Android 4.4 Questions - Malware Protection & Security

[DaveLembke]

Just finally made the leap from a basic cell phone to a LG Phone with wifi, Bluetooth, and wireless data plan, which is running Android 4.4. Should I have an antivirus or firewall app on this and if so which one etc.

New to the mobile computing phones, figured I'd post here for any helpful pointers on how to avoid virus's and hacking etc. I am guessing that the browser Chrome on it will eventually need to be updated as well as the OS as well. Maybe I need to just read the manual for the phone however I have doubts that the manual will tell you how to keep it safe and secure.

[camerongray]

Nah, you shouldn't need anything like that.  You are generally safe as long as you only download apps from reputable sources such as the Google Play Store and don't have the phone rooted.  Apps have very limited permissions so even if an app were malicious, it would have very limited impact on the rest of the system.

[Allan]

While I agree with camerongray that at this point a cell phone av is more of a luxury than a necessity, at as time moves on cell phones will garner more and more attention from hackers. There's certainly no harm in having a security app installed and with that in mind I've been using TrustGo for several years now.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.trustgo.mobile.security&hl=en

[evilfantasy]

Almost from the start I have used Dr.Web Light Anti-virus. I see no reason at all for having an AV running in the background on Android. The main threat is when you are installing an app but like camerongray said stick to the Play Store or the Amazon App Store for Android and you shouldn't have much to worry about. Dr.Web Light only scans what is installing then it goes to sleep until the next install.

Also if it isn't already installed get the Android Device Manager by Google. If the phone is lost or stolen then Android Device Manager gives you remote access to the device. Also be sure Android Device Manager is turned on because it may not be by default.

Android Device Manager locates lost devices and helps you keep your device—and the data inside it—safe and secure. Android Device Manager lets you:

● Locate Android devices associated with your Google account
● Reset your device's screen lock PIN
● Erase all data on the phone