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Do you need to download an anti-virus for Android? (lemmy.world)

submitted 7 months ago by Yamainwitch@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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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.

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[–] 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Regarding desktop antivirus, it's often the case where it is not necessary to have. Windows has Windows Defender built-in, and other operating systems have other means to mitigate any type of viruses. There are actually reports of antivirus causing attacks because their hooks are so deep in the operating system.

Even trusted apps and app stores are prone to being malicious. The upstream packages that they use can have a malicious developer or insecure package, and it gets incorporated in the app, then distributed. Thats why it's important to use devices that get hardware/firmware updates to help protect against this. If a rootkit is installed, there is no way to ever get rid of it on your system.

[–] EveryMuffinIsNowEncrypted@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 7 months ago

Windows Defender is antivirus application, though, so how is it evidence that antivirus applications are pointless? Also, Defender wasn't always as good as it is. That's only a relatively recent thing.

Also, there are viruses/malware other than rootkits.