Do you really need antivirus / firewall installed on your omnia?

[Guest za3boto]

I've always had a security product (antivirus + firewall) installed on my pc. Even though all my friends used their computers with no antivirus installed mainly because it slowed down the system performance, I used it and it proven useful over the years specially when new viruses appeared (can't forget the first time my practice proved useful with the release of the virus which infected all executable files and deletes the motherboard's BIOS - can't remember its name though, was it CIH?)

Anyway, I wanted to ask if windows mobile is prune to such risks. Do you really need an antivirus or a firewall or both installed on your omnia given that you use unsecured wireless networks, unknown security over 3g networks, web browsing much like a pc with all the elements of a regular web page, bluetooth messages (specially that the omnia accepts all incoming beams without asking for your permission like htc devices do), etc...

Any opinions guys?

[Guest awarner (MVP)]

There is such a slim risk at this moment in time you would be in my opinion wasting your money.

As far as I am aware there have only been two virus reports originating from Russia that exploited a Java flaw.

Any virus would have to be downloaded etc rather than be picked up via email/web browsing as you would on a regular pc.

There have been a few symbian virus around, and one that springs to mind a few years ago was only infected when someone installed a "free" version of a commercial game so they got what they deserved some might say.

This virus dialled out to premium rate numbers without the user being aware.

[Guest luxury]

ive been using acer predator with no firewall and no antivirus or antitrojans all 2009 and 0 problems. last year i used kapersky but i uninstalled all cos i was hacking games/packetediting/lots of software n dls/run proxy servers and antivirus just gets in the way.

i have ccleaner and adAware, those are much more practical nowadays because tracking cookies and cache etc are muchh more common. the first time you run ccleaner it'll probably free up 2 gigs. adAware deletes 100 cookies every scan.

with experience you can always sense and tell which are corrupted downloads / sites / torrents and which are clean. 

if you want a good working updated FREE anti-trojan, get Avast! free antivirus. its valid for half year? then re dl

Edited May 14, 2009 by luxury

[Guest Natsirt]

ive been using acer predator with no firewall and no antivirus or antitrojans all 2009 and 0 problems. last year i used kapersky but i uninstalled all cos i was hacking games/packetediting/lots of software n dls/run proxy servers and antivirus just gets in the way.

i have ccleaner and adAware, those are much more practical nowadays because tracking cookies and cache etc are muchh more common. the first time you run ccleaner it'll probably free up 2 gigs. adAware deletes 100 cookies every scan.

with experience you can always sense and tell which are corrupted downloads / sites / torrents and which are clean.

if you want a good working updated FREE anti-trojan, get Avast! free antivirus. its valid for half year? then re dl

i think he was talking bout antivirus for the omnia

[Guest kav]

first of all, he was definitely talking about antivirus for the omnia... anyhow...

i think that there is a potential risk for win mo devices, though not so big as awarner mentioned, but getting to think abt it, a lot of reputed companies spent a lot of money on development of these antiviruses for the win mo devices, they are doing it for a reason, not just in case. some companies like kaspersky are providing an antivirus for symbian and win mo devices, but its not only an antivirus but has some xtra features in it as well. u can check it out here:

http://www.kaspersky.com/kaspersky_mobile_security

what i mean is that more and more software companies are spending money on making antivirus apps for win mo devices, if there was no viruses, no risks to these devices then why would they waste money in making these apps in the first place?

i personally dont use any antivirus apps on my omnia, so i dont know if it is actually worth having one or not, but it makes u think that companies that charge u $30 - $70 for a 1 year license wouldnt waste money in making useless apps, or is it just a scam to make more money on top of our heads??

Edited May 14, 2009 by kav

[Guest awarner (MVP)]

The reason they are developing antivirus applications is the simple fact they are trying to get ready just in case.

If a virus was to hit and they had nothing in place it would take months to actually develop software to use on the phone.

Regarding the Java based virus it has opnly been created in a controlled enviroment and not out in the wild.

