Android security experts reply to Google's accusations: not charlatans, the malware threat is real

3. sumdude posted on 23 Nov 2011, 05:18 0 0

It seems like a real issue to me. I picked up an autorun .exe off of a Youtube video stream on my first DX. Buffering turned out to be downloading through the flash player. As luck would have it the video was about malware. App. hung, then I had to pull the battery to restart. Powered back up, taking 3x as long to boot than normal.Home screen showed that Lookout was taken offline, restarting took forever and when it did come back, it looked and scanned normal but it was very decieving because my Lookout account was shut down and I was unable to access it seconds after I tried logging in. I had 2 temp folders in my sd card that didn't belong there. Which were empty but could not be erased. Lookout insisted their product would have caught it if it was malware, I'm dumh but not dumb enough to believe that. That phone crashed for good a few days later. I also think threadjacking is in the works cuz .jpgs have tried downloading content onto my phone as well. Only reason it failed is because of the datasaver feature that blocks all downloads from the Net in settings.

4. snowgator posted on 23 Nov 2011, 05:26 4 0

For all the people I have known with an Android phone, nobody has gotten an infection on their device. Zip. Zero. Zilch.

For all the people I have known with a PC, it is rare to find anyone who HASN'T gotten a virus at least once. Very few.

The result of my very accurate, well researched study? OS's on smartphones are not at the same risk for malware, virus infection, or demon possessions. Is there a threat? Well, sure. Especially on Android. There is also a threat of me winning the lottery. And I play the same 6 numbers in the Mega-Million two times a week. But the odds just do not show that even a small portion of people who play the lottery get cash back. And the facts are very few Android devices get infected. Just doesn't happen much. Until someone shows otherwise, simple common sense will be just fine as a preventitive measure.

5. putes posted on 23 Nov 2011, 05:50 2 0

Look these companies are using the virus fear to promote sales just like finding WMD in Iraq. I guess they are trying to adjust and stay relevant in a post PC era. I installed an anti-virus checker and it found nothing after two years of heavy usage.
Since it is more likely that you'll lose your phone before getting hit with a virus these companies should be promoting their other features to generate sales such those mentioned like Antitheft, remote lock, backup, parental control, Web filter, etc.

7. networkdood posted on 23 Nov 2011, 07:56 0 0

I never heard nor seen malware on an Android phone......putes is correct - corporations are using fear to sell their mobile anti-malware apps. I am not saying malware does not exist, but, you can open the code of an APK in root explorer or on a PC to ensure it is malware free, if you are that worried.

Doublemypc.com.....now stuff like that you to worry about more than Malware on your Android device.

Now, for real issues on an OS, check out this link from 2 years ago:
http://www.appleiphoneschool.com/2009/07/30/iphone-sms-bug-released-today-leaves-all-iphones-vulnerable-to-attack/

12. remixfa posted on 23 Nov 2011, 08:52 0 0

Android is more secure than iOS. You're just going to have to get over that, Miz.

things that make big headlines and things that are reality arent always the same. if you read the article, the guy basically says his antivirus software doesnt protect from much, and it doesnt need to.. its more of a "family filter" software.. lol.

13. Hildy posted on 23 Nov 2011, 09:54 0 0

As Google pointed out and a number of comments emphasized, viruses are for all practical intents and purposes non-existent on Android.

OTOH, there is malware - apps which will do bad things if you install them. And that is the key - if you install them.

If a security vendor would allow me to modify permissions for apps or even to block certain apps from accessing the network without having to root the phone, I'd consider it. But those that I've seen are about functions, as F-Secure admits, like antitheft, remote lock, backup, parental control, and web filter, many of which I don't need at all and others that I'd rather have a specific app for instead of a bloated suite.

16. taco50 posted on 23 Nov 2011, 11:52 0 1

Last quarter the Android mobile operating system (OS) became the most “popular” platform for new malware. This quarter Android became the exclusive platform for all new mobile malware. The Symbian OS (for Nokia handsets) remains the platform with the all-time greatest number of malware, but Android is clearly today’s target. 

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/21/8932272-mcafee-malware-loves-android

17. taco50 posted on 23 Nov 2011, 11:54 0 2

A recent study has found that Apple's iOS is still untouched by malware, whereas users who choose Google's Android platform are 76 percent more likely to encounter funky software, making it the most susceptible mobile operating system in the world

http://m.cnet.com/Article.rbml?nid=20096832&cid=latest&bid=233&webref=reviews.cnet.com/android-malware-up-76-percent-nonexistent-on-ios/8301-19512_7-20096832-233.html%3f