Anti virus?

[Claymore1989]

Hey, probably a noob question, but this is my first Android and tablet. Is there an anti virus on this as standard or do I need to install one?

Thanks,

Clay

Sent from my A500 using Android Tablet Forum

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[jdub922]

Antivirus is not included with the A500. There are several available for free in the market and there is some debate as well as to weather they are even necessary. Personally, I installed AVG just to be safe.

[Claymore1989]

Thanks, I probably do avg anyway.


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[Spider]

There are free anti-malware apps available on the markets if you feel you need one. I'm using Lookout on mine with no apparent performance issues.
https://market.android.com/details?i...S5sb29rb3V0Il0.
Amazon.com: Lookout Mobile Security: Appstore for Android

[jbenham]

I use AVG too, just in case. Have had no issues with it and it doesn't seem to slow it down any.

Sent from my Sony Tablet S using Android Tablet Forum

[Icebike]

There are no viruses for Android.
You do not need an anti-virus.

Lookout is a nice package because it can find your tablet when you lose it.

Other than that, there has never been even one published/documented case of any of these antivirus programs ever detecting a virus or even common
malware when you install crapp-apps from untrustworthy sources, let alone when you install from the market.

Gauntlet Thrown:
Until or unless your favorite Antivirus program actually catches a unknown virus please stop posting FUD about AVG and others. If you need your
security blanket to sleep at night that's YOUR paranoia. Please stop propagating the MYTH of viruses in Android.

» Why Android Anti-Virus Apps Fail Mobile Privacy & Security

[jdub922]

In the spirit of adventure and stupidity, I downloaded a .apk from the most questionable source I could find. As soon as I touched the install option in my file manager app, AVG provided me with a handy alert that the .apk in question was infected. Be it a "virus" or "malware" I am not sure. Regardless of what it was, I believe I will keep an anti-virus running on my tab.



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[Spider]

I believe I will keep an anti-virus running on my tab.

That's the first warning I've seen from AVG, I guess the sites I go to just aren't nasty enough to get it excited.

[Icebike]

Lame. You went looking for a bad file and managed to find one.
I rather suspect you already knew it was infected ahead of time, probably by Googleing the web.

You didn't get this from the market, you had to Download it from the web, and you had to Check the box that said Allow Untrusted sources.
And you STILL haven't found a virus. In fact, it was only malware, not a virus, and it would not affect the Acer.

Further: Google had removed that app and 57 others like it from the market back in MARCH 2011, and remotely removed it from devices
that had installed it.

An Update on Android Market Security - Official Google Mobile Blog
Google confirms it pulled malicious Android apps | Security - CNET News
Android Tutorials: May 2011

And guess what: It didn't even affect your unit. According to Google:

The applications took advantage of known vulnerabilities which don’t affect Android versions 2.2.2 or higher

Furthermore AVG and Lookout failed to recognize this malware, and stop it ahead of time: Quote Lookout:

The problem was reported to Lookout by a developer who found that modified versions of his app and another developer's app were being distributed in the Android Market. Lookout confirmed that malicious code was inserted into the apps and identified markers that linked the code with DroidDream samples.

Until a developer spotted it, Lookout and the other AV programs were totally clueless.

If you simply leave "Unknown Sources" Unchecked in the settings, you have all the malware and antivirus protection you need.

[jdub922]

Wow Icebike, my intention was not to cause you grief. Firstly, yes I used a Google search to find .apk files and no I was not aware that the app was infected at the time of download. In fact, another of the apps I found is still installed and working quite well.

In response to the rest of your thought out and well written rebuttal to my screen shot, I completely agree that as long as a user obtains apps from only trusted sources that there is absolutely no danger of acquiring viruses or malware. You have obviously done considerable research on this topic and I value you as a respected and knowledgable member of this forum.

I for one have no intention of unchecking the Trusted Sources box and I will continue to download apps from wherever I can find them. You say that whatever was infecting that .apk was harmless, that it has already been discovered, retracted or deactivated. So be it. Consider this, if that one was able to slip through the market and required Google to do an OTA deactivation then when will the next one slip through?

Android is an ever growing operating system with more users every day. It is my opinion that with each new user the temptation for programmers and hackers grows as well. When a virus or piece of malware is discovered and blocked by PC antivirus software, the developers don't stop and say oh well. They see a challenge and step up with a new nastier version.

You choose to not run antivirus apps and that is perfectly acceptable. I choose to have the personal piece of mind that comes with running it.

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