So my workplace is mostly iPhone users and someone asked me what kind of antivirus software I used on my Android, and I said “none” and he flipped out about how unsafe it was. Other people chimed in saying how all androids need antivirus apps and I’ve never heard of such a thing. I do have ad-blockers and a VPN but never downloaded an antivirus. Should I? If so, what would you recommend? Thanks lemmings, love you.
Absolutely not, that guy is eating marketing
Apple sponsored fear mongering, I’d say. It’s almost like they had an interest in keeping people away from the alternative.
You don’t.
Long answer: https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/you-dont-need-to-install-an-antivirus-app-on-your-phone
They have as much need for antivirus software as an iPhone does.
Maybe against the grain, here, with all the comments saying No, but: If you were interested in trying something out, I would give Hypatia a go. It’s a FOSS-based app, available on F-droid. It’s basically a ClamAV front-end. Pulls from their signature lists for Android, alongside other more general AV signature lists. Just an option.
Absolutely. Everyone here is acting like PDF and JPEG exploits on Android don’t exist.
I agree that OP shouldn’t pay for one, and that most AV apps are, at best, garbage, but there are also reasons to have one, and reasonable ones to install - Hypatia being one of them.
Not really. Especially you stick to trusted app stores. It’s only really needed if you frequently sideload apps, and even then only if you feel it’s necessary.
That being said, Hypatia is a good one I like to use from time to time. It’s FOSS too. You can find it on F-Droid if you use the DivestOS official repo.
No amount of antivirus or alternative OSs will save you from unpatched hardware vulnerabilities though. Visiting a malicious web page or downloading a temporarily hostage app from your favorite app store can be enough to allow the bad guys into your device.
As long as you have a currently supported device and keep it up to date, you shouldn’t ever need antivirus.
Nope
There have been far more severe iPhone exploits in the past year or two compared to Android ones.
Apple will never take the brand hit of allowing third party security software, so maybe let your pals know a brand’s fragile ego is putting them in an arguably more perilous position.
I never have. Keep your shit updated, use a digital condom (ad/malware blocker), and dont go to shady websites offering free games and such and you are fine.
I don’t.
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No
