The word “antivirus” is associated mainly with PCs – laptops or monoblocks. But for a smartphone, virus protection is also desirable. The All-Tech Guru has collected information on the best antiviruses for Android phones in 2022
Over the past ten years, the smartphone has become the main instrument in human hands. We constantly use it for everyday needs and business tasks, but at the same time we almost never think about our own safety. And Internet fraudsters who wish to enrich themselves due to the carelessness of users are well aware of this. To protect yourself from their tricks, it is enough to install a good antivirus and follow basic rules of digital hygiene.
Today, one cannot do without a mobile antivirus, security software vendors assure, but they exaggerate a little. If the user is careful about their privacy, does not click on suspicious links and does not install pirated applications, the chances of becoming a victim are low. Security software just insures against such situations, which any person can get into, even with extreme concentration. That is why software for a smartphone is not a necessary measure, but an airbag.
What mobile antivirus can protect against
- Phishing. A type of internet scam based on fake websites. The victim receives a message about a promotion, sale or winning a competition. By clicking on the link, she goes to a fake website of an online store or bank and when she tries to log into her account, she loses her personal data. Some emails seem very attractive and believable, and fake sites are almost indistinguishable from the original, so it’s better to protect yourself from phishing with an antivirus program.
- Ransomware. Malicious software that blocks the owner’s access to the smartphone and demands a ransom. You can get it by installing unlicensed applications or by clicking on a banner on an unreliable site. The malicious program will only work after installation, which can be prevented in time by an antivirus.
- Spy viruses. After installation, the program starts monitoring personal data or steals user passwords. It may also collect information about his interests and activity on the Internet in order to transfer or sell it. Antivirus protects personal data, but in most cases, it will not even let spyware get onto your device.
- Stealing money from a SIM card. Some viruses can call from an infected device or send paid SMS. For a user without an antivirus, this can result in the loss of all money from the SIM card.
- Adware. A hidden program for displaying ads that interferes with the use of a smartphone. Often it is impossible to disable ads on your own, but a high-quality antivirus can cope with it.
To save readers from Internet threats, the editorial board of The All-Tech Guru has compiled a rating of the best antiviruses for Android phones in 2022. The sample is based on the most recent data from the independent study AV-TEST, conducted in November 20211. A detailed result for a specific product can be viewed on the link by clicking on the name of a specific product. In addition, data from the AV-TEST conducted in September 20212 were taken into account.
Editor’s Choice
ESET NOD32 Mobile Security
ESET NOD32 is a machine learning-based security program that detects and removes 100% of today’s viruses and protects 99.9% of threats3 in real time. It also has a home network check function that analyzes the security level and identifies possible vulnerabilities.
If the phone is lost or stolen, the owner can manage it through their personal account on the ESET website. This feature allows you to remotely erase sensitive data, lock the device, locate it for a quick return, and get a snapshot from the camera.
A special option will help to recognize the face of the kidnapper or to examine the surroundings. The rest of the features are standard: password protection for applications, automatic scheduled scanning and anti-phishing to block fake sites.
Top 10 best antivirus for Android phones in 2022 according to The All-Tech Guru
1. Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android
With this program, you can completely forget about malware on your smartphone. Bitdefender products receive top marks in independent research and are regularly ranked among the best antivirus solutions for computers and phones.
According to one of the most recent tests4, Bitdefender Mobile Security was able to repel 100% of threats in real time and blocked 100% of the latest viruses at that time. In addition, the study showed that the antivirus does not slow down the system, does not generate a lot of traffic, and is energy saving.
The application does not falsely trigger, so it will restrict access to dangerous games and programs only. The package has all the important features, except for blocking unwanted calls and data backup, and VPN traffic is limited to 200 MB per day.
2. McAfee Security: VPN protection and antivirus
One of the most powerful antivirus tools for Android. For mobile antivirus, there are only 7-9 basic options besides virus protection, and almost every service package lacks something from this list. However, McAfee has everything you need except call blocking.
The program includes a full-fledged high-quality VPN for network protection, the ability to safely browse sites and filter out suspicious resources, an anti-theft function with a full range of remote control and code protection of applications. McAfee Security uses a Wi-Fi hotspot scanner to check the security of your home or unfamiliar network.
The antivirus also warns the owner if someone has stolen and used his phone number or email address on the Internet. The disadvantages of the product include the price, which exceeds the cost of other paid subscriptions by 3-9 times.
3. Norton 360: Mobile Security
Antivirus with 100% protection6 and a complete absence of false positives. The program copes with the main task perfectly – it detects all new threats, blocks transitions to fake sites and does not affect the speed of the smartphone. Among the useful features is the privacy advisor – it warns the user in advance about applications from Google Play that may secretly use his personal data.
The antivirus also notifies about suspicious and dangerous Wi-FI networks, through which they can steal personal information or infect the device with viruses. In terms of protecting your privacy, Norton 360: Mobile Security can be considered one of the best solutions. However, it does not have a free trial and the VPN is installed separately and is not available in some countries.
