My phone is a Samsung Galaxy Europa and going through the apps market saw a few anti virus's.
Are they really necessary for phones?

I've tried a couple but always ended uninstalling ...... I'm guessing it depends whether you are likely to download the more dubious types of apps that might contain viruses

I slung the AVG app on my Europa - Don't know if it is any good or really needed but it makes me feel better

No. End of.

The thing to be wary of is malware - and that is normally covered by market-related common sense.Make sure apps have a high download count coupled to a high rating. Most of the "anti virus" apps just look for the actions of these rougue apps.

Android by its nature is resilient to the actions of what we would recognise as a virus, what it cannot protect against is apps that you have allowed onto it. Always check the permissions.

You don't need one.

However, I use Lookout Mobile Security. It scans apps for malware, but this is secondary to it's main features: contacts, photos and calls are backed up to a secure server, if you loose your phone you can locate it online and if you can't recover your phone you can pay a fee and initiate a remote wipe of your data.

By and large we dont need one but with the ability to side load android apps from non authorised app markets have lead to reports of malware in the wild. I also use Lookout for the reasons above.

It doesn't really matter whether you side load from other markets or buy from Google's Android Market, malware will slip through, because of the open nature of the market.

It just requires people to be sensible and responsible about what they install on their phones.

I have NQ security on my phone and its very good. I just got it for peace of mind although like most have said you dont really need one but i would rather be better safe than sorry as you never know when browsing the net on your phone what could get in.

Are anti-virus software any good for an Android phone. I dont download that many apps but do use internet on my phone now and again and at times apps like Facebook, Pure Lounge, Last FM and Google Maps. Also use the Weather on my HTC. Sometimes i use via wi-fi but not always.

Darren

It is highly unlikely that you will get anything "naughty" from anywhere but an app. You shouldn't have any risks simply surfing the net.

APPS asking for too many permissions are best avoided.
No matter what system you use there will always be rogue APPS.

I imagine it was far far safer when we all just used the web. APPS add extra danger for very little consumer return.

I use the avg one for peace of mind, I'm not really sure it is necessary as I've never found anything dodgy with it.

It's not necessary and it won’t find anything dodgy. Just look at the permissions a app is asking for and don’t sideload torrented apps from dodgy websites. And if you see an app with a low star rating check out why – others may have spotted something.

I have AVG on my phone. It always highlights a text from my bank as a possible threat. Not sure why as its just a balance text they send.

If I were u I would defo protect myself from Malaware and viruses on Android run phones. Like I keep saying Android is a cheap and nasty OS that is only popular because its open source and free. If u want real protection when browsing, get an iphone and use Apples fab IOS !

Off topic, completely unhelpful and full of fan-boy drivel... the holy trinity. Congratulations!!!

When an APP is submitted to other markets do you really think they will say 'this is what we declare but this is what we secretly activate at a later date"?

Some of the other Android markets have a review process whereby they test the app extensively on different handsets. The Amazon Appstore in the US does that for instance. One would hope that if they're going to that level of trouble, that they'd pick up an app asking for seemingly unnecessary permissions.

Lolz, what utter rubbish.

Biggest load of nonsensical bollocks on this forum. You can keep saying it til you are blue in the face, but only the ghost of Steve Jobs will believe you. Quite a feat.

As an iOS fan i even laughed at this. No need.

It matters little. There will be loads of dormant APPS that validly have/need permissions sitting there trojan like waiting for a hidden trigger.

The open nature should make it much easier to discover the malware. On IOS Apple will no doubt prioritise keeping their users ignorant.

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