Some apps, such as Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus, will automatically audit permissions on your phone and warn you which apps have the potential to wreak havoc.Īs well as checking the software on your phone, most Android security apps now also offer protection against malicious websites these might try to trick you into downloading malware, or they might be used in “phishing” attacks that imitate banking sites and try to con you into entering your personal details and passwords. You can do your bit by keeping an eye on what permissions your installed apps are requesting: if a simple game is saying it needs to be able to read your email and make phone calls, that’s a red flag.
These combined measures make it much harder for malware to sink its teeth into your smartphone. This can warn you if, for example, you’ve downloaded a file that could be harmful if you were to launch it. Finally, most Android antivirus apps will carry out periodic or on-demand scans of your whole phone, including previously downloaded files. Behavioural detection is another feature that can keep you safe, by alerting you when an app – even one that hasn’t thrown up any security flags – is doing something that could be dodgy. The same applies to installations from Google Play in principle they should be more trustworthy, but there are still plenty of instances of viruses being distributed via Google’s own app store.Īs well as on-installation scanning, many antivirus apps will also carry out real-time scanning, to keep an eye on software as it runs. Most antivirus apps will scan new software as soon as it’s installed on your phone and warn you immediately if it’s recognised as malicious. When you do this, you have no way of knowing what’s inside the code you’re installing. That is to install apps via APK files downloaded from locations other than the Google Play store. The most common way to pick up malware on your smartphone or tablet is to “sideload” software. READ NEXT: The best free and paid-for antivirus software for Mac and PC How to choose the best Android antivirus for you
Here’s a rundown of our favourite Android antivirus apps, complete with real-world malware-detection scores from. Although some of these additional features only become available with a paid subscription, you can get excellent base-level protection for free. What’s more, these apps go beyond stopping malware, with features designed to help you if your phone is lost or stolen, features to protect you when you’re browsing and tools that can protect specific apps from being opened without a PIN code. That’s where mobile antivirus or internet security apps come in, identifying malicious behaviour and shutting down the apps and processes involved. Best microSD card 2021: Maximise your storage for smartphones, tablets, cameras and Nintendo Switch
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