Protection (like in PC)

[seniordummy]

Good afternoon,
A few months ago I bought the new Samsung Nexus. Am very excited about it but yesterday I apparently got a virus because my phone is completely empty, everything has gone, even my phonelist! Also all apps, whatsapp, in short everything I had loaded. A list of Turkish names appeared etc. etc.
Does anybody know whether there is a firewall and/or a virusscanner for Android 4.0.1?
Thank you - seniordummy

[Hook]

Yes. Lookout and Norton both have security suites for Android. I use Lookout. I haven't had an security issues since installing it, but, as usual with security software, I don't know if that is because of how good Lookout is or if I just don't run into much malware.

[Adama D. Brown]

Personally, despite going through dozens of devices and hundreds of apps, I've never really felt the need for independent security. Yes, there's Android malware out there, but it's pretty rare, and basic precautions--like not installing an app you got in a spam mail, or the like--will usually see you through.

[Drillbit]

To be honest I never heard of any Android malware that wipes out the entire phone out. The vast majority are just there to peep into your phone list, not destroy them, and to pop up ads in the notification bar, which is not actually malware but adware.

I would suggest to give the phone a complete reset, then re signin your Google account. Download only the apps that are in Google Play, but not the ones from external sources. I am assuming that you backed up your phone into your Google account, which is done automatically.

Go to the web and check your GMail contacts also. Make sure that it is not your Google account itself that is hacked, because this is the only way I can see how this can happen to your phone.

Mainly, someone hacked and stole your Google account in the web, and once that account is changed, the phone would immediately reflect the changes to what is done on your main account in the web.

If your Google account is indeed hacked, you must report this to Google, prepare steps to help restore your ID, or make a separate ID in the meantime.