Do you need virus and malware protection for Android devices?

[SoTaxMe]

Unfortunately, no antivirus will protect from a Zero-Day attack.  Zero-Day attacks are detected after the computers are already compromised.  In my opinion, almost all antivirus is a con game to drain us for money.  As long as you follow general rules, and not invite these these hackers in, you should be fine.  

Most people that get infected computers clicked on links before vetting them.  And that includes banking.  Do not fall for fake links that that you do not know.  A very good source to read and verify this is:

www.BraxNet.com

Hueristic antivirus algorithms will help, but seldom prevent attacks.  and if a Hueristic algorithm detects anything suspicious, good luck.  if you are using Windows, you may need to delete serious operating system files, causing further problems, and likely a complete re-installation of the Windows operating system.  Or you can do as I do, and simply run a Linux operating system.  Linux these days is virtually indistinguishable from Windows.  And the Linux operating systems are free of charge. please at least give a small donation to their cause.  Does not to be much.  

My 2 cents,
73's

[argentus]

I tried that first.  For some reason, it is not allowing me to add android service to my desktop account, despite the fact Cust Derv says it is allowed.
I threw up my hands and decided to not use the paid plan on the android.

I don't know shit about shit.   Don't listen to me, listen to these younger folk who know what they are talking about.   

We changed from cable tv to iptv -- which gets everything -- and acquired Nord VPN, because it was recommended.  That did away with all the "this video can't be shown in your country" shit,  however the level that we bought also provides amazing everything protection.  I have actually been warned off of sites that I sometimes visited.  

I use my phone for only a phone, okay, and sometimes a camera.  My Darlin' uses her phone for EVERYthing.  Only after adding Nord did we understand all the threats that were trying to access her phone, lacking only a single variable or two.

[Unknownparadox]

All electronic devices are spyware malware, these days. It wouldn't hurt to get some spyware malware protection. But it won't help you when someone hacks their data base, that contains all the information the device stole from you to begin with.

[chr0naut]

Any networked computing device is able to be compromised.

Mobiles carry digital wallets, banking apps, social media, e-mail, and so on and so on.

There are frequent android compromises happening all the time.

I'd recommend firewall, VPN, ad block, anonymizing and anti-malware software/s.

Also, complacency is no security:

e.g. The Hacker News (but be aware that this is a commercial enterprise and is advertising supported)

[RichardHurt]

Your just fine DTOM. Best thing to not do is pay any bills or directly buy or really just use banking on it. And you obviasly know not to open not cool things.
Other than that yoou should be solid. No need to worry.
That is unless your doing fishy things! 

[SoTaxMe]

No antivirus will protect against a Zero-Day attack, because when one occurs, there are not yet any fixes in the antivirus database.  Sure, we hope for Heuristic analysis to see a "possible" attack, but no guarantee of direct attack.  And Heuristic-suggested repairs to operating system to correct a suspected attack may simply devolve into total OS reinstall.  And that heuristically suspected identification actually never knows the actual attack vector.  It just "suspects" an anomaly.  What if there was no real anomaly?  You just spent hours or days chasing a ghost. 

Your best protection from an attack...is yourself.  Do not open baiting links unless you have vetted them out on another browser maybe.

Antivirus is another industry developed to separate good people from their wallets on yearly subscriptions.

Be Safe