Can anyone advise on antivirus software for smart phones?

Simon Rodgers · 28-12-2013, 00:33

Hello, can anyone advise of what is the best antivirus software to use on a smart phone? I can see a few free apps for this but are they any good?

Which would you advise? Free or non free?

I've just plugged my phone into my PC, copied the files across and virus scanned them with the up-to-date Nortons antivirus, but was this any good? I know this will not offer any real time protection but would it have helped at all? No issues were found.

Any information you can give will be very much appreciated.

niceguy1966 · 28-12-2013, 07:52

If you only install apps from Google Play, you would be incredibly unlucky to get a virus. I don't know anyone that has ever had a problem with a virus on their android phone.

Anti virus apps are a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

Thine Wonk · 28-12-2013, 07:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Rodgers

Hello, can anyone advise of what is the best antivirus software to use on a smart phone? I can see a few free apps for this but are they any good?

Which would you advise? Free or non free?

I've just plugged my phone into my PC, copied the files across and virus scanned them with the up-to-date Nortons antivirus, but was this any good? I know this will not offer any real time protection but would it have helped at all? No issues were found.

Any information you can give will be very much appreciated.

Windows desktop AV is not going to detect phone apps, really what you're talking about is app reputation and removal or blocking of bad apps. If you get your apps from app stores and read the reviews and check the permissions then there's no point. I would be cautious of band new apps and let them settle in for a bit before you download a app which is new to the store, unless it comes from a well known source.

kidspud · 28-12-2013, 08:23

I would have to agree that virus checkers seem unnecessary. Samsung give away AVC for free on their App Store, so I assume that has a reasonable reputation.

qasdfdsaq · 28-12-2013, 08:32

Antivirus apps can't really do much on a phone without rooting it anyway, and even then what you really want is a permissions manager.

Exploits aside, apps can only do what they're given permission to by you via the OS anyway.

DevonBloke · 28-12-2013, 21:02

Er.... iOS.

jabbamk1 · 28-12-2013, 21:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevonBloke

Er.... iOS.

Surely Windows Phone OS is the best anti virus against downloading dodgy apps.... ya know.... because Windows Phone doesn't have any apps you can download in the first place!

Simon Rodgers · 28-12-2013, 22:10

Thanks for all your advice. However if you are surfing the net, isn't there a risk of a virus or malware from that, just like there is on a normal PC?

You may have your apps but what about temporary files while surfing?

Simon Rodgers · 28-12-2013, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by kidspud

I would have to agree that virus checkers seem unnecessary. Samsung give away AVC for free on their App Store, so I assume that has a reasonable reputation.

My phone is the Sony Xperia. Does that make any difference?

I've heard of AVG is that the one you are talking about?

Mark in Essex · 28-12-2013, 23:28

I use to have Karpasky on my S3.

I got it fee from Barclays as I use their online banking and I guessed if Barclays recommend it then it must be a decent one.

Like others say though if you only download apps from Google and check the permissions and ratings then I guess there is not going to be a problem.

qasdfdsaq · 28-12-2013, 23:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Rodgers

Thanks for all your advice. However if you are surfing the net, isn't there a risk of a virus or malware from that, just like there is on a normal PC?

You may have your apps but what about temporary files while surfing?

No.

Mobile browsers and operating systems have a completely different security model to that of desktop/PC operating systems.

For one, you can't install apps from or through the browser on Android unless you explicitly enable this option in the advanced settings.

Second, there are no temp files. All data is stored in the app's internal cache.

The risk from malware is minute, and usually results from browser exploits that are specific to one device/version.

TheBigM · 28-12-2013, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevonBloke

Er.... iOS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabbamk1

Surely Windows Phone OS is the best anti virus against downloading dodgy apps.... ya know.... because Windows Phone doesn't have any apps you can download in the first place!

All jokes aside, most of what I have read shows Windows Phone as being safer/fewer malware issues than iOS.

Our corporate network blocked an iPhone last week after it detected the phone as having some malware on it.

qasdfdsaq · 29-12-2013, 00:37

Unsurprising, given that malware has always been more prevalent on more popular operating systems

Simon Rodgers · 29-12-2013, 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

No.

Mobile browsers and operating systems have a completely different security model to that of desktop/PC operating systems.

For one, you can't install apps from or through the browser on Android unless you explicitly enable this option in the advanced settings.

Second, there are no temp files. All data is stored in the app's internal cache.

The risk from malware is minute, and usually results from browser exploits that are specific to one device/version.

Thanks for that.

I was on a site the other day and a message box came up, in the same style as the phone's normal messages saying "Would you like a free scan for viruses on your smartphone?" or words to this effect. My browser is set to block pop-ups. I had to click cancel a couple of times to make it go away. That's when I installed a couple of antivirus apps (but not at the same time) and scanned my phone. I used three in total and I copied my phone contents to my computer and scanned those. All four returned saying no issues found.

