Just purchased an Acer iconia A500 tablet.

The IT guys at work “in the know” are telling me I don’t need any Antivirus protection, but googling produces varying opinions 😕

Any advice from STW tableteers?

Bump…anyone?

running android?
you’ll be at least as alright as anyone running apple stuff. wouldn’t worry.

Yep no malware on Android:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2011/mar/02/android-market-apps-malware
http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/15/new-android-malware-hides-as-google-app-answers-calls-for-you/
http://www.slashgear.com/mcafee-android-malware-problem-getting-worse-now-most-targeted-platform-24174009/

Source: McAfee

Apart from all that lot obviously 😀

you’ll be at least as alright as anyone running apple stuff.

Notice which OS is missing on that chart?

The only ones I can see are Android devices. So if you’re running Android then no. I don’t know of any android antivirus software tbh.

If you’re running one of those devices that will also run Windows then put it on the Windows system.

“the number of threats on smartphones like the Android platform and others are growing every day. A new report was published by Lookout that claims Android users are twice as likely to come across malware today than they were six months ago… The report estimates that 500,000 users of Android were affected by malware in the first half of the year. During the first half of the year, apps with malware inside went from 80 to 400. “
— http://www.slashgear.com/android-malware-twice-as-common-today-compared-to-six-months-ago-03169229/

I take it that on the graph the number of apps affected is supposed to be * something? 400 apps is hardly enough to worry about!

Thanks guys, yep android tablet honeycomb 3.1 first step outside of windows and apple so a little unsure as to what I need 😳

You don’t need AV on a tablet, so long as you’re not in the habit of installing stupid apps. If you’re likely to be installing “25 greatest farts soundboard” or “naked backgammon” or “tomtom free crakz” then you probably do (though arguably you simply deserve an infection).

Yep, there’s a lot to be said for common-sense as the best anti-virus.

Not all of the app names are quite so obviously dubious though. e.g. From the Guardian article:

“Super Guitar Solo
Photo Editor
Chess
Advanced Currency Converter
Task Killer Pro
Advanced File Manager
Piano
Bubble Shoot”

So it pays to think about where you are getting your apps from and read reviews of them before you install.

Notice which OS is missing on that chart?

Is there a gap in the market?