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Common tips to protect your Android devices without an Antivirus app
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<blockquote data-quote="Ink" data-source="post: 1006461" data-attributes="member: 3"><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Originally a response to a comment made on <a href="https://malwaretips.com/threads/best-free-antivirus-for-android-or-no-antivirus.117273/" target="_blank">Battle - Best free antivirus for Android--or no antivirus?</a>, but thought it was best to create a new topic.</span></p><p></p><p>Android malware or adware can be either found pre-installed by your manufacturer [<a href="https://news.drweb.com/show/?i=10345&lng=en" target="_blank">1</a>][<a href="https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2021/04/pre-installed-auto-installer-threat-found-on-android-mobile-devices-in-germany" target="_blank">2</a>], whether intentional or not. Or other times it's the user's mistake for installing apps from unknown source to bypass some restrictions (ie. cracked apps).</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px">The Play Store, <a href="https://auroraoss.com/" target="_blank">Aurora</a>, <a href="https://f-droid.org/en/" target="_blank">F-Droid</a>, or <a href="https://www.apkmirror.com/faq/" target="_blank">APKMirror (site)</a> are generally considered safe places for Android app downloads.</span></p><p></p><p>It is important to address the following notes:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Android devices that no longer eligible for OS updates, or security patches will not be addressed.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Yes, it is known that <a href="https://www.androidpolice.com/play-store-malware-detection/" target="_blank">harmful apps can bypass Play Protect</a> and other safeguards</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Bots and paid actors can write fake reviews to hype up a new App with positive ratings</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Not all open-source apps will be used for the better, and not all proprietary apps are evil</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Some apps require obscure permissions to function the way are intended to.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What is the <a href="https://appdefensealliance.dev/" target="_blank">App Defense Alliance</a> and <a href="https://security.googleblog.com/2019/11/the-app-defense-alliance-bringing.html" target="_blank">why is it part of Play Protect</a>?</li> </ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px">How Android users can protect themselves:</span></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong>Read the app reviews</strong> (are they generic or unique?)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong>Check permissions</strong></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong>Research the developer</strong> (ie. <a href="https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/02/27/cheetah-mobile-apps-disappeared-play-store/" target="_blank">Google has removed almost all Cheetah Mobile apps from the Play Store</a>)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong>Block app Internet access</strong> (<a href="https://netguard.me/" target="_blank">NetGuard</a>, <a href="https://trackercontrol.org/" target="_blank">TrackerControl</a>, <a href="https://github.com/ukanth/afwall/wiki" target="_blank">AFWall+ (root)</a>, or through your VPN)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong>Keep <a href="https://developers.google.com/android/play-protect" target="_blank">Play Protect</a> enabled</strong></li> </ol><p>Switch to alternate free and open source apps with <a href="https://f-droid.org/en/" target="_blank"><strong>F-Droid</strong></a> and repeat steps 1-4.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Users can see <u>App permission</u> before tapping install. These are visible on both the app and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps" target="_blank">desktop site</a>.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]269766[/ATTACH]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ink, post: 1006461, member: 3"] [SIZE=3]Originally a response to a comment made on [URL='https://malwaretips.com/threads/best-free-antivirus-for-android-or-no-antivirus.117273/']Battle - Best free antivirus for Android--or no antivirus?[/URL], but thought it was best to create a new topic.[/SIZE] Android malware or adware can be either found pre-installed by your manufacturer [[URL='https://news.drweb.com/show/?i=10345&lng=en']1[/URL]][[URL='https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2021/04/pre-installed-auto-installer-threat-found-on-android-mobile-devices-in-germany']2[/URL]], whether intentional or not. Or other times it's the user's mistake for installing apps from unknown source to bypass some restrictions (ie. cracked apps). [SIZE=5]The Play Store, [URL='https://auroraoss.com/']Aurora[/URL], [URL='https://f-droid.org/en/']F-Droid[/URL], or [URL='https://www.apkmirror.com/faq/']APKMirror (site)[/URL] are generally considered safe places for Android app downloads.[/SIZE] It is important to address the following notes: [LIST] [*]Android devices that no longer eligible for OS updates, or security patches will not be addressed. [*]Yes, it is known that [URL='https://www.androidpolice.com/play-store-malware-detection/']harmful apps can bypass Play Protect[/URL] and other safeguards [*]Bots and paid actors can write fake reviews to hype up a new App with positive ratings [*]Not all open-source apps will be used for the better, and not all proprietary apps are evil [*]Some apps require obscure permissions to function the way are intended to. [*]What is the [URL='https://appdefensealliance.dev/']App Defense Alliance[/URL] and [URL='https://security.googleblog.com/2019/11/the-app-defense-alliance-bringing.html']why is it part of Play Protect[/URL]? [/LIST] [SIZE=5]How Android users can protect themselves:[/SIZE] [LIST=1] [*][B]Read the app reviews[/B] (are they generic or unique?) [*][B]Check permissions[/B] [*][B]Research the developer[/B] (ie. [URL='https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/02/27/cheetah-mobile-apps-disappeared-play-store/']Google has removed almost all Cheetah Mobile apps from the Play Store[/URL]) [*][B]Block app Internet access[/B] ([URL='https://netguard.me/']NetGuard[/URL], [URL='https://trackercontrol.org/']TrackerControl[/URL], [URL='https://github.com/ukanth/afwall/wiki']AFWall+ (root)[/URL], or through your VPN) [*][B]Keep [URL='https://developers.google.com/android/play-protect']Play Protect[/URL] enabled[/B] [/LIST] Switch to alternate free and open source apps with [URL='https://f-droid.org/en/'][B]F-Droid[/B][/URL] and repeat steps 1-4. Users can see [U]App permission[/U] before tapping install. These are visible on both the app and [URL='https://play.google.com/store/apps']desktop site[/URL]. [ATTACH type="full" alt="Screenshot 2022-10-04 at 17.15.21.png"]269766[/ATTACH] [/QUOTE]
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