App Review Do you need antivirus on your phone?

[CyberPanther]

Content source

https://youtu.be/OIo9aVcrnN8

Hello MT members,

I would like to share with you a video about using antivirus on your phone.

 

[Harputlu]

my phone is poco x3 pro. when I got the phone, avast scanner was installed and not deleted . i think it's very unnecessary

 

[Dave Russo]

After watching video I have decided to reinstall Kaspersky only regret is it really does drain my battery way faster

 

[Zero Knowledge]

In an ideal world If you keep Android updated with security patches and browse with common sense, don't click on links or answer spam calls and download reputable apps from the Play store then no you don't need anti-virus. Android is pretty good with security these days; updates are regular now and exploit companies pay more for Android exploits than Apple these days which says something.

There are so many 'what ifs' and 'maybes' in mobile security it's hard to judge. AV is still good for stopping the low hanging fruit but for more advanced exploits/malware/target attacks they are always hard to stop no matter what device or operating system.

 

[vtqhtr413]

This question, reasonably keeps coming up, my Samsung phone came with Knox security built in and try as I have to remove it, only by rooting my phone can it be accomplished which I won't do. I read an article here at MT''s recently explaining that you really don't need an AV due to Googles built in security but be damned if I could find it so I'll post the last post of a good thread I did find on the subject.

Advice Request - Do we really need AV on Android?

Nobody was born as an IT expert. Everyone, no one excluded, went from the user's basic stage, to then move on to the next level, then experts. If any user is stuck at the basic or medium level, worse for them. This too is part of evolution. Darwin had already studied the phenomenon ...

malwaretips.com

 

[upnorth]

It is a complex topic not just because of many different views, and I will be honest here with Leo's video. I watched it, and also liked it because he felt much less all over the place. More calm/adult and less giggle. He's in most parts correct with his assessments in this video, but also forgot mention a huge problem specific many females have on their phones and not just adults. Stalkingware.

That's a very serious problem that ain't automatic solved by any AV or the phones built-in protection no matter what OS. Many times the victim knows/suspect there's something wrong, but is too scared to even ask for help. We had genuine cases on this forum.

GData has a compressive guide on it with some good advice.

Coalition Against Stalkerware: Organizations working against domestic violence join forces with IT Security companies

Today, ten organizations – Avira, Electronic Frontier Foundation, European Network for the Work with Perpetrators of Domestic Violence, G DATA Cyber Defense, Kaspersky, Malwarebytes, National Network to End Domestic Violence, NortonLifeLock, Operation Safe Escape and WEISSER RING – have launched...

www.gdata-software.com

Coalition Against Stalkerware (EN)

stopstalkerware.org

 

[SpiderWeb]

I found it to be overwhelmgly unecessary on a modern iPhone. The OS is so extremely locked down, every app sandboxed and signed, no permission to download from outside the app store which gets vetted. I'm more worried about all the fake antiviruses and free VPNs in the app store that steal your data ironically.

 

[Shadowra]

I don't use it because on iPhone there is none but my mother uses Kaspersky for Android that I installed for her.

The use of an AV on mobile, certainly it depends on the person....sauf that on Google Play, it can have malware too (we remember Joker, Triada or Xhelper ...)
They are certainly removed, but are present before the removal by Google.

There is also the installation of apk that can also be dangerous. Whether it is a modified Mod (a paid app or an application that makes changes to Whatsapp), we are not safe from having a Trojan Banker on Android ...

 

[CyberDevil]

Frankly, I have about 10 apps installed from the outside, I think you know what I mean, so I have two antivirus (Eset and Malwarebytes), also VirusTotal and Jotti's malware scan for manual apk checking, but if not that, I'm not sure I need antivirus for phone

I have about some apps that I use a lot, those are social networking, office apps and messengers, I'm completely confident in those safity

The other thing is that I have a program that blocks calls and sms from spammers and scammers, this is very relevant for Israel, where I am now, and also just necessary for a true introvert who feel pain the extra time to answer the phone.

 

[Moonhorse]

Using AVG internet security on every family device, low costs (1,5 eur / year/ 10 users)

Personally i dont need such antivirus apps, but nowadays phones can handle battery problems very well and there is more benefits than downsides with using the antivirus for me, so i dont see reason to not use it

 

[Zero Knowledge]

I will add one more thing. I'm not so worried about sketchy apps or criminal malware infesting my device. To be honest I would worry more about the level of access Google and Apple and any other device manufacturer have into your mobile. They can just ship an update without any warning with little to no documentation or zero information about what's been fixed and what's been updated related to security.

 

[anirbandutta01]

ESET Security for Android is also good I think ....

 

[Antimalware18]

I've voted yes just to be on the safe side, and I've tried multiple AV's on my smart phones and i've never had a single issue with infections. But I also don't install many apps even
from the web store.

 

[piquiteco]

I voted yes, I use Bitdefender Mobile Security on 3 devices, but as @Shadowra and many members mentioned, I believe if you only install apps from the store, and even then only the necessary ones, I think it is unlikely to infect your device, also taking into consideration that everyone uses their phone for financial transactions like internet banking.

 

[Sammo]

I would recommend to at least use a vpn at all times and to turn off wifi in public in most places. Check this video:

 

[piquiteco]

@Sammo Thanks! for the recommendation, I have VPN installed on my device, we forget the WIFI on when we leave the house.

 

[simmerskool]

I found it to be overwhelmgly unecessary on a modern iPhone. The OS is so extremely locked down, every app sandboxed and signed, no permission to download from outside the app store which gets vetted. I'm more worried about all the fake antiviruses and free VPNs in the app store that steal your data ironically.

Agree. I have apple mac mini running macOS, and had reason to talk to higher level apple tech once upon a time, and apple only suggests Malwarebytes on macOS, and moving on-topic to iphone iOS, Malwarebytes says: "Due to security restrictions on iOS, it is not possible for any app to scan the system or other apps for malware. Apps are not allowed those kinds of permissions, and for that reason, antivirus software on iOS is not possible." So what is meant by scanning for Pegasus? Apparently, you create a backup of iOS and maybe you can scan the backup, but even then at most you get a hint of a suspicion that there might be malware (or something like that). Various iOS security apps may have a feature you like, but do not provide protection like you think of it on Windows.

https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039022853-Scanning-for-malware-on-iOS-devices

 

[Dex4Sure]

No, you don't. Even on Android you don't really unless you sideload bunch of shady apps which you shouldn't do anyway... And on iOS you certainly don't need it.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

I would recommend to at least use a vpn at all times and to turn off wifi in public in most places. Check this video:

Amateur hour security videos by people no one cares about with zero credibility with click bait titles to drive viewers.

Turning off may defeat Google/Apple tracking your connection to Wi-Fi networks but does little for security and really disables a much-needed service.

 

[Sandbox Breaker]

Mobile Threat Defense is required for enterprise. Now let me clarify...

Mobile devices can be remotely hacked or rooted.

Pegasus and other mobile malware can be installed as a kernel module or other app.

Man in the middle attacks from stingrays and rouge AP's.


There are only a handful of solutions that can identify or prevent these high scale attacks.

So mobile Threat Defense is required for some. At least you'll know that your phone has been popped then ditch the device.