Two android questions

[Ghost]

1) can android os machines get viruses like windows os?
2) anyone else use uTorrent on there xoom to d/l items ?

[Ads]

[ZoomZoom]

1. I think any OS can get virus/malware if someone can exploit a security flaw and get it on your system. They are just gunning for Windows because of its popularity. Macs are even getting them now. For android, if you use good internet practice re: sites and email attachments and get your apps from Play Store, I wouldn't be overly concerned. I just heard there is a fake Netflix app going around that steals your info; Play Store app is genuine.
Do you need antivirus on Android? We ask the experts | Digital Trends
2. Don't use torrents due to above security concerns.

[srs244]

i use an antivirus app on my tablet that automatically scans each download and update (just like it would do on a pc). just a guess, but i would suspect that eventually with the popularity of android devices, they will become more of a target, but that is just my guess. as for torrents, why ask for trouble?? i don't believe there is a single "classification" of items that are more prone to being bad and causing problems than torrents are. for me, it's just not worth the potential problems.

[ZoomZoom]

i use an antivirus app on my tablet that automatically scans each download and update (just like it would do on a pc). just a guess, but i would suspect that eventually with the popularity of android devices, they will become more of a target, but that is just my guess. as for torrents, why ask for trouble?? i don't believe there is a single "classification" of items that are more prone to being bad and causing problems than torrents are. for me, it's just not worth the potential problems.

You would think that and with iOS so popular. But I think these people (cyberterrorists) get off on making the biggest bang for the buck, e.g. shutting down government and industry. Who cares about a bunch of consumers playing games on their phones/tablets?

[Travesty]

Just two day ago (Oct 16-12) the FBI got in on the two lastest malware Loozfon and FinFisher
FBI Issues Android Virus Warning - Slashdot

Defenses against this malware today are hampered by the lack of efficient access to samples
Researchers 'Map' Android Malware Genome - Slashdot

Android.Counterclank found in Offical Android Market, list as of Saturday January 28 2012 3 P.M. ET
Android.Counterclank Found in Official Android Market | Communauté Symantec Connect

Over 60% of Android Malware Hides In Fake Versions of Popular Apps
Over 60% of Android Malware Hides In Fake Versions of Popular Apps - Slashdot

I could go on but many more articles can be found/read by googling:
android viruses site:slashdot.org

----
Malware and tracking were my reasons to root the Xoom, nobody should
run anything on the internet without a HOSTS file, everything else is just overheard
as I see it. Yes you may download a lot of malware but if it can't call out, again
it just overhead. AdAway is what I installed then added other address it was missing;
just try to block amazon, twitter, and facebook, it's a constant battle. Google, hey
I signed up for them.

Note: the HOSTS file I use on my PC is 600K and I thought that was excessively large.
The one I downloaded for my Xoom is 900K, so not so large after all

----
Torrents. I use utorrent on my PC as it's "harden", and has PeerBlock installed
PeerBlock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and update the data base as needed.
I only use it when downloading, as it blocks a lot of sites normally used (EA.COM for me)

Never used or would trust a torrent program on my Xoom until I know it better.
But I've got a lot of android stuff using Utorrent. I just transfer it via the USB cable or X-plore.

Added: I should mention that I do use an antimalware program, NOD32 (the best I feel) so do check everything
that comes in, and goes to the Xoom. I also play my games in airplane mode.

[claudermilk]

1) Yes. FYI, the first virus I had to remove was from a Mac network (way back in FatMac days for the other old fogeys)--which is why I always find the "Macs have no viruses" assertion laughable. Yes, that was an earlier OS, but the statement is still false.
2) What ZoomZoom & srs244 said. Using a torrent is a really good way to get yourself a virus. Just pay for the software or media.

IMHO Linux, and by extension Android, have been relatively virus-free due to security through obscurity. Windows is low-hanging fruit for the virus writers. Most people use it, most of whom know just enough to turn it on & get their tasks done. There is lots of easy opportunity there in addition to the politics of attacking Microsoft.

I have avast installed on my Xoom. Better safe than sorry & it doesn't noticeably affect performance.

[Travesty]

I do need to reiterate my previous post, it infers I don't care how much
malware I have on my systems.

I have none, and it's due in no small part by the HOSTS file. Because of the HOSTS
file my Xoom (PC) won't let me go to the sites that would infect me.

I can't say if Avast or other protection will catch the newest android malware or even how
well anymore. My source is down and I can't download Loozfon and FinFisher to test.
The site was forced off line after many years of public serivce, a casualty of the SOPA attempt.
VX Heavens (read the bottom paragraph).

I've always advocate using your HOSTS file, it's part of your OS, so free - I only used
Adway to install a decent HOSTS file - but you need to be rooted; as other than blocking
malware, it blocks ads from games n web pages; saving bandwidth, but bad for business :}
----

Also when I mentioned my PC was "hardened" it wasn't for malware, but the
movement of files that might be deemed as DRM protected items.

[MatrixSoft]

Yes dear...virus can corrupt any device , whether it's Android or Windows..You need to use antivirus to prevent your OS.

[Travesty]

The Macintosh I remember well, it got to the point I
figured there was a virus maker included with the OS.

My fav was the energiser bunny rolling along the bottom of your screen pounding
on his drum, while you watched the bunny, your hard drive was being formatted.

Yes dear...virus can corrupt any device , whether it's Android or Windows..
You need to use antivirus to prevent your OS.

And there's the key.

Times have changed, it's counter productive to disable ones computer. The
chances of running into a virus any more is incredibly low and most likely a personal attack
using autorun (PC).

Malware (worms, trackers, keyloggers, rootkits and such) are the concern now. Turning your
computer into a bot, or hoping to get lucky and grab a credit card number with wireshark.

No there really aren't what we used to refer to as a virus any more, it's malware for lack of
a better word, it's all about being able to use ones computer/tablet for someone else's purposes.

I have Nod32 installed now and for many years, all I've ever found were Keygens which I knew about
and recently Laiot [Script][Root] Lord AIO Tool -v2- 12/06/12 - Backtrack Install Dual Recovery and more - xda-developers
because the programs change code.

I've download a ton of torrents tonight, it's what I do and not a one of them show as bad, but of course
that's just the first step.

The malware people find on their computer has almost certainly been installed by the person themselves.
something no program can catch.

Yes folks should run a virus checker, a firewall and a HOSTS file it takes a real diligence to
keep this crap off of your computer/tablet.

My problem is I just assume everybody knows what I do. Just don't underestimate the HOSTS file,
I don't advocate it's use near as much as others do.

I might take this discussion to another post, I've been working on the answer for awhile (days), not
that it will ever be posted.

[zigackly]

I think it's more important to be prepared to recover from a virus or malware than to prevent it. Keep your data backed up, and be prepared to completely replace the operating system and software if your device gets compromised. There is no other 100% effective solution.