[Guest lastnikita]

if I remember well there are some viruses on WinMo.

they're not as propagated as WinXP viruses I guess..

[Guest thescope]

As long as the for web browsing you use Operator netowk (Edge gprs Umts) or secure WiFi you are just fine..

Virus? none that i know of for WM 6 or 6.1 or 6.5.

I never had a FW or AV on any PDA... i think its a wate of RAM :D

[Guest zoolie]

I don't run any kind of ANTI-VIRUS on my computer, just registry cleaning tools etc.

It's really hard to get virus if you don't download weird files, surf free porn and visit/download crack/warez sites.

And ofcourse avoid opening mail and download suspected attachments.

I've choosed not to run Anti-Virus mostly because all of them take up 3-5 processes, even tho I got a monster-computer that handles my standard 100+ processes (vista is the s*** +asus motherboard apps is the s***) without even touching my CPU/memory.

I just find anti-virus progs unecessary and anoying, especially when they want decide to auto-update and blacklist all mailports and stuff like that.

And when I finally catch a virus, happens maybe 1-2 times a year, it's time to format the computer anyway, and that only takes me the time the installation takes, so about 1-2 hours with vista maybe.

Then I just multi-task install all my drivers and hundreds of applications right from my other hard-drives, paritions or computers.

Had a great application before that installed all choosed programs automatically so you just could have it over night :/

Anyway, I hate vista so I will install leopard on a parition on my PC when I get time, need to switch kernel for it to work...

Now my offtopic is related to the ontopic i'm about to say.

It's plain stupid to install an anti-virus app on your phone because the chances of you catchin' a virus by surfing news etc are less than winning shitload of money on lottery.

[Guest za3boto]

I get it now guys that there are a very slim chance I get a virus browsing the internet using my phone. But there are 2 situations I want to mention:

1. I hear all the time about software that find and hack bluetooth enabled devices.Is it possible that using these software, someone can install an application on my phone or read data from it without me knowing it?

2. We're all familiar with phishing sites when browsing the net on our pcs, is it possible that you log on to a secure site (or so you think), enter a username and password to log in to this site (whether your email, online bank site, or any other subscription). The username and password are transferred and stored on a 3rd party database before redirecting you to the original site. Later, someone can use these usernames/passwords to access your subscription site and can do whatever they want on it. How about that?!!!

[Guest bpivk]

1. I hear all the time about software that find and hack bluetooth enabled devices.Is it possible that using these software, someone can install an application on my phone or read data from it without me knowing it?

That's why you should use discovery mode only when you pair a device. If you don't use it they won't hack you. Most "BT hack" software is useless because you have to accept the connection so don't be afraid of that.

2. We're all familiar with phishing sites when browsing the net on our pcs, is it possible that you log on to a secure site (or so you think), enter a username and password to log in to this site (whether your email, online bank site, or any other subscription). The username and password are transferred and stored on a 3rd party database before redirecting you to the original site. Later, someone can use these usernames/passwords to access your subscription site and can do whatever they want on it. How about that?!!!

Antivirus won't help you against phishing sites. No antivirus does that. It can notify you but that does every single web browser out there (speaking for PC). That's why people use common sense. Just check if you typed the link correctly and if all the certificates and sites look like they're supposed to and you're safe. Edited May 15, 2009 by bpivk

[Guest Slappa]

I virus scan all apps/.cab files before putting them on my phone, so *touch wood* that should take care of any issues there....

I don't browse on the net enough to really care, but I'd say a firewall would be a higher priority than antivirus, especially if you're using wifi.

[Guest bpivk]

I don't browse on the net enough to really care, but I'd say a firewall would be a higher priority than antivirus, especially if you're using wifi.

Phones don't need firewalls. Don't scare him even more.  :D

[Guest kav]

this is turning out to be an interesting thread... LOL everyone trying to scare the s*** out of others... LOL

IMHO, it all about a matter of choice, if YOU think that u need these apps, then get them, but otherwise dont bother overloading ur omnia.