Any idea as to what that was about?

emz15 · 29-12-2013, 01:20

Avg is a good anti-virus software have it on my phone and comp. You can get it free or pay

pi r squared · 29-12-2013, 01:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Rodgers

I was on a site the other day and a message box came up, in the same style as the phone's normal messages saying "Would you like a free scan for viruses on your smartphone?" or words to this effect...Any idea as to what that was about?

When you say "in the same style as the phone's normal messages", do you mean it came up as a notification in the top bar, or it popped up on the main screen over the site you were looking at?

qasdfdsaq · 29-12-2013, 14:15

That's not a popup, it's a dialog box.

Simon Rodgers · 29-12-2013, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

That's not a popup, it's a dialog box.

That's it. Why would that appear though?

Simon Rodgers · 29-12-2013, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by pi r squared

When you say "in the same style as the phone's normal messages", do you mean it came up as a notification in the top bar, or it popped up on the main screen over the site you were looking at?

It came up over the site. Sorry for not being clear.

qasdfdsaq · 30-12-2013, 01:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Rodgers

That's it. Why would that appear though?

Because the website displayed one.

Standard website "technology", it's been in use well over a decade.

finbaar · 30-12-2013, 10:25

Make sure your phone is up to date for OS apps. Only get apps from the Play Store. If you do this then you don't need anti virus software. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Simon Rodgers · 01-01-2014, 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Because the website displayed one.

Standard website "technology", it's been in use well over a decade.

I meant why would the site display a message like that?

qasdfdsaq · 01-01-2014, 23:23

Why do sites display any aggressive advertising?

alanwarwic · 02-01-2014, 00:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigM

...
Our corporate network blocked an iPhone last week after it detected the phone as having some malware on it.

I have always suspected that phones garner the support of nations by allowing back doors.

And I bet that recently removed lifetime location data was left on the iPhone for the the likes of the NSA to gobble it up(with Dropoutjeep, another Snowden revelation).

I'm certain China will have their own iPhone monitoring team too. And with governments likely hating open source, I bet Google have to be more complicit than Apple.

djfrancis · 02-01-2014, 02:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Essex

Like others say though if you only download apps from Google and check the permissions and ratings then I guess there is not going to be a problem.

not if you doing naughty things

getting any *COUGH* apk's

28-12-2013, 00:33	#1
Simon Rodgers Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 3,771	Can anyone advise on antivirus software for smart phones? Hello, can anyone advise of what is the best antivirus software to use on a smart phone? I can see a few free apps for this but are they any good? Which would you advise? Free or non free? I've just plugged my phone into my PC, copied the files across and virus scanned them with the up-to-date Nortons antivirus, but was this any good? I know this will not offer any real time protection but would it have helped at all? No issues were found. Any information you can give will be very much appreciated.

28-12-2013, 07:52	#2
niceguy1966 Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 12,488	If you only install apps from Google Play, you would be incredibly unlucky to get a virus. I don't know anyone that has ever had a problem with a virus on their android phone. Anti virus apps are a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

28-12-2013, 07:59	#3
Thine Wonk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 14,577	Quote: Originally Posted by Simon Rodgers Hello, can anyone advise of what is the best antivirus software to use on a smart phone? I can see a few free apps for this but are they any good? Which would you advise? Free or non free? I've just plugged my phone into my PC, copied the files across and virus scanned them with the up-to-date Nortons antivirus, but was this any good? I know this will not offer any real time protection but would it have helped at all? No issues were found. Any information you can give will be very much appreciated. Windows desktop AV is not going to detect phone apps, really what you're talking about is app reputation and removal or blocking of bad apps. If you get your apps from app stores and read the reviews and check the permissions then there's no point. I would be cautious of band new apps and let them settle in for a bit before you download a app which is new to the store, unless it comes from a well known source.

28-12-2013, 08:23	#4
kidspud Forum Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 11,501	I would have to agree that virus checkers seem unnecessary. Samsung give away AVC for free on their App Store, so I assume that has a reasonable reputation.

28-12-2013, 08:32	#5
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	Antivirus apps can't really do much on a phone without rooting it anyway, and even then what you really want is a permissions manager. Exploits aside, apps can only do what they're given permission to by you via the OS anyway.

28-12-2013, 21:02	#6
DevonBloke Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Totnes, Devon Posts: 6,694	Er.... iOS.

28-12-2013, 21:04	#7
jabbamk1 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,759	Quote: Originally Posted by DevonBloke Er.... iOS. Surely Windows Phone OS is the best anti virus against downloading dodgy apps.... ya know.... because Windows Phone doesn't have any apps you can download in the first place!

28-12-2013, 22:10	#8
Simon Rodgers Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 3,771	Thanks for all your advice. However if you are surfing the net, isn't there a risk of a virus or malware from that, just like there is on a normal PC? You may have your apps but what about temporary files while surfing?

28-12-2013, 22:12	#9
Simon Rodgers Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 3,771	Quote: Originally Posted by kidspud I would have to agree that virus checkers seem unnecessary. Samsung give away AVC for free on their App Store, so I assume that has a reasonable reputation. My phone is the Sony Xperia. Does that make any difference? I've heard of AVG is that the one you are talking about?

