Mobile Security Suites?

[The_Eric]

My wife and I recently got smart phones to replace our failing flip phones. The salesman advised against using task killers, instead recommending to use NQ Mobile (which they sold). Said it was a task manager of sorts and a security program as well. He claimed that the task killer programs can actually run up the processor usage and cause an early failure.

I wasn't sure that he was telling me the truth, so I passed on the offer, telling him I could always install it later.

I did have a smart phone some time ago (which failed) and am aware that there are malicious threats out there... Heck, there's threats everywhere!

How necessary is it to have a mobile protection suite, and was the salesman jiving me on the task killer thing?

 

[RamFan]

He's right about the task killer. Not sure about the protection. I don't use one and haven't had any issues.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Is this an Android device? Early versions of Android may have in fact benefited from a task killer app. However, current versions are pretty good at managing the tasks on their own, so a separate task killer app is redundant and may in fact negatively affect performance.

As for the security app, not sure. The resources (CPU, RAM, battery) on a smartphone are rather limited. A security app that's constantly running/in memory will be putting a drain on all these resources. Are the threats really this big to warrant this? Possibly in the near future...

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Is this an Android device? Early versions of Android may have in fact benefited from a task killer app. However, current versions are pretty good at managing the tasks on their own, so a separate task killer app is redundant and may in fact negatively affect performance.

As for the security app, not sure. The resources (CPU, RAM, battery) on a smartphone are rather limited. A security app that's constantly running/in memory will be putting a drain on all these resources. Are the threats really this big to warrant this? Possibly in the near future...


Yes, both are Andriod phones and both have the newest release, "Jellybean" I believe?

Go figure. It concerned me seeing various apps running. I assumed that they were pigging up battery life, processor power and memory. But you know what they say about assuming...

 

[The_Eric]

RamFan and Quattro Pete, what is it about task killers that can lead to premature failure or excessive system resource usage?

 

[RamFan]

I don't think its a failure issue so much as a battery life issue. Task killers take up space and use battery to run, they also kill apps that sometimes need to be on which will use the battery even more since the app will constantly be shut off then restart.

 

[Voltmaster]

There is nothing wrong with task killer if your done using your phone for now ( check email browser, than done with phone)


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if you havent used it yet, you also get 10 dollar gift card.

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[dishdude]

Not worth it. Unless you are downloading apps from outside of the Google Play Store you really don't have anything to worry about.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: RamFan
Task killers take up space and use battery to run, they also kill apps that sometimes need to be on which will use the battery even more since the app will constantly be shut off then restart.

^^^^^^ This.

 

[itguy08]

Glad I don't use a mobile OS that needs such things as anti virus and task killers. I left that world behind when I got rid of my Droid X. My Android Experiment was a grand failure and not worth the hype at all. If you need apps to make the experience useable than the OS is a fail.

 

[Quattro Pete]

I've used Android for years without a task killer and without anti virus. Never found the need for either.

Quote:
If you need apps to make the experience useable than the OS is a fail.

You really don't.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
Glad I don't use a mobile OS that needs such things as anti virus and task killers. I left that world behind when I got rid of my Droid X. My Android Experiment was a grand failure and not worth the hype at all. If you need apps to make the experience useable than the OS is a fail.


I think it's pretty unrealistic to expect a manufacturer to put on every conceivable app a person may need or want.

As delivered, my Android based phone has more than enough to make calls and do basic office stuff, but I have added things like "Torque", an OBD II based software to interface with the ELM 327 device so I can communicate with my car.

And now, as I've found out, you don't need task killers and likely antivirus either.

 

[4ever4d]

My Samsung Galaxy S came with "Lookout Mobile" security as an installed app. I have left it intact and to this point seems to be causing no harm. It has not caused battery life issues for me so far and i'm thrilled about that as the Galaxy itself is a high usage device. I do not use task killers as they do often cause problems.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: The_Eric

I think it's pretty unrealistic to expect a manufacturer to put on every conceivable app a person may need or want.


But the fact that a "task killer" even exists and is reccomended makes me think the OS is not doing something right. And from my Android Debacle I'd say there is plenty the OS is not doing right. Compare that to iOS, Blackberry, and WM7/8 and while their multitasking is relatively limited it works much better without any task killers. Out of the box I was getting battery life from my iPhone 4S that my new Droid X could never acheive in the 1.75+ years I had it (got it on launch day in 2010).


Quote:
As delivered, my Android based phone has more than enough to make calls and do basic office stuff, but I have added things like "Torque", an OBD II based software to interface with the ELM 327 device so I can communicate with my car.


Torque is an awesome app. It's the only reason I have not recycled my Droid X. That and being a bedside Internet Radio player that I don't care about. However, once the DX or the dongle bite the dust I'll pick up a WiFi adapter and use an iOS app. I wish the Torue guy would port it to iOS as it is a very well done app, probably one of the best Android apps I came across when I was on that platform.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
Originally Posted By: The_Eric

I think it's pretty unrealistic to expect a manufacturer to put on every conceivable app a person may need or want.


But the fact that a "task killer" even exists and is reccomended makes me think the OS is not doing something right. And from my Android Debacle I'd say there is plenty the OS is not doing right. Compare that to iOS, Blackberry, and WM7/8 and while their multitasking is relatively limited it works much better without any task killers. Out of the box I was getting battery life from my iPhone 4S that my new Droid X could never acheive in the 1.75+ years I had it (got it on launch day in 2010).


Quote:
As delivered, my Android based phone has more than enough to make calls and do basic office stuff, but I have added things like "Torque", an OBD II based software to interface with the ELM 327 device so I can communicate with my car.


Torque is an awesome app. It's the only reason I have not recycled my Droid X. That and being a bedside Internet Radio player that I don't care about. However, once the DX or the dongle bite the dust I'll pick up a WiFi adapter and use an iOS app. I wish the Torue guy would port it to iOS as it is a very well done app, probably one of the best Android apps I came across when I was on that platform.


It certainly is. I thought that torque was available through the I-store?

As for battery life and task killers, well, you can read (the posts above) as well as I. After removing the task killer program from my Galaxy S3 and reviewing the running processes, it appears it really doesn't need it. Battery life is of course directly linked to the battery's capacity - and I'm sure you knew that. Maybe your X has a small battery? My wife has a Razr Maxx with something like a 3200mA battery, but the Droid Razr (the same exact phone except for battery) has an 1800mA battery. At any rate, it sounds like you've found what makes you happy, and that's what really matters.