While I do not have security apps loaded directly either iOS device, I regularly connect them to my Mac where I have VirusBarrier Internet Security installed and scan each device a couple of times a week to be sure that I haven't picked up anything that can cause problems. I know that lots of Mac fans believe it's not a good idea to put security software on a Mac, but as long as it is an effective tool, I see nothing wrong with it.
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General discussion
Poll: Tablet owners, are you concerned about viruses...?
-- Yes. (Do you have security apps on your device?)
-- No. (Why not?)
-- Somewhat. (Please explain.)
Get your votes in here:
http://forums.cnet.com/2706-21566_102-2175.html
Discussion is locked
8 Posts
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After I got my Nexus 10, I immediately installed Avast Anti Virus that I use on my W7 computers. There is a version for Android. The way that Android works, A firewall is not effective unless you have the device rooted. So far Avast has not found any malware on my device. I installed Advanced System Care on the Nexus 10 too since they now have a version for Android. With my device at least, it is all good so far. It seems the best chance to pick up malware or viruses is when you actually use a Browser to connect. Most of the connections seem to be via the app which uses it's own internal browser evidently. That may be the reason that tablets seem to safer. With a W7 machine, you usually get to where you are going through a browser such as IE, FF or Chrome. If you get to an unsafe site with a browser, you will definitely have to have the firewall and anti virus active. The Internet is wide open and there are lots of sites that take advantage of that by installing malware if you let them. A good Firewall and Anti Virus will warn you about that, and you can abort the installation. Even Mac's OS X is vulnerable to malware as has been reported recently. With Java and Flash for Windows, there is even a greater chance of malware getting in especially if the 3rd party programs aren't up to date. If you use Windows, install the Free Secunia PSI program that will inform you if any of your programs are not up to date. I use that on both of my Windows 7 Computers. If PSI can update program, it will otherwise it will inform you that you have to do it manually.
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No matter what you/re using, you should always be paying a good attention to security, especially when you are using an unknown public internet connection. Even though Apple wants people believe otherwise, everything (including Apple products) can be in danger of getting viruses and malware simply by the product's popularity in the public eye.
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Our family (with grown kids doing the same) all have used Mac products since the mid 1980's, probably because we were using them in the schools. We've had many desktop and personal computers, iPods, iPhones and so on over the years, but never had a firewall, worm catcher, or any of that security for any of them and never had even one problem. Maybe we're lucky, so we count our blessings. (Almost forgot, our daughter won a Dell with her college scholarship and gave it to a friend.) I've used Dell also at work, but at home, Apple suits us pretty well being worry free.
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When I retired, I decided to buy some inexpensive toys with a small bit of the redundancy package: an e-reader, an android tablet and a house. Little things. I'd never had either of the first two and I was glad to finally get rid of the mortgage.
Neither the e-reader nor the tablet are high-risk boxes so I have security for neither. If either of them does catch a nasty I'll learn something from the experience, even if it is only where to recycle them. That is the only reason I bought them, to learn how to work them. Catching a virus/worm/trojan might even be fun.
So far as I know, I've never had a bug on my PC's nor on the wife's Mac but I take precautions with those as they are not just toys.
I suppose that were I to use the tablet for anything serious I might bother to think about protecting it, but I don't so I can't be bothered.
My router has a firewall, so the little toys are protected a little but I consider them expendable.
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I do *use* the android tablet, I leave it plugged in unattended and let it run SETI@HOME < http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/> and other BOINC < http://boinc.berkeley.edu/index.php > pojects like this one< http://volunteer.cs.und.edu/subset_sum/ >. These are supposed to help Science and Humanity and Posterity and all those yummy good things and the tablet isn't doing much else most of the time.
BOINC have their own security, so I'm not worried about harming them nor about them harming me.
I run the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search < http://www.mersenne.org/ > on a notebook box and SETI and EINSTEIN on my main Windows desktop but those *are* protected.
Sorry to reply to my own post but I can't see an obvious edit function.
H.
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I use Vipre Internet Security (yes, that's the correct spelling for Vipre) on all my devices. Android Phone, Android Tablet, and notebook's. I am a computer Technician, and a dealer for their program's. I've been using Vipre for about 5 years without any problems.
www.GFI.com or www.sunbeltsoftware.com will get you there, or download from Google Play Store.
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The beauty about iPad (with iPhone and iPod Touch) is the controlled environment of the OS that makes extremely difficult for malicious software to get installed.
The ability of installed apps to run background tasks is also highly controlled, so mal-ware installed as background app is also extremely difficult.
The one weakness is the browser, as web sites run Java and Flash scripts and those can be malware vulnerable.
*As long as one does banking by the individual bank apps and the like, the chance of being compromised is almost impossible.*
Of course, don't lose you iOS device! Password it for safety.
On a side note, Android is Open Source software, it is wide open world.
But don't take my word, go research on the internet.
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