Can you get a virus on mobile devices

LCPete · 3 Jan 2014

Is it possible to get a virus or malware on a mobile device ?
In my case I go on the net using my samsung android phone which does have avast mobile security and also an ipad air
The guy at the apple shop said that it's impossible to get anything like that on an ipad but I would have thought that it's just as possible just probably less likely
Is it worth getting avast mobile security on the ipad as well ?

neil_g · 3 Jan 2014

apps on the app store are strictly regulated. i think there was one instance of a dodgy app once but it was quickly removed?

dinorock · 3 Jan 2014

yep use a security app running in the background. my wife has just had hers sorted by the nice man at phones4u :banana:

i'll just find out what its called. avg antivirus

works a treat hth mike

LCPete · 3 Jan 2014

neil_g said:
apps on the app store are strictly regulated. i think there was one instance of a dodgy app once but it was quickly removed?

Ok that's good to know thanks , what about browsing the net using safari ?
I don't go on any dodgy sites or anything

LCPete · 3 Jan 2014

dinorock said:
yep use a security app running in the background. my wife has just had hers sorted by the nice man at phones4u i'll just find out what its called. avg antivirus works a treat hth mike

Thanks mike

simonkit · 3 Jan 2014

The Apple guy was churning out the usual marketing rubbish... any device that accesses the internet is open to attack by numerous viruses etc. - antivirus software is essential and even then you can't be 100% sure something won't get through, you're reducing the chances though

Simon

Phil Young · 3 Jan 2014

Pete, I'm always browsing dodgy torrent sites and downloading onto my phone and tablets.

Been doing so for years and never had a problem with viruses.

LCPete · 3 Jan 2014

simonkit said:
The Apple guy was churning out the usual marketing rubbish... any device that accesses the internet is open to attack by numerous viruses etc. - antivirus software is essential and even then you can't be 100% sure something won't get through, you're reducing the chances though

Simon

Thanks simon I did wonder that as although as Neil says the apps are safe I'm still on the net the same as on a PC
Will look at avast got it on my PC and mobile phone

neil_g · 3 Jan 2014

sure youll be open to phishing attempts but installing malware to the device isnt going to happen outside of itunes.

LCPete · 3 Jan 2014

Phil Young said:
Pete, I'm always browsing dodgy torrent sites and downloading onto my phone and tablets.

Been doing so for years and never had a problem with viruses.

Thanks Phil it does look like a non issue as there wasn't many antivirus apps in the apps store anyway

LCPete · 3 Jan 2014

neil_g said:
sure youll be open to phishing attempts but installing malware to the device isnt going to happen outside of itunes.

Thanks Neil there wasn't much in the way of antivirus apps available anyway the avast one for ipad got poor reviews people have had lots of problems with it

landwomble · 3 Jan 2014

I wouldn't bother. I'm security conscious and I don't on my mobile devices. There's a lot of FUD about AV on mobiles. AVG on Android is worthless IMHO, just don't worry about it, and don't sideload apps outside of the Play store...Very very unlikely to come across anything malicious on the iTunes store either.

Andymilts · 3 Jan 2014

landwomble said:
I wouldn't bother. I'm security conscious and I don't on my mobile devices. There's a lot of FUD about AV on mobiles. AVG on Android is worthless IMHO, just don't worry about it, and don't sideload apps outside of the Play store...Very very unlikely to come across anything malicious on the iTunes store either.

There are more viruses now than ever before and growing hugely, the last stat I read Saudi there would be more viruses released in the first 3 months of 2014 than the whole of 2013 , as the devices become more powerful the risks become greater of an attack happening, especially as people start to do mobile banking, PayPal and other personal information is now stored on phones and iPads. The hackers are now starting to target more than just pc's these days, which is why macs never got hit, you build a virus for the most likely recipient, but now, iPads a the largest player in the tablet market. You can wait till after it's happened and deal with the consequences or be proactive and try and stop it happening.

ACW · 3 Jan 2014

Andymilts said:
There are more viruses now than ever before and growing hugely, the last stat I read Saudi there would be more viruses released in the first 3 months of 2014 than the whole of 2013 , as the devices become more powerful the risks become greater of an attack happening, especially as people start to do mobile banking, PayPal and other personal information is now stored on phones and iPads. The hackers are now starting to target more than just pc's these days, which is why macs never got hit, you build a virus for the most likely recipient, but now, iPads a the largest player in the tablet market. You can wait till after it's happened and deal with the consequences or be proactive and try and stop it happening.

