installed on it.
What are your view....if you ppl use some antivirus, then suggest some good free antivirus, which do not make phone sluggish...
Its not running windows, it windows mobile. There are antivirus programs out there, but not so many actual viruses that affect windows mobile so generally no one uses them.
A few thoughts: WM phones don't have much spare processor or memory capacity, any extra program running in the background (especially an anti-virus program which has to do a lot of scanning) will slow it down.
There are very few good free anti-virus programs. By their nature, AV programs have to be updated regularly with the latest virus definitions, who's going to bother doing this for free?
Also, at least using wifi, you are protected to a degree by the routing mechanism (NATS) against random attacks. I don't know whether 3G or GPRS also offers this protection.
As a last resort, if you do get infected, a hard reset would solve the problem. You might be better investing in a good backup program in case you have to hard reset, which would also safeguard you from other software problems as well as a possible virus attack.
Bottom line: I wouldn't worry about it!
Thanks a lot for your valuable suggestions!!