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Android Phone Security
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Android Phone Security

I have been iPhone user for several years, but i have decided to move to OnePlus 5T because of iPhone's ridiculous price increase.

So i have ordered OnePlus 5T, I'm thinking is it as secure as iOS? Do i need antivirus or malware protection in it? I'm not going to be downloading anything from anywhere else but Google Play store or maybe amazon. If so, which apps do i need to have in order to be as secure as possible.

Android users, please advise.

Comments

  • solairesolaire Member
    edited March 2018

    No worries, you shouldn't need anything if you don't sideload any apps. Besides, Android comes with Google Play Protect: https://www.android.com/play-protect/

    Thanked by 1netomx
  • Chalipa said: is it as secure as iOS?

    Well, this could start a long discussion. But as long as you don't install shady apps you should be fine.

    Thanked by 1jetchirag
  • WebProjectWebProject Host Rep, Veteran

    iOS is more secure as phone OS, some Chinese phone manufacturers have security issues in android os like backdoors:
    https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/chinese-backdoor-still-active-on-many-android-devices/

  • hzrhzr Member
    edited March 2018

    https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/11/14/oneplus_backdoor/

    https://malwaretips.com/threads/second-oneplus-factory-app-discovered-this-one-dumps-photos-wifi-gps-logs.77316/

    https://www.androidauthority.com/oneplus-collecting-user-data-without-permission-806579/

    https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/oneplus-smartphones-vulnerable-to-os-downgrade-attacks/

    https://forums.oneplus.net/threads/jan-19-update-an-update-on-credit-card-security.752415/

    Start by not picking a shit phone and shit company selling a phone with a specific history of this bullshit.

    If you are going Android, go for one of the decent flagships direct from Google (not an OEM like Samsung or the cheap rebranded chinese phones like Oneplus, because they're both godawful)

  • Or you can flash it with LineageOS. May void your warranty though.

    Thanked by 1netomx
  • WOW.

    The reason why i went with OnePlus 5T was excellent reviews including https://www.stuff.tv/top-10/smartphones

  • A lot of Chinese phones have malware, spyware at the root level and often there is no way of getting rid of it unless you can totally wipe the phone and install custom. These include LeEco, Blu etc. Would you want to install banking apps on it????

    They may be cheaper but besides spyware, they often have no warranty, support etc if you buy direct from China.

    You can save some cash, but understand the risks.

  • hzrhzr Member

    @asterisk14 often banking apps refuse to even let you log in on those because the bullshit they pull makes it fail virtually every safety check

    @chalipa it's probably great if you overwrite the existing os and use it to play games, but it's not something i'd buy directly from their site (because their site has questionable security posture), at the same time they have a HUGE history of basically zero QA, leaving backdoors all over the place, etc.

    if you just want to play pubg mobile or candy crush or whatever, go for it.

  • well, i'm surely planning to install my bank app, identification apps, PayPal etc on the new phone (whichever it may be).

    i find it strange that almost every trusted site has given at least 4 stars to this... including https://www.androidauthority.com/best-android-phones-568001/

  • bapbap Member

    yes, it is as secure as iOS

  • To be truthfully honest, know one knows...

  • For my Note 8.... I use Malwarebytes

    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.malwarebytes.antimalware

    I pay for the year subscription it comes out to a buck a month

  • WHTWHT Member

    Well am using xiaomi redmi 5 and installed kaspersky. Btw I do not use creditcard and all logins (bank, paypal etc) are TAN protrotected. Was also apple use for 8 years and will never buy again.

  • @WHT said:
    Well am using xiaomi redmi 5 and installed kaspersky. Btw I do not use creditcard and all logins (bank, paypal etc) are TAN protrotected. Was also apple use for 8 years and will never buy again.

    Maybe you can explain how the transformation from apple to android went? are you using kaspersky paid version? from what i have seen almost all antivirus brings up dozens of ads with them, so i find it hard to trust them to have an eye on security.

    Which app do you use for mail? the default app for mail in android is just awful (my view)...

  • HaxHax Member

    @Chalipa said:
    Maybe you can explain how the transformation from apple to android went? are you using kaspersky paid version? from what i have seen almost all antivirus brings up dozens of ads with them, so i find it hard to trust them to have an eye on security.

    Which app do you use for mail? the default app for mail in android is just awful (my view)...

    If you just need IMAP, Gmail and Gmail Go are very good, Astro is worth to try as well.

    I'm currently using Newton, a bit pricey but it's worth every penny.

  • asterisk14asterisk14 Member
    edited March 2018

    Also many banks will not give you your money back if you store your card details in the phone or use a aggregate app for your banking on the phone and your account gets defrauded. A lot of risks and I would never install a banking app on one of these phones for my normal bank, but would use only prepaid cards on the phone so the money at risk is minimal.

  • hzrhzr Member

    Sixell said: you just need IMAP

    K9 Mail :)

  • WHTWHT Member

    @Chalipa said:

    @WHT said:
    Well am using xiaomi redmi 5 and installed kaspersky. Btw I do not use creditcard and all logins (bank, paypal etc) are TAN protrotected. Was also apple use for 8 years and will never buy again.

    Maybe you can explain how the transformation from apple to android went? are you using kaspersky paid version? from what i have seen almost all antivirus brings up dozens of ads with them, so i find it hard to trust them to have an eye on security.

    Which app do you use for mail? the default app for mail in android is just awful (my view)...

    Am still having problems with the control panel (android have it from top) and some other small tasks but everything went good. I really enjoy it.
    Am using yahoo app and gmail one. Will.recommend to everyone to move away from apple, your really burn your money just to have half of apple.

  • WebProjectWebProject Host Rep, Veteran

    I personally like a look and feel of Samsung S9 but don’t like android, shame that it’s impossible to flash it with iOS

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