I strongly believe (feel free to correct me please!) that most (if not all) the AV software you get for Linux (and android?) is just using the same signature databases as the main windows versions and thus all you are doing is ensuring you don't download any windows viruses. As I say, please prove me wrong :) I also use Avast (on my windows boxes) and am indeed happy with it - but AV s/w for Linux and android - show me some proof that they actually do something (and don't tell me they are root-checkers please!). Andy
On Tuesday 01 January 2013 09:24:48 Terry Coles wrote: > On Monday 31 Dec 2012 21:04:59 Clive A Wills wrote: > > Now I know some of you have the Nexus 7 and would like to know if there > > are any problems with virus' and if a virus programme is required. Also > > how pleased/good is it; reviews have all been good. (£199 in PC World > > and £189 in Argos) > > PC World staff get a commission if they sell 'add-ons' with any computer. I > have no idea how much PC World charge for Norton for Android, but the > online price is £29.99, which makes a big difference when the device itself > is less than £200. > > I don't have a Nexus 7, but I do own an Android phone; there isn't really > any difference as you point out. Android *is* vulnerable to viruses (as is > Linux if they are targeted to it). It is also a single user OS, where the > owner has root privileges, so, as with Windows, any viruses don't have to > overcome basic security to get installed. > > Unlike Linux, (or rather the Linux we are all familiar with, since Android > is a Linux distribution), it has a very large user base which is growing > every day. This means that there is much more incentive to attack it than > Linux, so it doesn't hurt to take some precautions. As you say, you still > have to agree to install the software, so there are no 'drive by' > vulnerabilities. I would be surprised if the virus count for Android ever > got to be anything like Windows. > > What you don't need to do is pay through the nose for Norton Antivirus. > There are several free ones and some have a paid-for Premium version. I-- calendar > use Lookout: https://www.lookout.com/. The Premium version offers some > useful additional features for $29.99 per year, but if all you need is > anti-virus, the free version works fine. My wife uses the Avast offering: > http://www.avast.com/en-gb/free-mobile-security. We have used Avast on our > Windows machines for around 10 years now and the only time we got a virus > was when my son turned it off. Both Apps are available from the Google > Play Store once you have your device. > > The chances are, if the user is careful about what he or she installs, then > they will never get a virus on Android. So the story is nowhere near as bad > as on Windows, which is almost guaranteed a virus if you don't run a > scanner. I mainly installed Lookout for the peace of mind and the location > service, which will allow me to locate the phone if it is lost or stolen. > > In the end, it's up to the user whether they bother. There aren't many > viruses reported for Android, so the chances are there will never be a > problem. -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-01-08 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
