Rating:

Review Conditions

NetQin Mobile Anti-Virus for Symbian was installed on a Nokia 5800 XPress Music, a Symbian^1 device.

Installation

Installation can be done via the Nokia Application Installer. Alternatively, you can copy the file to the device and just open the .sis file on the phone to begin the installation.

First View

There aren’t too many Anti Virus software for Symbian. Lets find out about NetQin Anti-Virus.

Main Review

NetQin Anti-Virus software suite for Symbian performs 4 function in its role as a  are Virus Scanner, Network firewall, Boot Acceleration and First Aid.

Virus Scanner

NetQin is a standar anti-virus application but focusses on viruses that specifically affect mobile devices. It scans all the drives on the mobile device and returns the status. You can also configure the drives that can be scanned. There is an online Virus database that has all the details of the viruses. The latest virus seems to be RC Commwarrior that will search nearby Bluetooth devices and spread around leading to resources being consumed heavily on the mobile thus affecting normal use of the mobile. The website has the details of the Symbian viruses. In the online database, in addition to the latest security threats, NetQin also gives a category of major security risks, including Privacy Steal, Account Trojan, Fraudware, Data Damage, Malicious Service Order, System Damage, Fee Consume, Backdoor, Badware and Prankware. The terms may be not well worded, given its a chinese translation but they seem to be quite serious.

When first installed, NetQin downloads the latest database online since the virus database on the installed version has expired. On the main screen, the version of the Virus database and the last scan date is displayed. You can update the virus database by just pressing the “Update” button on the main screen.

Network Firewall

As you start using applications that access the web, via GPRS/3G and 802.11 WiFi, NetQin keeps track of the applications and gets a one time approval from you, the user for allowing network access. Approved services are added to the Trusted Apps. Rejected apps are added to the Untrusted Apps list. The Network Firewall also keeps a record of all network traffic sent and received by the mobile. It doesn’t differentiate between WiFi and GPRS/3G but I’d like to see this difference. Since the traffic is measured based on the application’s usage, and not the ratio technology, NetQin probably doesn’t differentiate between the WiFi and GPRS/3G when collecting network traffic.

The Network Firewall detected all WiFi access and GPRS/3G access and warning was given immediately when the application starts.

The applications that are in my Trusted Apps list are Ovi Maps, SPB Mobile Shell (why did it access the web??), Browser, Nokia Email and Nokia’s “Client Platform”, which is a securewidgetlauncher.exe. A quick google search revealed that is a part of the Ovi store application and is installed as a background process.

NetQin picks a default access point for downloading virus database updates. You can setup the Periodic scan reminder and other options like auto-update and auto delete virus.

Monitor

The Monitor is turned on and runs in the background even if you quit NetQin. But the Monitor is not visible in Handy Taskman as a running task. You can set Monitor to start automatically at device boot.

To check if the Network Firewall also monitored bluetooth transfers, I transferred image files back and forth between the mobile and my desktop. NetQin didn’t detect the bluetooth file transfer! In the Monitor settings, the Monitor Security Level can be set to check for “Executable files only” or “Monitor all files”. The default setting is “Executable files only”. I change the setting to “Monitor all files” but even then, NetQin didn’t detect or block bluetooth file transfer.

The Monitor also alerted me that applications are being installed and uninstalled.

Boot Acceleration

NetQin identifies the list of applications that have been configured to start at device boot, either by the user or by the application itself, automatically. You get the choice to disable such applications to increase device start up time.

First Aid

Phone First Aid, when started closes all applications in the device except NetQin security program. It can then restore the phone to normal state. I have faced a few situations when the phone needed first aid, but these were times when the phone was bricked, with a while screen. I don’t know if First Aid will help in such a scenario.

System Manager

Qin Coins

NetQin has introduced the concept of Qin Coins which can be used to pay for a variety of NetQin VIP services. You can gain Qin Coins by participating in NetQin activities like providing feedback, reporting viruses and recommending it to friends and earn rewards. Or you can activate / recharge via the mobile pone. The service is currently not available.

When you uninstall NetQin, it warns you that auto start programs that were disabled will be enabled again. Very useful information.

Handling

NetQin has a neat logical interface with key functions accessible on the main page and other configuration options presented to the user as tabbed pages. The security warnings are unobtrusive. Overall, I had no trouble getting around the application to set it up and access information I needed from the System Manager about my Nokia 5800 periodically.

Weaknesses

I was surprised that NetQin didn’t alert me upon Bluetooth transfers – whether it was ordinary files or Symbian S60 executables. NetQin also didn’t warn me about software being installed on the device. There should be a policy about Bluetooth transfer that the user should be able to setup. But the point is Symbian’s Bluetooth security is outstanding and it doesn’t really need further protection.

Conclusion

NetQin mobile security services holds over 68% of Chinese mobile security market. NetQin delivers proven mobile security solutions based on Cloud-client Computing Platform – including anti-virus, SMS-filter, anti-spyware, and privacy protection – to more than 45 million users in more than 200 countries worldwide. NetQin has partnered with China Mobile, Nokia China, Symbian, Samsung, Baidu, Sony Ericsson and a few other companies in its endeavor to deliver mobile security services. NetQin is also a platinum partner of the Symbian Foundation.

All through the review, one question that came to my mind Do Symbian phones get affected by viruses? Are they truly vulnerable to attacks to warrant installing an Anti Virus software? While the jury is still out on this issue, there is no harm in having a robust anti-virus software to protect your smartphone.

NetQin can be downloaded for free here. For automatic virus updates, priority services from NetQin and other benefits, you can subscribe to NetQin updates using Qin Coins or payment through your mobile bill.  It is a must have. I’ll give it 5 of 5.

Tagged as: Anti-Virus, Mobile, NetQin, S60, Symbian