Antivirus protection available for smartphones?

I have read that antivirus protection is good to have when you go out in public and use the WiFi while you're in Lowe's or Walmart or any other places that offers public WiFi.

Now while I use the WiFi here in my home will the Avast AV which I have installed on this laptop computer protect my phone or not? You say use it if you feel you need it; do most smartphone users not have antivirus protection on their phones? Thanks for the feedback.


Big Steve
09/14/18

No, an antivirus on a laptop or PC will not protect any other laptop, PC, phone or tablet, just like an antivirus on your phone doesn't protect your laptop.

And it's not only for when you access Internet via WiFi, but also for if you access Internet via the data connection (the 1 or 2 or ... GB) that is included in your phone subscription. That's used (unless you block it in the settings) if it's not connected to WiFi.

Quite a lot of people don't have antivirus on their phone. I think only a minority has. Read more about it in https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/google-android/do-you-need-antivirus-on-android-3668607/

And, for what it's worth, a test: https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/

I signed up for a postpaid plan with T-Mobile for $55.00 a month which includes unlimited talk; unlimited text; and unlimited data. I also can use the phone in the house and tap into my AT&T high speed internet signal; something called WiFi.

If after a month I decide to drop the unlimited data on my T-Mobile $55.00 a month plan there's another plan I'm considering switching to which is also postpaid; the other plan is a $25.00 a month plan which has unlimited talk & unlimited text but does not have any data.

Now if I decide to switch from T-Mobile's $55.00 a month plan and switch to their $25.00 a month plan which has no data should I still install an antivirus software program on my phone; an LG K8 (201 smartphone or not? Someone mentioned in this thread that Avast offered a free AV for android phones which I'm considering adding to the phone since I already have Avast free AV on both of my computers.


Big Steve
09/15/18

I'm considering adding AV protection to my phone; thanks for your feedback.


Big Steve
09/15/18

Thanks for the feedback; I'll take your advice on adding the Avast free AV to the phone. About Avast on my computers; every day a box will pop up offering me some kind of a paid special service; I just close the boxes but I have thought about starting another thread about that like are paid programs offered by Avast worth the expense or not.


Big Steve
09/15/18

I had a paid version pod Avast, (used it for years and wanted to support them) and it still nagged me. The free version of Avira also nagged me every day. I finally switched to Sophos on my PCs.

I have been paying for Lookout since about the first year. It's silent. I don't remember if it nagged before I paid for it.

So you've used Avast AV protection on your phones in the past but you now prefer to use another program called "Lookout" because it's better than Avast is in your opinion?


Big Steve
09/16/18

On my phones, I've always used Lookout.

I used Avast on my computers, for years. They seem to really, really want the user to be aware that they're using Avast Anti-Virus. I found that to be a repeated irritation. I assume they carry that marketing mentality over to their phone app.

As for actual protection, Avast on the computer did warn me of an occasional file and an occasional link. In those cases, I was glad I had it.

I cannot remember a single warning from Lookout in the 10-ish years I've used it. I've never been infected with anything really bad, but I have installed some apps that included obnoxious lock screen ads. I wish it had warned me of those. I don't know if other anti-virus apps would have warned me.

So the question now is; are you recommending Avast or Lookout? If I decide to use the phone here in the house accessing my AT&T's high speed internet by WiFi; since I already have Avast AV installed on both of my computers should I go ahead and install Avast AV on the phone or should I install Lookout on the phone or does that really matter? Is Lookout free like Avast or would I have to pay for it? Thanks for the feedback.


Big Steve
09/16/18

As others have said, the A/V on your computers and the firewall of the router provide zero protection from a lot of threats to your phone. Android is a little more secure than Windows. But, I feel more comfortable having the protection on my phone.

Lookout does have a free version. As I said, I used that for the first year or so. It has been long enough that I don't remember all the perks between the versions. I do know that phone location was one. Of course, thieves wipe the phones immediately, so that doesn't help much, anymore.

I'd say Lookout is Good Enough. I'm happy with it. I haven't used the others, so I don't have any opinion on comparisons between them. I'm just generally turned off a little by Avast's and Avira's behavior on the PC.

Thanks for the follow-up feedback. I've got to go to my Walmart SuperCenter tomorrow to pick up a few prescriptions; the manager has already told me the store has Wi-Fi.

