Clueless Newbie with Security Questions

hilaryfrompa · 01-23-2012, 01:34 PM

I feel even more stoopit than I did before posting the question about Really Really Understanding my PE. I think Tekknogenius was who kindly reminded me that now that the Edge company is defunct, the devices are for hackers. This raised some security questions: for starters, are any apps (market or otherwise) safe to use if they require access to your network, input of secure information, etc? It's fine if the answer is Yes; I just won't use the PE for email and or Skype (if I ever manage to get it running). It's a reader; I bought it for reading. But if there are safe(r) applications to run than others, I'd not only appreciate knowing which they are (vininc suggested Thumb Keyboard, so maybe someone can explain why that's safer to use as a keyboard); I'd also appreciate knowing generally why some apps are safer to use than others.

Thanks!

Yivi · 01-23-2012, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hilaryfrompa

... the Edge company is defunct, the devices are for hackers.

The Android platform is similar to Linux. It is an extremely secure operating system and it is not prone to virus trouble. However, there are plenty of other risks when installing new apps. Every app or game you install will ask for certain permissions and because of the way Android works you get to see a list of exactly what the app is asking for. Think about what the app does and whether it really needs all the permissions it is asking for. Is there something there that seems unnecessary? Make sure you read the full list and consider it before accepting.

btw. use the Android Market and you will be on the bright side of life.

//Yivi

ivanjt · 01-23-2012, 03:50 PM

Hilary, stop and think for a moment.

The word hacker originally meant 'one who delves into the inner workings of a computer' which is the way it is used by most - all - of us here on the forum. The media have tried to change the meaning into 'one that uses what little knowledge they have to steal information from computers' - those are the ones you should be careful about because they try and build malware to steal things like banking details and so on.

The very fact our edges are not phones and tend not to run the latest apps protects us from most of the malware for android out there.

One thing I should have said earlier when you started asking questions was to tell you to do a google search for 'android 2.2.1 users guide' and download the PDF version - all 300+ pages of it - and start reading. It gives a very good general background to the operating system we have - you can skip the phone specific parts. It was the manual that I used to get a general idea of how android worked when I got my EE. It will most probably answer several of your questions and may raise a few more.

When I get back home tonight I will look up the version of CoolReader that I use to open ePub, PDF, txt, rtf, doc and html on the tablet screen and give you instructions for where and what to get.

hilaryfrompa · 01-23-2012, 06:30 PM

Yivi--In regard to Android being immune from viruses, well, to quote a dead late-night talk show host: "I did not know that!" I have to read the PDF Ivanjt suggests, because I don't know how to grant permissions or if you can pick-and-choose which permissions you'll grant...while still being able to use a particular app. I am learning so much just being Nag of the Month here

but will stop at the stroke of midnight January 31.

Ivanjt--Thank you for the search tip. You're right about misconstruing the verb "hack." Similarly, I didn't know that the apps not being the latest (for our Edges) and our devices not being phones would tend to offer protection. Nevertheless, I am sticking with geography quizzes on Ilike2learn until I read the information you suggested. Just having an Edge is so cool that I don't care how long it takes me to learn Android.

MasterTec · 01-23-2012, 07:53 PM

It's not that android is immune to viruses, it's just that there isn't much reason for people to develop one. There just isn't much to be gained (yet) by infecting droid devices.

If you get infected.. you just revert it and go on with your merry way! It just almost never happens...

ivanjt · 01-24-2012, 08:32 AM

Hilary, here is the information on the CoolReader version I use. Go to http://sourceforge.net/projects/cren...r3/cr3-3.0.45/ then select cr3.0.45-11.apk and download it - I download to my PC. Use ES File Explorer to see it, when you have found it a long press should bring up the install dialog, install it and it will appear with all your other apps. You can then copy it to you home screen for convenience.

So far it has displayed everything I've asked of it.

To comment on why not being able to use the latest apps is good security for us. The script kiddies are not interested in using old things, they only thing about the latest and greatest so they are not going to even try and mess with older apps.

hilaryfrompa · 01-25-2012, 07:02 AM

Thanks again, Master Tec and Ivanjt. Someone suggested Moon + Reader and FBreader (sp?). I'm looking for an app that reads aloud in foreign languages. And also records in high-def.

(No, seriously, I am looking for foreign read-aloud capabilities.)

Oh, also-- Is it because android devices store merely, like, pictures of your true love (or dog) and your favorite headbanger Mp3s that viruses aren't usual/likely?

