Do I need antivirus for my Android?

[Reverend Conehead]

I haven't used my Android phone very long. I don't side-load any apps or use any warez. The only apps I have are ones I got from Google Play. I also don't keep any banking information in my phone or any other sensitive data. Am I at such low risk that I don't need any security software for my phone? I did find out that there's a free version of Avast for Android. On my main laptop, I use Kubuntu Linux and therefore don't need any antivirus. On my netbook, which I only occasionally use, I have Windows 7 and use Avast. It's been a good free program.

Avast for Android is free, but I'm not sure if I even need it. Do I?

 

[Future]

Eh, I wouldn't think so. Unless you're downloading stuff from all over the place or constantly connecting to public WiFi I don't think its necessary.

I've been Android for almost 4 years now and never had a problem.

Having said that, I turn of data and WiFi when I'm not using them, so that probably helps a bit as well.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Eh, I wouldn't think so. Unless you're downloading stuff from all over the place or constantly connecting to public WiFi I don't think its necessary.

I've been Android for almost 4 years now and never had a problem.

Having said that, I turn of data and WiFi when I'm not using them, so that probably helps a bit as well.

I do use public wifi sometimes, but only to go to ordinary web sites. I don't surf any porn or warez web pages. I never use data at all. I have a plan with only something like 200 MB of data and 200 texts a month. The main thing I use it for is as a phone, for keeping my schedule w/ Google Calendar, and for studying French.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Got my SIII when was new. Got my tablet shortly after. Never put Antivirus on it. I occasionally would watch TV shows from a site without any troubles.

There is a couple different girls at work with Antivirus on tablets.. Can't say it is that but they seemed to go a little slower.

From your description I really don't see a need for you to get it. If you use wifi at home, password protect it. Not to protect you from viruses, more to keep people from using it and slowing your speeds down.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Got my SIII when was new. Got my tablet shortly after. Never put Antivirus on it. I occasionally would watch TV shows from a site without any troubles.

There is a couple different girls at work with Antivirus on tablets.. Can't say it is that but they seemed to go a little slower.

From your description I really don't see a need for you to get it. If you use wifi at home, password protect it. Not to protect you from viruses, more to keep people from using it and slowing your speeds down.

Absolutely. Our wifi is protected with a password no one will ever guess. It blows my mind how many people set up wifi and don't password protect it. We password protect, plus all our PCs run Linux instead of Windows. On my main laptop I am able to run Windows via VirtualBox under Linux, but I block Windows from any Internet access when I do. Most of the time I run Linux only. The hackers ain't getting in here.