As soon as I get to the store do I need to first turn "off" the Mobile Data Connection on my phone then turn "on" the Wi-Fi Connection or do I need to leave the Mobile Data Connection "on" when I turn the phone's Wi-Fi Connection "on"?


Big Steve
09/16/18

Whether or not to use public Wi-Fi is up to your comfort level.

If the Wi-Fi is set up properly, then it's safe to use. Even safer than connecting through your cell service, because you should have a firewall between you and the Wild, Wild, 'Net.

OTOH, I'm not sure I trust most places to set up their Guest accounts to properly isolate everyone from each other. If they don't, then someone could have a virus on their phone or laptop and not even know it. It could go try to infect any other machines it sees on the local network.

Also, the only way your phone would log in automagically is if you have your Wi-Fi set to do that. Personally, I don't want my phone logging into to any random Wi-Fi I go past. Besides, most stores and business with public Wi-Fi will they make you tap an "I Accept" button, promising that you won't use their Wi-Fi for bad things, before they'll let you use it. So, it won't log in automagically, anyway.

And, finally, do you really need to log into their network? If you are not streaming music while you're there, or some other bulky task, then the amount of data you save is trivial. Especially if it's just to pick up a prescription. Chances are you're going to be there about 15 mins, give or take. Even streaming music, that's not enough to worry about.

I would recommend leaving your mobile data connection on unless you have a really good reason to turn it off. Being connected is a lot of the value of having a smartphone. If you're connected to Wi-Fi, it'll use that. If the Wi-Fi drops for any reason, it'll fall back to your data connection. Most apps that have high data use have a setting within the app to require a Wi-Fi connection, so that you don't accidentally run up a lot of data. Use the settings in those apps to protect yourself.

Personally, when I'm at a friend's, and it's someone I visit regularly, I'll ask for their Wi-Fi password. That way, when I go there, my phone logs in automagically. But, when I'm out and about, I rarely log into any business' Wi-Fi. Because, I'm rarely doing anything more than email or light surfing.

So you recommend not bothering connecting to the store's Wi-Fi; just make sure the phone has some kind of AV protection installed on it or would I need to install AV protection if I don't plan to connect to anyone's public Wi-Fi?

I need to just use the data I'm paying for with T-Mobile and not bother connecting with Walmart's Wi-Fi while I'm in the store. Did you mention a firewall? Do these smartphones have a firewall on them like a computer?


Big Steve
09/16/18

I gave examples where it makes sense to log in to Wi-Fi. Basically, when you're doing something data-heavy.

Otherwise, most data plans these days are plenty to cover just walking around and light usage.

Yes, cell phones do have a firewall built in. The Wi-Fi router does add a second firewall, which might help a little. It's not a large difference. I mostly said that out of completeness, because I'm a geek.

But, even with firewalls in place, anti-virus adds extra protection. The firewalls just see data packets going by, and they have little knowledge of what's in the packets. Anti-virus works intimately with your operating system, and therefore knows a lot more of the context of those packets. That's how it can know to protect you when you've made a poor choice on the website you visit or the app you install.

So, yes, no matter what, you do want anti-virus.

Don't log into every random open Wi-Fi. Be a little picky. It adds little benefit unless you're currently transferring a lot of data.

And, you rarely need to turn off cell data.

I have another question; do most smartphone users turn their smartphones off at night if it's not their main phone in the house or do they keep their smartphones turned on all night?

I still have a landline phone with AT&T because I have a fax machine connected to it which I still use a lot so the smartphone is not my main phone in the house.

Before I turn the smartphone off at night should I first turn off the phone's Wi-Fi Connection and also the phone's Mobile Data Connection or just turn off the phone's Wi-Fi Connection but leave the phone's Mobile Data Connection on and not turn it off?


Big Steve
09/16/18

I don't really see the advantage.

Again, if you're connected to Wi-Fi at home, it's essentially free. And, when you're not using the phone, the data usage is trivial, anyway.

Some people obsess about their phones, and they need to turn it off as a signal that they're allowed to not pay attention to it. For some, it approaches the level of an addiction, where it interferes with their life. They do things like put the phone on a charger across the room, or even out of the bedroom completely, so they're not tempted.

