Antivirus Program for Vox

dee_can · 01-19-2012, 08:36 AM

Which antivirus program do most of you use for your Vox? Is AVG sufficient, or is there another program more recommended? Thanks.

mr_nobody · 01-19-2012, 08:51 AM

I think Lookout is the most popular but to be honest, I don't use one on my vox. If you do your due diligence and only download popular apps from reputable sources (another reason why setting up market is a good idea), I'm not convinced there is much to worry about.

[edit]: I always cringe when I see the advice to "google for an apk". I bet this is the most likely source of android malware, popular apks that have been injected with malicious code.

oldyellr · 01-19-2012, 09:54 AM

Seriously, how common are viruses for Android compared to the PC, or even Mac? What's the likelihood of getting a virus?

mr_nobody · 01-19-2012, 10:02 AM

Certainly less common than pc (no idea about mac) but there have been numerous articles in the media lately that android is increasingly being targeted by criminals:

http://news.cnet.com/1770-5_3-0.html...earchtype=news

dee_can · 01-19-2012, 12:31 PM

This is my first experience with an android device, so I wasn't sure whether I needed an antivirus. I've only downloaded a few apps just yesterday from the goodereader link that was posted a few days ago on this forum. One of them being AVG for android, but I haven't installed it because I wasn't sure if I need it or not.

I won't download from googled links, or from somewhere I'm not sure about, though. Thanks.

dee_can · 01-19-2012, 02:55 PM

Hmm, no sooner did I reply and my antivirus program on my computer notified me of a malware threat and put it in my virus vault. This was while I was browsing the internet. I also went to empty the virus vault, and saw that there was a virus, too, that was sent to the vv on Jan 13. So... couldn't this happen while browsing the internet with the Vox? Or is android different somehow?

edit - btw, the malware wasn't picked up on this site - thought I should mention that.

oldyellr · 01-19-2012, 03:23 PM

A virus has to be written for the operating system being used. Viruses for Microsoft have been around for 30-odd years at least. The people who create them compete with each other for maximum impact, so less popular operating systems have had fewer attacks. Used to be that Mac was exempt because it wasn't very popular, but that has changed. Now that the hordes have embraced smartphones, I have no doubt that the malware writers will eventually focus on Android. Once I see reports of attacks, I'll look for protection. I'm guessing the method of attack might be free apps that sound too good to be true, or free versions of apps you would expect to pay for.

BWinmill · 01-19-2012, 04:39 PM

Looking at the permissions is a valuable clue as to how safe an application is. For example, a calculator or sudoku game that requires full internet access should raise some red flags. (I was shocked at how many sudoku games required full internet access and reading the phone's state/identity.)

dee_can · 01-19-2012, 05:15 PM

I understand now - thank you both for the explanations.

bitterbug · 02-06-2012, 10:59 AM

From what I understand on the phone permissions, apps or games that look for phone state allow calls to come in or go out without issue. Whereas those that do not fail to handle it gracefully.
But I read that on the internet

So what do I know

01-19-2012, 08:36 AM	#1
dee_can Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canada Device: kobo original, kobo touch, kobo vox, ipod touch	Antivirus Program for Vox Which antivirus program do most of you use for your Vox? Is AVG sufficient, or is there another program more recommended? Thanks.

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01-19-2012, 08:51 AM	#2
mr_nobody Evangelist Posts: 440 Karma: 26671 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kobo mini, nexus 7 (2012), kobo vox	I think Lookout is the most popular but to be honest, I don't use one on my vox. If you do your due diligence and only download popular apps from reputable sources (another reason why setting up market is a good idea), I'm not convinced there is much to worry about. [edit]: I always cringe when I see the advice to "google for an apk". I bet this is the most likely source of android malware, popular apks that have been injected with malicious code.

01-19-2012, 09:54 AM	#3
oldyellr Evangelist Posts: 484 Karma: 26106 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Amazon Fire 7	Seriously, how common are viruses for Android compared to the PC, or even Mac? What's the likelihood of getting a virus?

01-19-2012, 10:02 AM	#4
mr_nobody Evangelist Posts: 440 Karma: 26671 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kobo mini, nexus 7 (2012), kobo vox	Certainly less common than pc (no idea about mac) but there have been numerous articles in the media lately that android is increasingly being targeted by criminals: http://news.cnet.com/1770-5_3-0.html...earchtype=news

01-19-2012, 12:31 PM	#5
dee_can Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canada Device: kobo original, kobo touch, kobo vox, ipod touch	This is my first experience with an android device, so I wasn't sure whether I needed an antivirus. I've only downloaded a few apps just yesterday from the goodereader link that was posted a few days ago on this forum. One of them being AVG for android, but I haven't installed it because I wasn't sure if I need it or not. I won't download from googled links, or from somewhere I'm not sure about, though. Thanks.

01-19-2012, 02:55 PM	#6
dee_can Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canada Device: kobo original, kobo touch, kobo vox, ipod touch	Hmm, no sooner did I reply and my antivirus program on my computer notified me of a malware threat and put it in my virus vault. This was while I was browsing the internet. I also went to empty the virus vault, and saw that there was a virus, too, that was sent to the vv on Jan 13. So... couldn't this happen while browsing the internet with the Vox? Or is android different somehow? edit - btw, the malware wasn't picked up on this site - thought I should mention that.

01-19-2012, 03:23 PM	#7
oldyellr Evangelist Posts: 484 Karma: 26106 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Amazon Fire 7	A virus has to be written for the operating system being used. Viruses for Microsoft have been around for 30-odd years at least. The people who create them compete with each other for maximum impact, so less popular operating systems have had fewer attacks. Used to be that Mac was exempt because it wasn't very popular, but that has changed. Now that the hordes have embraced smartphones, I have no doubt that the malware writers will eventually focus on Android. Once I see reports of attacks, I'll look for protection. I'm guessing the method of attack might be free apps that sound too good to be true, or free versions of apps you would expect to pay for.

01-19-2012, 04:39 PM	#8
BWinmill Nameless Being	Looking at the permissions is a valuable clue as to how safe an application is. For example, a calculator or sudoku game that requires full internet access should raise some red flags. (I was shocked at how many sudoku games required full internet access and reading the phone's state/identity.)

01-19-2012, 05:15 PM	#9
dee_can Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canada Device: kobo original, kobo touch, kobo vox, ipod touch	I understand now - thank you both for the explanations.

02-06-2012, 10:59 AM	#10
bitterbug Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Sony PRS-600 / Kobo Vox	From what I understand on the phone permissions, apps or games that look for phone state allow calls to come in or go out without issue. Whereas those that do not fail to handle it gracefully. But I read that on the internet So what do I know

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