Not Scanning SD Card

Archive
1

I've had Norton Mobile Security on my device for years. So reading previous posts I believe i'm not affected by them; so I'm doing a new thread.

 

Case in point....even a year and a half ago having Mobile Security checking the SD Card option has scanned my SD card. And of course un checking the box scans just my internal phone memory; both has worked.

 

So for a year and a half maybe leading up to the last month it has always worked for me.

 

I think the only difference that has changed is that I recently bought NIS 2013 which gave me a KEY to use a Mobile product; meaning I have fully activated my Norton "Mobile" Security to show 330+ days left on my subscription; thats the only difference.

 

I cant tell you with 100% certainty that prior to activating it did scan my SD card and after activating it doesnt but thats the only thing that has changed.

 

So as a avid tech user here are my steps I performed.

 

Perform a Live Update

Scan phone

Scan phone with SD card...same # of files

Reboot device

Scan Phone

Scan phone with SD card; same # of files

Reboot phone

Force Stop Norton Mobile under App manager

Re launch Mobile

Re scan x2...still same # of files

Un install Norton Mobile

Download current version (which was already updated anyways but oh well)

Re scan x2 (same # of files)

Power off cell phone and remove SD card

Turn on phone and re scan device...same # of files

Power off device and plug in my SD card

Turn on device, launch Gallery to verify all my files are being loaded which means SD card is being detected

Scan device x2 (both versions)....same # of files....339

 

As I have stated at the beginning of this I know I've always had a difference...300 or so files vs over 1,000 files.....It takes 39seconds to scan 339 files but I know it should take 90seconds to scan over 1,000 files.

 

I cannot figure out why Norton Mobile will not scan my SD Card

 

Oh and glancing previous threads, I think someone said if theres apps on the SD card; the answer...No!  All my apps are on my Phone's memory. 

 

So was that the issue? 

 

Norton Mobile will only scan the SD card if Apps are on the SD card?

 

But you see I dont think thats fair, is it? As a tech user I'm thinking long and hard on this.  You see you download the app but sometimes its "settings" are stored within the SD card.

 

If you download something off the net I believe first it must hit the Phone Memory right? Then you can transfer to the SD card

 

Well thats bogus cause again, you download a picture from the net, its on phone memory, you forget to scan, transfer to SD card and if you open afterwards your SD card is now infected right?

 

But maybe I need to treat the mobile device just like a regular computer....if I download/save pictures from the internet to my computer I always scan it before opening.  Even if i download the latest graphics driver and Norton immediately tells me its safe; I still re run  a scan before I click the .exe

 

So maybe any downloads I perform I should just run a scan before opening the item.

 

Problem is, is that I'd have to run a live update each time cause unlike a Norton Internet Security on the desktop computer that updates its definitions every few minutes, Live Update doesnt update on the mobile device but once a week right?

 

Grrrr so time consuming!

 

Anyways, sorry for long post, hopefully someone has insights; thank you

2

Hi Itolman.

 

I will try and respond but as your post is quite lengthy please forgive me if I miss a point.

 

You may also like to look at this thread, which covers the issues I think.

 

I believe that recently the way NMS works has changed and it now only scans flies on the SD card that are apps or apks.

 

I can understand you worrying about image files etc coming from a PC background but as far as I am aware there are no known threats to an android device coming from such files.  If you were to initially load them onto your android device and then copy to a PC it should be down to your PC security to catch them.  To me, it does not seem reasonable for us to expect an Android security app to check for PC and Mac malware.

 

So as far as I can see the new way that NMS scans files on the SD card is just as secure as before and much much faster.

 

Have I missed anything?

3

So what you are saying is that over the course of Mobile Security (in years)  and being hijacked and virus' invading cell phones primarily come from Applications downloaded and .apks ?

 

What about browsing?  LOL does android devices not even load the site if there was some issues? I mean sure Ive never tried to load a website known to have threats because well why would I? I dont have 700 dollars lying around for a brand new device if it seriously kills my cell phone...and I'm not a technician to test these things out...but I'm just wondering about that.

 

And I'm also thinking since I do have a subscription to Mobile Security that I believe i'm upgraded to have "safe web browsing"?

 

Thanks

4

Hello again Itolman.

 

I do not think fully understand some of the statements in your last post so I will just make a statement of what I think is the situation, but remember I am just a volunteer with an interest in Mobile Security and not a security expert or Norton employee.

 

I believe that at the moment the only known way for malware to initiate itself on an android device is for it to come in the form of an app or apk.  That is not to say that other attacks cannot be made and it also does not mean that accessing a malicious website may not end up with you passing the wrong information to the wrong person or downloading something that may be damaging to other devices.  The potential threat to your data etc. is why I believe that NMS offers web protection for the default browser and Chrome.

 

So if the only files on an android device that can cause damage to that device are apps and apks, why should Android security software scan them?

 

New threats will undoubtedly emerge in the future.  At that point I would hope that Norton will adapt to address them.

 

I hope that helps.  I doubt there is any more I could add.