Personally, I can ignore my phone even though it's right there. I'll even ignore a text or other notification that comes in after I've rolled over. If it's important, they'll call.

I'm old school; when I'm finished using a light in a room in my house I turn it off; same thing with my TV set. When I'm finished using my home's Wi-Fi I will turn that setting on the phone off but since you recommended leaving the phone's Mobile Data Connection on I'll leave it on but to save battery life I will shut the phone off before going to bed at night. How low should I let the phone's battery drain down to before recharging it? Less than 20%? While using the Wi-Fi here at home is it ok to keep the phone connected to the charger or not? Connect the phone to the charger only when recharging the phone's battery?


Big Steve
09/16/18

The draining thing applied to the old Nicad batteries, and really was not as much of a problem as was sometimes portrayed. Lithium and NiMH batteries don't suffer from that memory effect, at all. So, there's no need to drain your batteries purposely. In fact, that makes the phone less useful, if it's drained and you need to go somewhere.

I keep my phone plugged in when I'm sitting at my desk, and at night. So, it probably spends more than 80% of its life plugged in.

My mom keeps most of her lights off. I'm always afraid of her tripping on something. It only takes one trip to the ER to wipe out many, many years of savings in electricity. Especially with today's LED bulbs. Risk vs reward.

The smartphone is much more a convenience item than a safety issue like I just mentioned. OTOH, it's far more useful if you don't have to wait that minute or two for it to boot up. Up to you to decide if a penny of electricity use overnight is worth waiting when you decide you need to use the phone.

Speaking of anti-virus and safety. You do have a PIN code, swipe pattern, fingerprint lock, or face lock on your phone, right? If you ever leave your phone somewhere, you don't want someone to be able to pick it up and go through your information. It doesn't really matter which locking mechanism you choose. Whichever is most comfortable for you. (I use fingerprint, along with a pattern lock for the times it doesn't register my finger on the sensor.)

Hi MightyDrake and Big Steve, thanks for your support and for using Avast. I wanted to let you know that it is true that in our free versions we do occasionally show notifications for other Avast products and is how we can support Free.

However, in any upgraded version, you can turn these off completely if you like Same with the Android version, too.

I've been over this with an Avast representative here, before. (These comments refer to the Windows desktop version of Avast.)

I am aware that it's possible to turn off notifications. But, in my experience, there are many notifications scattered across several menus. Some aren't even in menus, they're deep in some other completely different configuration section. Some web searches require finding the correct version of Avast to get the right cookbook to turn them off.

Bad enough when it's one machine that slowly gets each one turned off. But, for me, I had to then replicate those across multiple computers in different locations. So, I ended up with some notifications on one machine and different notifications on other machines. And even worse. If I ever reinstalled Windows that means spelunking around to turn off the ones I can remember, plus looking up, again, the ones I couldn't remember.

Basically, it got to be just too much.

What I suggested to the other person is that, for every notification, you need to include within the notification a button, link directly to the menu, or some other affordance to give the user a way to turn off that notification. Usually, to turn off the entire class. Sometimes, a filter for specific instances.

Neither did I; neither did I. I'll probably install the free Avast AV for Android since I've had good experience in using Avast on my 2 computers.


Big Steve
09/19/18

Why is this board looking like a page from Best Buy.com? When I started this thread a few days ago there weren't these huge Best Buy.com pop-up type ads which are annoying when I'm trying to figure out how to make the ads disappear so I can post a reply to this thread? Did these huge Best Buy.com ads start here yesterday? I know this site has to sell ad space to help pay for running the site but when I can't make the ads disappear they are annoying. Android Central's website is bad about this. You sign in to read something on their website; the minute you're on their website these stupid pop up ads appear wanting to sell you this or that or that. It's very annoying. What happened to the "preview" your post button? The "edit" your post button? I still see the "submit" your post button; it's huge now at the bottom of my Dell laptop's 15.6" screen.


Big Steve
09/19/18

Avg? Is that as good as Avast?


Big Steve
09/24/18

I wasn't aware that AVG was now owned by Avast but since you're an ADMIN. on this site what have y'all done to the board? All of these stupid pop-up ads; they're annoying and why are they even here now? Did y'all get rid of the preview and edit buttons on this board because I don't see them anymore? The old board was good; why change it? Get rid of the annoying pop-up ads and articles.


Big Steve
09/24/18