Many people think of antivirus software as something that they only use on Windows laptops and PCs however, you need it on your Android phone too. Hackers are constantly coming up with new ways to infect your device with malware which can take your identity, create havoc on your smartphone and even turn it into an instrument for remote surveillance for criminals. While Google Play attempts to filter out virus-ridden apps, plenty slip through the cracks. A reputable antivirus application can scan all your devices and alert you to suspicious websites, messages and Wi-Fi networks. It also has an anti-theft feature that lets you to track down and erase the data of a stolen phone.
Bitdefender Mobile Security offers top-notch protection capabilities, scoring full marks in the most recent AV-Test roundup and receiving a high score from the AV-Comparatives (the other major independent test lab). It’s not just a look for malware, however it comes with an App Advisor that warns you of potentially dodgy apps prior to downloading them, and other useful features such as the ability to clean up junk files and a privacy boost that can boost performance, and Wi-Fi scanners to ensure your data is safe.
AVG’s free Android antivirus is a quality product which goes beyond the routine scanning of files and apps with a plethora of nifty tools such as an anti-theft system that can track your device, take a secret photo of someone who has stolen it, and wipe its data remotely and also a junk-file cleaner as well as a performance boost and an Wi-Fi scanner to make sure that you’re not being hacked, or overloaded by your wireless provider. It’s not the most user-friendly interface, but it’s effective and has excellent antivirus detection scores.