An antivirus is good, but it is not enough if you include all the threats in the portrait, most of them due to carelessness: spam, malicious programs downloaded from a pirate site, lost or stolen device, weak or shared passwords, etc.
If you only install software from reputable sites (like Google Play, Apple Store) and are careful and aware of the risks, then security and operating system updates are enough to protect your precious device.
Most problems come from dubious sites that offer to install fake apps at bargain prices that look like legitimate products, often bundled with malware.
The allure of big numbers
Not to be underestimated is the appeal of smartphones to hackers, whose malicious actions have been pushing Windows users to equip themselves with antivirus software for years. But since Microsoft has equipped its two latest versions of Windows (10 and 11) with an antivirus system, the need for additional protection has become unnecessary or worse, it would take up too many computer resources.
No operating system is completely secure, think of the famous Pegasus spyware from the Israeli company NSO in 2021, which caused a lot of headaches for Apple.
The criminals who invite themselves into your device
Wherever there is a critical mass of people, there will always be evildoers out to exploit them. Android has exploded in popularity and has attracted many consumers in recent years, so it’s only natural that it’s being targeted.
The vast majority of malware on Android aims to steal your information, which is obviously a big problem. Perhaps the worst scenario is malware sending text messages to target numbers. It’s like inviting a bandit into your home.
If you spot these SMS scams, the need for antivirus software is unnecessary.
Unfortunately, malware authors are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to trick you. There are apps that clone legitimate apps to trick you into downloading them, and apps that are malware-free when first installed but download malware through the update system.
Recently, Avast detected three malicious apps on the Google Play Store. The most widespread is a game called Durak, which has been downloaded over five million times, according to Play Store statistics.
Open WiFi Networks
One threat that many people seem to completely ignore is using open Wi-Fi networks without password protection. The risk of privacy loss and identity theft over public Wi-Fi networks is very real on free public Wi-Fi networks.
Therefore, hackers can easily access data transmitted over an open Wi-Fi network, including a user’s photos, videos, banking information, emails, chat messages, and browsing history.
The solution is quite simple: a virtual private network, known by the acronym VPN. A VPN protects your online data by encrypting it to a VPN server. This trick also allows you to move your IP address if, for example, in Tokyo you need to connect to your company’s servers or those of your bank in Montreal, then not only is all your data encrypted on the Internet, but you also bypass them geographic boundaries of the servers. For these, you seem connected to Montreal.
A system that is no longer updated
With so many security apps available in app stores that combine anti-theft, backup, and antivirus features, there’s no harm in installing them, but an antivirus solution alone might not be very useful. Your security depends more on how careful you are about what and where you download it, the links you click in email and online, and the networks you connect to.
On the other hand, if the iOS or Android operating system of your mobile device is no longer updated, an antivirus system is essential to guarantee its protection.
I personally find my virtual private network very useful and handy to protect my internet connections. A cross-device VPN solution for my laptop, iPad, and iPhone is fine.