28-12-2013, 23:28	#10
Mark in Essex Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,644	I use to have Karpasky on my S3. I got it fee from Barclays as I use their online banking and I guessed if Barclays recommend it then it must be a decent one. Like others say though if you only download apps from Google and check the permissions and ratings then I guess there is not going to be a problem.

28-12-2013, 23:31	#11
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	Quote: Originally Posted by Simon Rodgers Thanks for all your advice. However if you are surfing the net, isn't there a risk of a virus or malware from that, just like there is on a normal PC? You may have your apps but what about temporary files while surfing? No. Mobile browsers and operating systems have a completely different security model to that of desktop/PC operating systems. For one, you can't install apps from or through the browser on Android unless you explicitly enable this option in the advanced settings. Second, there are no temp files. All data is stored in the app's internal cache. The risk from malware is minute, and usually results from browser exploits that are specific to one device/version.

28-12-2013, 23:50	#12
TheBigM Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: moon Posts: 12,983	Quote: Originally Posted by DevonBloke Er.... iOS. Quote: Originally Posted by jabbamk1 Surely Windows Phone OS is the best anti virus against downloading dodgy apps.... ya know.... because Windows Phone doesn't have any apps you can download in the first place! All jokes aside, most of what I have read shows Windows Phone as being safer/fewer malware issues than iOS. Our corporate network blocked an iPhone last week after it detected the phone as having some malware on it.

29-12-2013, 00:37	#13
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	Unsurprising, given that malware has always been more prevalent on more popular operating systems

29-12-2013, 00:51	#14
Simon Rodgers Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 3,771	Quote: Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq No. Mobile browsers and operating systems have a completely different security model to that of desktop/PC operating systems. For one, you can't install apps from or through the browser on Android unless you explicitly enable this option in the advanced settings. Second, there are no temp files. All data is stored in the app's internal cache. The risk from malware is minute, and usually results from browser exploits that are specific to one device/version. Thanks for that. I was on a site the other day and a message box came up, in the same style as the phone's normal messages saying "Would you like a free scan for viruses on your smartphone?" or words to this effect. My browser is set to block pop-ups. I had to click cancel a couple of times to make it go away. That's when I installed a couple of antivirus apps (but not at the same time) and scanned my phone. I used three in total and I copied my phone contents to my computer and scanned those. All four returned saying no issues found. Any idea as to what that was about?

29-12-2013, 01:20	#15
emz15 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 31,711	Avg is a good anti-virus software have it on my phone and comp. You can get it free or pay

29-12-2013, 01:51	#16
pi r squared Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 4,185	Quote: Originally Posted by Simon Rodgers I was on a site the other day and a message box came up, in the same style as the phone's normal messages saying "Would you like a free scan for viruses on your smartphone?" or words to this effect...Any idea as to what that was about? When you say "in the same style as the phone's normal messages", do you mean it came up as a notification in the top bar, or it popped up on the main screen over the site you were looking at?

29-12-2013, 14:15	#17
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	That's not a popup, it's a dialog box.

29-12-2013, 22:14	#18
Simon Rodgers Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 3,771	Quote: Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq That's not a popup, it's a dialog box. That's it. Why would that appear though?

29-12-2013, 22:14	#19
Simon Rodgers Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 3,771	Quote: Originally Posted by pi r squared When you say "in the same style as the phone's normal messages", do you mean it came up as a notification in the top bar, or it popped up on the main screen over the site you were looking at? It came up over the site. Sorry for not being clear.

30-12-2013, 01:50	#20
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	Quote: Originally Posted by Simon Rodgers That's it. Why would that appear though? Because the website displayed one. Standard website "technology", it's been in use well over a decade.

30-12-2013, 10:25	#21
finbaar Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3,921	Make sure your phone is up to date for OS apps. Only get apps from the Play Store. If you do this then you don't need anti virus software. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

DS Forums

Can anyone advise on antivirus software for smart phones?

01-01-2014, 23:09	#22
Simon Rodgers Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 3,771	Quote: Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq Because the website displayed one. Standard website "technology", it's been in use well over a decade. I meant why would the site display a message like that?

01-01-2014, 23:23	#23
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	Why do sites display any aggressive advertising?

02-01-2014, 00:49	#24
alanwarwic Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: the wild world web Posts: 28,132	Quote: Originally Posted by TheBigM ... Our corporate network blocked an iPhone last week after it detected the phone as having some malware on it. I have always suspected that phones garner the support of nations by allowing back doors. And I bet that recently removed lifetime location data was left on the iPhone for the the likes of the NSA to gobble it up(with Dropoutjeep, another Snowden revelation). I'm certain China will have their own iPhone monitoring team too. And with governments likely hating open source, I bet Google have to be more complicit than Apple.

02-01-2014, 02:24	#25
djfrancis Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North West London Posts: 507	Quote: Originally Posted by Mark in Essex Like others say though if you only download apps from Google and check the permissions and ratings then I guess there is not going to be a problem. not if you doing naughty things getting any COUGH apk's