01-23-2012, 01:34 PM	#1
hilaryfrompa Member Retired Posts: 76 Karma: 759 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Entourage Pocket Edge	Clueless Newbie with Security Questions I feel even more stoopit than I did before posting the question about Really Really Understanding my PE. I think Tekknogenius was who kindly reminded me that now that the Edge company is defunct, the devices are for hackers. This raised some security questions: for starters, are any apps (market or otherwise) safe to use if they require access to your network, input of secure information, etc? It's fine if the answer is Yes; I just won't use the PE for email and or Skype (if I ever manage to get it running). It's a reader; I bought it for reading. But if there are safe(r) applications to run than others, I'd not only appreciate knowing which they are (vininc suggested Thumb Keyboard, so maybe someone can explain why that's safer to use as a keyboard); I'd also appreciate knowing generally why some apps are safer to use than others. Thanks!

01-24-2012, 08:32 AM	#6
ivanjt Guru Posts: 858 Karma: 1027478 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South of France Device: kindle dx; eDGe	Hilary, here is the information on the CoolReader version I use. Go to http://sourceforge.net/projects/cren...r3/cr3-3.0.45/ then select cr3.0.45-11.apk and download it - I download to my PC. Use ES File Explorer to see it, when you have found it a long press should bring up the install dialog, install it and it will appear with all your other apps. You can then copy it to you home screen for convenience. So far it has displayed everything I've asked of it. To comment on why not being able to use the latest apps is good security for us. The script kiddies are not interested in using old things, they only thing about the latest and greatest so they are not going to even try and mess with older apps. Last edited by ivanjt; 01-24-2012 at 08:37 AM. Reason: added last paragraph

01-25-2012, 07:02 AM	#7
hilaryfrompa Member Retired Posts: 76 Karma: 759 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Entourage Pocket Edge	Thanks again, Master Tec and Ivanjt. Someone suggested Moon + Reader and FBreader (sp?). I'm looking for an app that reads aloud in foreign languages. And also records in high-def. (No, seriously, I am looking for foreign read-aloud capabilities.) Oh, also-- Is it because android devices store merely, like, pictures of your true love (or dog) and your favorite headbanger Mp3s that viruses aren't usual/likely? Last edited by hilaryfrompa; 01-25-2012 at 07:13 AM.

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01-23-2012, 03:50 PM	#3
ivanjt Guru Posts: 858 Karma: 1027478 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South of France Device: kindle dx; eDGe	Hilary, stop and think for a moment. The word hacker originally meant 'one who delves into the inner workings of a computer' which is the way it is used by most - all - of us here on the forum. The media have tried to change the meaning into 'one that uses what little knowledge they have to steal information from computers' - those are the ones you should be careful about because they try and build malware to steal things like banking details and so on. The very fact our edges are not phones and tend not to run the latest apps protects us from most of the malware for android out there. One thing I should have said earlier when you started asking questions was to tell you to do a google search for 'android 2.2.1 users guide' and download the PDF version - all 300+ pages of it - and start reading. It gives a very good general background to the operating system we have - you can skip the phone specific parts. It was the manual that I used to get a general idea of how android worked when I got my EE. It will most probably answer several of your questions and may raise a few more. When I get back home tonight I will look up the version of CoolReader that I use to open ePub, PDF, txt, rtf, doc and html on the tablet screen and give you instructions for where and what to get.

01-23-2012, 06:30 PM	#4
hilaryfrompa Member Retired Posts: 76 Karma: 759 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Entourage Pocket Edge	Yivi--In regard to Android being immune from viruses, well, to quote a dead late-night talk show host: "I did not know that!" I have to read the PDF Ivanjt suggests, because I don't know how to grant permissions or if you can pick-and-choose which permissions you'll grant...while still being able to use a particular app. I am learning so much just being Nag of the Month here but will stop at the stroke of midnight January 31. Ivanjt--Thank you for the search tip. You're right about misconstruing the verb "hack." Similarly, I didn't know that the apps not being the latest (for our Edges) and our devices not being phones would tend to offer protection. Nevertheless, I am sticking with geography quizzes on Ilike2learn until I read the information you suggested. Just having an Edge is so cool that I don't care how long it takes me to learn Android.

01-23-2012, 07:53 PM	#5
MasterTec Connoisseur Posts: 98 Karma: 14416 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: enTourage eDGe Pocket	It's not that android is immune to viruses, it's just that there isn't much reason for people to develop one. There just isn't much to be gained (yet) by infecting droid devices. If you get infected.. you just revert it and go on with your merry way! It just almost never happens...

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