Is an antivirus really needed on Android?

[Ink]

Any OS can get malware, don't forget that.

 

[WalterWolf]

Any OS can get malware, don't forget that.

I use android since Xperia X8(still have it) came out,never got virus on phone or on my tablet(Tab 3 T-211).

 

[Ink]

You said, Android is Linux so therefore no AV is needed. That is clearly wrong. While you can use an OS without an AV, that doesn't mean it's not vulnerable.

 

[Mateotis]

If you're keeping yourself within apps of Google Play, you should be fairly good without any protection. While it does have a few baddies, I still consider it safe.

 

[WalterWolf]

You said, Android is Linux so therefore no AV is needed. That is clearly wrong. While you can use an OS without an AV, that doesn't mean it's not vulnerable.

True,but i never got infected on android,my friend too who is downloading cracked apps and all those things.Possibility to get infected on android is like 2%.

 

[Overkill]

I use cm security and love it, very light with great detection

 

[Ink]

Antivirus on Android is almost useless.
1. http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/201...ef-dont-bother-with-anti-virus-is-he-serious/
2. http://www.securityweek.com/new-android-malware-targets-banking-apps-phone-information-fireeye

 

[Nikos751]

I personally use only known apps from Google Play, so no need for a resource hog for now. Maybe later it will be a must, but there are indications that this may not happen.

 

[Koroke San]

Antivirus on Android is almost useless.

Your statement is wrong.

 

[ZeroDay]

As long as you're careful, no, there's no need.

 

[Ink]

@Koroke San Did you read the 2 URLs, and could you explain why it's wrong? Good to hear your opinion.

 

[Moose]

http://blog.malwarebytes.org/mobile...-koler-trojan-or-other-ransomware-on-android/

To keep your devices protected from Cryptolocker, SimplLocker, and other ransomware, make sure to also install avast! Free Mobile Security & Antivirus from the Google Play store.It can detect and remove the malware before it is deployed.





http://blog.kaspersky.com/new-ransomware-for-android/

Can you think what would happen with-out security software?

 

[FleischmannTV]

As long as it doesn't come as a drive-by installation, I am not really worried. Your example: the person intentionally tried to infect his system with a file he knew to be malicious. Great justification for the necessity of real-time protection.

 

[Koroke San]

@Koroke San Did you read the 2 URLs, and could you explain why it's wrong? Good to hear your opinion.

U post 2 URl, i can post 20 URS in which it's recommended to use AV for android. I don't believe in anyone or in their talk untill i don't find it useful for me. I'm talking about real life experience not some PDF experience. mostly peoples say use common sense & download files from safe site like google play store & the fact is some of applications in google play store are infected with malware & some of them are bundled with PUP/Adware which are still unknown. You even don't know ur own that the application u r reading great & nice reviews & getting high rate is actually infected with backdoor/keylogger or trojan or infected with PUP & some common sense people will careless there since they already believe that google play store is safe site 100% & they recommended others to download from safe site like google play store. for example i downloaded some old trusted appreciations from google play store & few of them are bundled with PUP. how can you/me know that the application is infected with pup? it's not like desktop where u can avoid pup via manually unticking crapware during installation, there is no option in android version, simply download & install & u done, invited a PUP or adware in ur clean android. yes ur safe habbit will save u from almost viruses but it's hard to tell which are PUP infected apps. ESET like AV who is good at detecting PUP alerts me that the application i installed is infected with PUP, which helps me. second thing, some peoples who say i didn't have any AV & didn't get infected from XX yrs like they r clapping from themselves for a great achievement, every user habit is different from others. some users for example Mr X who use less surfing ( specially who only surf know sites daily routine), install less application & don't share anything will get less infections compare to others, some are there for example Mr Y who customize his android with various application, habit of collections of android apps , surf most of time( specially some luv to discover new sites, watch porn, online games ect) , habit of sharing via bluetooth, connect his android on other unknown computers/infected one ( like on office, friends even his own), download free applications, download crack applications/games, use insecure wifi,blind trust on his closet friends/unknown person, share his android to his roommate or others,do online banking/shopping <<-- and these peoples get infected much then compare to Mr X .. so wut i want to say it's depend on user habit & u can't change other habits if they don't want to. and some AV companies already discovered new stealth malware/backdoor specially on Chinese one, having AV will protect these users also have some good features like anti-theft, sms/call filter, anti-phishing ( useful for whom who do surf most & do online/shopping banking a lot specially for noobs who don't know wut links they r clicking ), u can get this on freeware AV, no need to pay. some will say AV are resource hog so they don't use it, in such case it's true & in some case it's not, maybe there android r too old for a AV, there battery are getting old & get discharge quickly, there battery capacity is low, there android specification is low or they downloaded a memory consuming AV or some other APP are draining there android & the blame AV.There r some "average users" who will say they use common sense & will tell don't download any keygen,crack & patch & some will leave some comment like 'don't download this torrent, my AV tells it it's a virus" coz they don't aware wut is false positive,but trust me brah i'm a torrent user from many yrs , i did online banking/shopping, didn't get any of my account hack or didn't get infected beside some scenario in which i was totally aware of torrent world, i can tell better which crack/patch & keygen is infected with malware 99/9% then a common sense person. i'm not here actually talking about crack or patch, wut i'm telling that it's not "almost" useless for android wut u r thinking, maybe u don't need coz u don't want but maybe some others want.