1.Avast mobile security
As a genuinely free app for the Android platform, Avast!
Mobile Security is offering an impressive range of tools. It has antivirus
protection, it scans your apps to provide details on what they are doing, and
it has a Web shield that scans URLs for malware.
There are various additional tools in the package and the best of
the bunch is the anti-theft component. The app is actually based on an old app
called Theft Aware which Avast acquired. The anti-theft feature is hidden and
allows you to remote control your smartphone using SMS. So if you lose your
phone, you can remotely lock it, locate it, or wipe it. You can make it play a
siren sound, lock down the SIM card, and prevent USB debugging as well. It’s a
comprehensive solution for theft protection.
If you have a rooted device then there’s also a firewall that
allows you to control network traffic. You can block access to Wi-Fi or the
network for specific apps which is handy for security and potentially saving on
battery juice as well.
According to the latest AV-Test report of 25 popular Android security apps,
Avast is a solid option with an overall detection rate of 98.1 percent.
Although it is not top of the charts in terms of malware detection, the extra
functionality (including the anti-theft tools and a firewall for rooted
devices) still make it worth considering. It has a light footprint with no
discernible drain on battery life and no impact on general performance. It also
returned no false positives.
The fact this app is completely free, has a wide range of
features, and offers protection for rooted devices, makes it a strong
contender. If you’re looking for a security solution for your Android
smartphone, and your primary concern is malware and safe browsing, then this
could be the right app for you.
Avast Marketing Director, Milos Korenko, has assured us that
“There might be a paid version in the future but that won’t have an impact on
the free version. It will continue to be available and loaded with features.”
Get it on:
2. 360 Security - Antivirus Free
A major player in China, developer Qihu burst onto the scene and
claimed the top spot in AV-Test’s September 2013 report with a virtually
flawless detection rate of 99.9 percent, the highest of any of the security
apps tested. In the latest September 2016 report, it achieved a detection
rate of 99.9 percent. The focus with 360 Mobile Security is
firmly on detecting and nullifying threats to your system. It has a very
streamlined, elegant design. It’s extremely lightweight, and it’s completely
free. A standard real-time scan will safeguard your device from malware,
spyware, and the threat of infection. It’s also capable of detecting and fixing
system vulnerabilities and cleaning up idle background apps to help your phone
run more efficiently. There’s a privacy advisor and a tool to clear your usage
history.
The latest version of 360 Security boasts a lot of extras,
including a junk file cleaner, memory booster to free RAM, a power saving
option, app management, privacy with encryption, and anti-theft tools for
locating or remotely wiping your phone. For a good blend of usability and
strong protection, you should think about 360 Security. It offers smooth
performance and a host of extra features, so it is bound to appeal to many
users.
Get it on:
3. AVL
Some of you are probably just looking for malware protection that’s as barebones as possible. If you don’t want anti-theft tools, or identity protection, or any of the other possibly superfluous features that come in many security apps then AVL will suit you. This app scored a 99.8 percent detection rate with one false positive and AV-Test found performance was good with no undue impact on speed or battery life. AVL can scan a variety of file formats beyond APKs and it’s designed to be fast and efficient. It does also offer call blocking capabilities.
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3. Anti-virus Dr.Web Light
Dr.Web was a new name to us, but its high lab rating shows it
really should be considered. The app lists fewer items than some here in its
requirements of what it needs to check on your device. Even so, it proved more
than adept at spotting malware from almost every 'family' attempting to gain
access to Android devices.
In all but 7 of the 19 malware families included in the AV-Test
procedure, Dr Web scored above 95.3%, while the remainder were in the creditable
65 to 90 percent segment.
Unfortunately, you won't discern how effective Dr.Web is from its
interface. Even while you scan through the security messages relating to what
it accesses, a worrying orange bar behind the EULA window shows that all is not
well.
This turns out to relate to the automatic monitoring service that Dr.Web
offers. Clicking the orange bar has no effect. In fact, you need to click the
Off/On radio button to the far right of the next option down - SpIDer Guard
[note to production: deliberate random upper-case]. The screen then turns a
virulent combination of green - to signal protection is now active - and
turquoise.
Get it on:
