Author Topic: Avast on Android  (Read 19251 times)

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Offline SUSZANNAH

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Avast on Android
« on: October 01, 2010, 02:05:39 AM »
Hi all, not sure if this has been covered elsewhere, but have HTC Desire on Android 2.2 and was wondering if Avast is supporting this, would happily pay for it, if it is available......

regards  susz

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2010, 02:11:20 AM »
I don't believe Android is supported, check the avast! 4 for PDA board http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=7.0
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Offline SUSZANNAH

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2010, 03:38:30 AM »
hi David, long time no speak, hope you are doing ok!!

looks like i am out of luck on this, pity really, Avast could make a bomb supporting Android, and people would pay for it, me included...........

sure Android will beat iphone soon lol

Offline Lisandro

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2010, 03:40:27 AM »
Welcomet back SUSZANNAH :)
The best things in life are free.

Offline SUSZANNAH

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2010, 03:43:41 AM »
Hi Tech, nice to hear from you, hope you are doing ok and thank you.......see if you can get Avast to sort this out :)

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2010, 03:48:00 AM »
I'm doing fine thanks, hopefully the same for you.

Yes, I to think avast could do with supporting the various PDAs, as they do seem to be getting much more popular. I don't know how difficult it would be to port the existing PDA support to a different mobile OS. But rather than develop that market it would seem to be the opposite, which is a shame.
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Offline SUSZANNAH

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2010, 03:51:58 AM »
yes agree, have had smartphones for years but this one is the ultimate, and taking me ages to suss it out, so many apps available need something to check them out.....

been a while since i was here, trying to sort out the colour scheme don't like the orange at all, really hard on the eyes....... :)

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2010, 05:08:09 AM »
I have never purchased a smartphone my phones in the past have just been to make calls and the very occasional text, etc. So I have never felt the need and the cost is an issue as well as security. But they are becoming very much more powerful and useful with the wide range of apps which would make it more cost effective.
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SafeSurf

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #8 on: October 02, 2010, 08:56:52 AM »
Hi SUSZANNAH,

I recently started testing out smart phones, android and iPhones included.  I also learned that you do need AV protection and there is an excellent market out there for AV companies to develop in this area as I discussed this with several other Evang., however it seems like the AV companies are not working in this area because they are too busy in getting the PC AV (esp. 64-bit) ready.

Many people are using smart phones now, and most companies are only offering them unless you get a pay-as-you-go phone.  Unless you know the risks, which most do not, you are putting yourself, your Contacts, and what ever else you have on your phone at risk every time you turn the phone on or sync it to your PC.

There are only a few companies now that offer AV protection for android phones.

Symantec: http://www.usposttoday.com/android-anti-virus-software-of-symantec/ - plus article

Dr. Web:http://www.freedrweb.com/show/?i=1254&c=19&lng=en

Kaspersky: http://usa.kaspersky.com/products-services/home-computer-security/mobile-security - AV with FW (paid)

I found with the androids that unless you dig deep into the phone, a lot of apps/processors are running all the time that you can disable if you don't need them to increase your battery life, and for better privacy.

Version 2.3 android has recently been released, and v. 4.2 on the iPhone was released for increased security, however we all know "malware inventors" are quicker than the fixes. 

I hope this helps.  :)




Offline OrangeCrate

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #9 on: October 03, 2010, 12:19:04 PM »
Hi all, not sure if this has been covered elsewhere, but have HTC Desire on Android 2.2 and was wondering if Avast is supporting this, would happily pay for it, if it is available......

regards  susz

I currently sync a Motorola Droid to my desktops. Using an Android based Smartphone, you'll need certainly to take care with social engineering tricks vs treats, and apps that "phone home" with personal bits and pieces about your usage, location, etc., but since Android is Linux, viruses will be of little, to no concern.

An avast! product for an Android based smartphone, will probably be as popular as their Linux Edition. Unless you're running a mail server, and want to be a good citizen to your Windows based friends, the exercise would be of little interest to the Avast folks, I would expect. (Though you never know, "marketing" spawns some odd looking children sometimes.)

-----

More about the Android operating system in general:

Quote
Android relies on Linux version 2.6 for core system services such as security, memory management, process management, network stack, and driver model. The kernel also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the rest of the software stack...

http://developer.android.com/guide/basics/what-is-android.html

And Android security specifically:

http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/security/security.html

Edit:

Replaced a bad link.
« Last Edit: October 03, 2010, 12:54:06 PM by OrangeCrate »

Aethec

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #10 on: October 03, 2010, 07:50:53 PM »
Hi all, not sure if this has been covered elsewhere, but have HTC Desire on Android 2.2 and was wondering if Avast is supporting this, would happily pay for it, if it is available......

regards  susz

I currently sync a Motorola Droid to my desktops. Using an Android based Smartphone, you'll need certainly to take care with social engineering tricks vs treats, and apps that "phone home" with personal bits and pieces about your usage, location, etc., but since Android is Linux, viruses will be of little, to no concern.

An avast! product for an Android based smartphone, will probably be as popular as their Linux Edition. Unless you're running a mail server, and want to be a good citizen to your Windows based friends, the exercise would be of little interest to the Avast folks, I would expect. (Though you never know, "marketing" spawns some odd looking children sometimes.)

-----

More about the Android operating system in general:

Quote
Android relies on Linux version 2.6 for core system services such as security, memory management, process management, network stack, and driver model. The kernel also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the rest of the software stack...

http://developer.android.com/guide/basics/what-is-android.html

And Android security specifically:

http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/security/security.html

Edit:
Replaced a bad link.

Sorry, but the "Linux has no viruses and is extremely secure" thing is a myth  ;)
However, I don't think an AV is needed for smartphones...

Hermite15

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #11 on: October 04, 2010, 02:08:51 AM »
off topic here somehow: ha the problem with Linux based system is a bit more complicated, there's of course the fact that Linux as a "1%" OS is not really targeted by the bad guys, but there's also the fact that, according to a few specialists, it's not easy to attack a Linux system, i.e. you can't trigger an executable as easily in Linux as you can in Windows, and even if triggered, chances are that it won't reach central and "vital" areas of the root partition.

SafeSurf

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2010, 07:40:48 AM »
avast should go for Android mobiles.  i will be happy to pay for it . if they do so.
+1

Don't forgot, Androids require micro-SDHC cards (removable data) that can be infected and transferred to other devices.  This can happen when a phone is returned and/or refurbished and resold.  There are known cases of this happening unless the card is wiped clean.

There are also situations where if you are purchasing third-party apps. (non-MarketPlace) that have caused infections.  Just several months ago:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/10/malware-infection-hits-russian-android-phones/.

More malware news on Androids:

http://blogs.forbes.com/andygreenberg/2010/08/11/pay-per-text-malware-hits-android-phones/

http://www.cio.com.au/article/360177/another_sms_trojan_appears_android_phones/

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2367646,00.asp

Bottom line, be careful what you download and accept in messages; and if you buy a refurbished phone, insist on a NEW micro-SDHC card and I would definitely install AV software since you don't know what the previous owner did.



Offline OrangeCrate

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #13 on: October 04, 2010, 01:56:39 PM »
^,

That's a nice string of links, but, you apparently missed this one, and others like it, published about a week after Kaspersky's story broke...

Rumors of Android Viruses are False! Says McAfee

http://androidheadlines.com/2010/08/rumors-of-android-viruses-are-false-says-mcafee.html

Though not to miss a buck, I see that McAfee is introducing a program for Android phones. So, to address the OP's original question, I would suppose that avast! might do the same.

Regardless, as you, and others have said, you have to be careful with the apps you install. I certainly am...

Edit:

And BTW, for all...

There seems to be some confusion with the terms viruses and trojans in this thread. If you're unsure what you're talking about, here's just one primer to help you understand the differences:

What is the difference between viruses, worms, and Trojans?

http://service1.symantec.com/support/nav.nsf/docid/1999041209131106
« Last Edit: October 04, 2010, 04:34:45 PM by OrangeCrate »

SafeSurf

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Re: Avast on Android
« Reply #14 on: October 05, 2010, 08:10:37 AM »
iTunes malware - 10/05/10   [off-topic, but related to smart-phones]

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2010/10/05/malware_peddlers_target_itunes_users_with_bogus_e_mail_receipts - confirmed with phone call to Apple Tech. Support