As has been said, the way Apple mobile devices and their operating system work massively massively reduces the risks when comparing it to PC. It would be hard for malicious software to install itself onto the device.

ancient_mariner · 4 Jan 2014

ACW said:
It would be hard for malicious software to install itself onto the device.

Social engineering is the way viruses etc get installed on Apple devices most of the time (there have been a couple of exceptions over the years) by encouraging the (L)user to approve installation of the malware.

landwomble · 4 Jan 2014

Horses***. http://m.cnet.com/news/dont-get-faked-by-android-antivirus-apps/57391170?ds=1
Evidence, please.

ACW · 4 Jan 2014

ancient_mariner said:
Social engineering is the way viruses etc get installed on Apple devices most of the time (there have been a couple of exceptions over the years) by encouraging the (L)user to approve installation of the malware.

This is not a regular occurrence as Apple won't allow said malware (apart from the couple of very rare exceptions) to be in a position where the blissfully unaware end user can accidentally install it.

The sandboxed nature of IOS means it's far easier to target other mobile operating systems.

That said, I think PC targeted attacks will remain in favour until hackers develop some form of crypto locker type wares rendering a mobile handset useless bar paying a ransom. Just my opinion.

ancient_mariner · 4 Jan 2014

ACW said:
This is not a regular occurrence as Apple won't allow said malware (apart from the couple of very rare exceptions) to be in a position where the blissfully unaware end user can accidentally install it.

The sandboxed nature of IOS means it's far easier to target other mobile operating systems.

Hence my reference to social engineering. Apple can't fix it if, when asked if they really want to install and run an application, the owner of said device clicks 'yes' repeatedly.

Keith W · 4 Jan 2014

Most virus/malware infections, on whatever platform you use, are caused by a failure in the human interface

mid_gen · 5 Jan 2014

iOS AV is just a scam. The APIs don't allow apps to hook into the OS at any kind of useful level.

Unless you jailbreak/sideload software you are very very unlikely to get malicious software on your mobile device. Plenty around that slurp your personal info though...

srichards · 5 Jan 2014

I thought the larger risk with mobiles was maliciously crafted SMS messages? There have been a few of those around.

Found quite an interesting article about malware and android phones:

http://krebsonsecurity.com/tag/sms-malware/

hollis_f · 5 Jan 2014

simonkit said:
The Apple guy was churning out the usual marketing rubbish... any device that accesses the internet is open to attack by numerous viruses etc.

Proof? Which viruses can infect an iOS device?

redsnappa · 5 Jan 2014

Proof? Which viruses can infect an iOS device?

Dropout Jeep
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthr...777c78a49079010d098ac&p=18569530#post18569530

hollis_f · 5 Jan 2014

redsnappa said:
Dropout Jeep
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthr...777c78a49079010d098ac&p=18569530#post18569530

Ah, yes. Proof, spelled r.u.m.o.r.

landwomble · 5 Jan 2014

To be fair, if you're worries about three letter agencies getting access to your data, then AV isn't going to help you either...

mid_gen · 6 Jan 2014

landwomble said:
To be fair, if you're worries about three letter agencies getting access to your data, then AV isn't going to help you either...

Haha yes, you would have to take a lot of time and effort to hide your activities from the US and UK governments, given the information from recent leaks....and the reality is that the harder you try to hide, the harder they will look at you.

Malware writers don't need fancy tricks to infect people. Most infections probably come from people willingly installing apps\applications that rip them off.

ACW · 6 Jan 2014

ancient_mariner said:
Hence my reference to social engineering. Apple can't fix it if, when asked if they really want to install and run an application, the owner of said device clicks 'yes' repeatedly.

My point is this can't happen on Apple's mobile devices.

You cannot install (short of a jb) malicious software. It all must be put through iTunes which filters out anything dangerous.

Thus the social engineering aspect is irrelevant.

redsnappa · 8 Jan 2014

Is it possible to get a virus or malware on a mobile device ?

The companies who make profits from creating and selling antivirus software would of course like you think so. So don't disregard this from the social engineering aspect of malware propagation.

B1ts · 17 Jan 2014

In a nutshell vir/malware on mobiles?
Yes possible, not v likely yet but watch this space....
Personally dont worry about it but ymmv.