Should Android phones run Anti Virus?

[ChurchCat]

There has been another incident where millions of Android users have had their data sent off to the other side of the world.

Android nasty wallpaper app withdrawn

Should Android phones now run AV software to stop this sort of thing happening?

Or maybe Google should have a kill switch that will wipe applications from peoples phones if they are found to be dangerous. I know Apple have such a switch for iPhones though I don't think it has needed to be used yet.

If this keeps on happening I guess someone will have to do something.

[Amnesia10]

Considering the risk of personal data getting lost I would say yes. The average phone has lots of names telephone numbers, even addresses. Mine has 1500+ and so would have a nasty impact if anything happened. If you do not use the apps then no.

[james016]

Google do have a kill switch

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/06/ ... roid-apps/

[big_D]

There has been another incident where millions of Android users have had their data sent off to the other side of the world.

Android nasty wallpaper app withdrawn

Should Android phones now run AV software to stop this sort of thing happening?

If so, so should iPhones... They have also had a few malware apps slip through.

Or maybe Google should have a kill switch that will wipe applications from peoples phones if they are found to be dangerous. I know Apple have such a switch for iPhones though I don't think it has needed to be used yet.

Haven't you been following the news? Google killed an app a couple of weeks ago. All the major smartphone manufacturers have had a similar facility from day 1.

If this keeps on happening I guess someone will have to do something.

Yep, the same goes for the iPhone. At the moment, they only test binaries, so apps with hidden backdoors, which open on a specific date or a specific set of key presses/swipes etc. like a couple of iPhone apps recently (Apple pulled an RSS reader, or similar app, which allowed the iPhone to work as a wi-fi access point (tethering)).

[forquare1]

I guess every phone should, Android or not...

In fact I guess it's not anti-virus per say, but a stronger security policy, something that means it's difficult to do things without user consent, but doesn't get in the way...

[ChurchCat]

Or maybe Google should have a kill switch that will wipe applications from peoples phones if they are found to be dangerous. I know Apple have such a switch for iPhones though I don't think it has needed to be used yet.

Haven't you been following the news? Google killed an app a couple of weeks ago. All the major smartphone manufacturers have had a similar facility from day 1.

No, life had got in the way just recently.

I did not know that Google could kill apps that were out there installed on phones. I thought the best they could do was withdraw the apps from their store and then tell everyone to delete manually. I have memories of their being a bit of a stink when it was found that Apple could delete apps from peoples phones without their permission. I would value a link.

In the link above Google have only suspended the app from sale not actually killed the app on the phones themselves.

Does the kill thing work on all flavours of Android?


TBH this was a big barrier to me buying a device that is "open".

[Amnesia10]

TBH this was a big barrier to me buying a device that is "open".

Same here. I would have no problem with the manufacturer deleting apps that were malevolent. If you had to run AV on your phone then that would impact on the performance and cost of running the phone.

[Linux_User]

I use a Blackberry and run Lookout. I know it's available for other OSes, so there's no excuse (it's also free).

[okenobi]

Just throwing this out there, but aren't most viral infections caused by the stupidity of the user? Just wondering....

Also, I'd rather have an open platform susceptible to the odd problem, than a walled-garden that's "safe". But that's me.

[big_D]

Just throwing this out there, but aren't most viral infections caused by the stupidity of the user? Just wondering....

Also, I'd rather have an open platform susceptible to the odd problem, than a walled-garden that's "safe". But that's me.

How so? If you are downloading an approved app from the App Store, is that user stupidity?

[okenobi]

Just throwing this out there, but aren't most viral infections caused by the stupidity of the user? Just wondering....

Also, I'd rather have an open platform susceptible to the odd problem, than a walled-garden that's "safe". But that's me.

How so? If you are downloading an approved app from the App Store, is that user stupidity?

It's always been the case, that screensavers, smilies and other such frivolities have been a major source of various types of malware. Personally, I steer clear. However, if it's "apps" we're talking about (and don't get me started on how people with phones can't say/don't understand whole English words) and they go through an "approval" process, then that's what's at fault here?

I didn't realise the virus in question had been approved, but either way, people need to pick more carefully and/or Google/Apple whoever need to approve more carefully. No?

[big_D]

I don't know about the Android screensaver one, but the security app was in the Google App Store and most of the iPhone malware, so far, has been through the iTunes App Store - a couple of early ones only affected jailbroken iPhones.

[Nick]

AV on a phone? Booooooo!

I'd rather somebody would setup a system where they could check every app and guarantee that any app you download isn't dangerous. If only such a thing existed...

[finlay666]

AV on a phone? Booooooo!

I'd rather somebody would setup a system where they could check every app and guarantee that any app you download isn't dangerous. If only such a thing existed...

In terms of software testing there just isnt the time or means to test every single file completely, code could be hidden and on a timer, there is just no way to know

[okenobi]

Having just now bothered to read CCs link, the app did ask for data. Well, that would've been a no for me. Hence my initial reaction/question...

People give their data away far too freely these days without realising.