Mobile Antivirus
It's hard to imagine modern life without smartphones. And while Apple might have started the trend, with 80% of mobile devices running on Android it's safe to say that Google is the king of mobile.
Unless you're an iFanatic, odds are you own a device that runs on Android. Yet despite keeping these pocket-sized computers within arm's reach at all times, little consideration is given to just how vulnerable these devices are.
Thankfully the same companies that have spent decades protecting PCs have also lent their expertise to protect Android users. If you don't think you don't need advanced malware protection just imagine how much you'd lose if some hacker to control of your Android.
Do Androids Need Antivirus?
Using apps for email, banking, and socializing on Androids made life a little simpler. It also made it a lot easier for hackers to steal our most sensitive data. Every website visited, public wifi connected to, and app installed is a new avenue for viruses and malware to infect your Android device.
Newer versions of Android come with built-in basic security and anti-theft features. However, developing top of the line security of Android is not Google's main focus. In the last few years, there have even been instances of malware making it onto the official Google Play Store.
Of course, it's not just digital threats that endanger your Android. It can also be physically lost or stolen, and without a protective app with anti-theft features, there's little hope of getting it back. Seeing how storing sensitive data on smartphones is an increasing trend, investing in a dedicated antivirus built with Android in mind is the best way to go.
Free VS Paid Android Antivirus Apps
A good phrase to remember when looking for an antivirus to protect your Android device is nothing in life is free.
There are free antivirus apps in the Play Store that you can trust to offer basic protection, but you can expect them to come with annoying ads and repeated invitations to purchase premium versions of the software.
The worst Android free apps go further and for all intents and purposes act as spyware themselves. These free antivirus apps monitor everything your phone does and stores that data to be sold to the highest bidder.
What you'll pay for malware protection from a trusted company is a small price for the peace of mind they bring. Plus they offer many premium features absolutely needed for a modern Android device.
Android Antivirus Security Features
Antivirus developers from the top digital security companies know that your mobile Android device is much more vulnerable than a desktop. The best Android antivirus apps make a number of features available for optimizing the security of your Android.
When choosing the right antivirus produce for your Android, consider these features:
Real-Time Malware Scanner - Basic scanners will require you to manually scan your device regularly. Real-time scanners offer 24/7 protection, oftentimes cloud-connect so the latest virus versions will be detected.
Anti-Theft Features - These features protect your Android from physical dangers. They will enable you to lock your device remotely, track its location, and wipe sensitive data before it falls in the wrong hands.
Privacy Advisor - Apps that track your data are rarely upfront about what they're doing. This feature scans apps before you install them to check for potential privacy breaches.
Most paid apps are so confident in their product that they offer free trials so you can test out their features like the ones above. Free antivirus apps will always be free, but they tend to have fewer features and therefore offer less protection.
Which Android Antivirus Is Best?
Deciding which Android antivirus is the best will depend on many factors. In a perfect world, you could download and try them all, but if that's too time-consuming browse through our expert reviews.