Anti-virus protection needed?

mricet1005
Newbie

I received my Droid yesterday.  I have been perusing the Apps Market and have seen several anti-virus apps.  Do we need anti-virus software for Android? If yes, what is the best free app for that.

 

Any other must have app recommendations?

 

Thanks!

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fezzik
Contributor - Level 3

 


supitsmike wrote:

You don't, I'll tell you why.

 

The Android Operating System is based on Linux, which means that they way they coded it was in a "Sandbox". What I mean is that any virus that comes with any program will be in this sandbox (Sandbox being the program itself). So when the program is closed out, so does any virus being put in it.

 

And besides, Android isn't that popular yet for hackers to actually spend time creating a virus to mess up the OS/Your experience.


 

Also being open source there is a lot more checks and balances on that.  The phones are a little more susceptable because of the sdk and relative ease of app development.  The phones will be bigger targets than a Linux desktop but as was mentioned the Linux way of doing things also makes things a little more secure anyway.  There are a lot of people that seem to think that if it is opensource it must be less secure and scarey but that is infact opposite.  Personally I won't be too concerned but I also won't be storing my social security number or anything like that in my phone. 

 

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john5152
Enthusiast - Level 3

ditto,, id like to know if a firewall and virus protection is needed with this linux based mobil OS. I have been to a few places that have wifi. I connected to the network and got a few browser page pop-ups with out opening my browser.   I think we need a firewall!

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supitsmike
Specialist - Level 1

You don't, I'll tell you why.

 

The Android Operating System is based on Linux, which means that they way they coded it was in a "Sandbox". What I mean is that any virus that comes with any program will be in this sandbox (Sandbox being the program itself). So when the program is closed out, so does any virus being put in it.

 

And besides, Android isn't that popular yet for hackers to actually spend time creating a virus to mess up the OS/Your experience.

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y0diggity
Contributor - Level 2

He's right guys; there's really no need to spend your money on AV software for your Droid. The Linux virus market is a very desolate place indeed. :smileyhappy: It just really isn't happening. Save your money for better, more useful apps.

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fezzik
Contributor - Level 3

 


supitsmike wrote:

You don't, I'll tell you why.

 

The Android Operating System is based on Linux, which means that they way they coded it was in a "Sandbox". What I mean is that any virus that comes with any program will be in this sandbox (Sandbox being the program itself). So when the program is closed out, so does any virus being put in it.

 

And besides, Android isn't that popular yet for hackers to actually spend time creating a virus to mess up the OS/Your experience.


 

Also being open source there is a lot more checks and balances on that.  The phones are a little more susceptable because of the sdk and relative ease of app development.  The phones will be bigger targets than a Linux desktop but as was mentioned the Linux way of doing things also makes things a little more secure anyway.  There are a lot of people that seem to think that if it is opensource it must be less secure and scarey but that is infact opposite.  Personally I won't be too concerned but I also won't be storing my social security number or anything like that in my phone. 

 

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supitsmike
Specialist - Level 1

fezzik wrote:

 


supitsmike wrote:

You don't, I'll tell you why.

 

The Android Operating System is based on Linux, which means that they way they coded it was in a "Sandbox". What I mean is that any virus that comes with any program will be in this sandbox (Sandbox being the program itself). So when the program is closed out, so does any virus being put in it.

 

And besides, Android isn't that popular yet for hackers to actually spend time creating a virus to mess up the OS/Your experience.


 

Also being open source there is a lot more checks and balances on that.  The phones are a little more susceptable because of the sdk and relative ease of app development.  The phones will be bigger targets than a Linux desktop but as was mentioned the Linux way of doing things also makes things a little more secure anyway.  There are a lot of people that seem to think that if it is opensource it must be less secure and scarey but that is infact opposite.  Personally I won't be too concerned but I also won't be storing my social security number or anything like that in my phone. 

 


Yeah. The word "Open Source" seems to scare people away, and I don't blame them. But to be honest, if there was a program/app that released a virus, I couldn't imagine it doing much harm that a simple factory reset couldn't fix.

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