4. Avira Security Antivirus & VPN
The optimal solution for lovers of mobile gaming. The program optimizes the phone’s resources and improves its performance, as well as allows you to get rid of temporary and residual files. Thanks to this, the device does not slow down, heats up less during a long game, and the storage is not cluttered with useless data. The program is not demanding – it has almost no effect on the battery and does not load the system when monitoring threats in the background.
If necessary, Avira Security Antivirus can scan the network and provide the owner with information about its security and connected devices. In addition, the antivirus protects the wearer from being tracked through a microphone and camera. However, unlimited VPN and password manager are only available with a paid subscription, and even then, not on all plans.
In the free version, the user can get acquainted with some of the functions, evaluate the interface and settings, try the free 100 MB VPN per day and decide whether or not they need to pay for this product.
5. Avast Mobile Security Premium
One of the best antiviruses for Android. Its signature database contains information on 8 million malicious programs and is updated daily by users and analysts. Avast protects against the main threats: Trojans, adware and ransomware that block access to the device.
For a paid subscription, you can use VPN, automatic daily scanning, and the protection of important programs that use personal data or conduct financial transactions.
In addition, only in the Premium version you can disable ads, which in free Avast Mobile Security occupy almost the entire bottom of the screen.
6. Kaspersky Internet Security for Android
This Russian antivirus is well known not only to foreign users, but also to independent Western experts. They regularly test the program for security properties, usability and performance. By all criteria, Kaspersky Internet Security gets high marks8.
Antivirus protects your smartphone in real time, suppresses tracking attempts and warns of fake phishing sites. Anti-theft and call filter work as standard, but the program has no VPN or parental control. These functions are integrated into other Kaspersky Lab products, therefore, if necessary, the user will have to purchase them separately.
7. AVG AntiVirus Pro for Android
An absolute clone of Avast in terms of the interface. If the user has once had one of these antiviruses, it will not be difficult to deal with the second one. AVG’s computer and mobile software is regularly ranked at the top of independent research ratings and has a high level of protection9.
The set of functions is standard for most paid antiviruses, but the anti-theft can also take an automatic snapshot when replacing SIM-cards in the phone. AVG is similar to Avast in the absence of a firewall, so the antivirus cannot filter information transmitted over the network.
8. Dr. Web Security Space
Android version of the popular domestic antivirus with a large updatable database and reliable protection. Thanks to the URL filter, the user is protected from dangerous and unreliable Internet resources. Any site can be added to the white or black list – it will be opened or blocked regardless of the general settings of the program.
The mobile version of Security Space, like the computer version, has a convenient spam filter: the antivirus filters out all unwanted calls and advertising mailings. To use this feature, you need to install the application from the official Dr.Web website, not from Google Play.
9. Panda Mobile Security
High-speed performance and wide functionality are the main advantages of this antivirus. He knows how to block calls, optimize the system and extend the “life” of the battery, and if the device is stolen, it allows you to remotely erase all confidential files, capture the intruder’s face and even turn on the anti-theft alarm. Even if the battery runs out completely, the owner of the stolen smartphone will be able to track its location.
Panda Mobile Security has several tools in its arsenal for smartwatch users. For example, the owner of the gadget will receive a warning if the watch and smartphone are too far from each other. Unfortunately, in terms of protective properties, the program is inferior to advanced antiviruses.
10. Malwarebytes for Android
An antivirus that takes up little storage space and does not load the system. The main security features of Malwarebytes for Android are blocking ads and adware, controlling security when visiting web pages, and disarming ransomware early.
At the same time, the antivirus has a long and not the most thorough scan, there is no Wi-Fi check, call blocking and VPN. This product is suitable for those who want to get rid of ads without unnecessary load on their smartphones and protect themselves from the threat of malicious sites.
How to choose an antivirus for your Android phone
Choosing a mobile antivirus to suit your requirements is not so difficult. But first of all, you need to figure out whether it’s worth paying for software at all.
Paid or free – which antivirus for Android is better
Even the best free antivirus for Android is, in a sense, a half-measure. Today, for smartphone users, Internet fraud has become the main threat, and only programs with a developed and wide range of capabilities protect against them.
And therefore, the most obvious advantage of the Premium versions is functionality. Some free antiviruses can only perform a forced scan and detect threats after the fact. They have a couple more useful features, but anti-phishing protection, banner ad blocking and VPN are mostly found only in advanced versions.
The second reason for paid subscriptions is the lack of ads. Shareware products still need to be monetized, so they regularly offer to buy a paid service package, show ads, and may even collect user personal data. Choosing a free antivirus, you need to carefully study the privacy policy and be prepared for the constant imposition of goods and services.
What are the criteria for choosing an antivirus?
Any antivirus can be assessed by three parameters: protection efficiency, usability and performance. The last criterion is based not only on the speed of the program, but also on its impact on the system and energy consumption. Reputable research laboratories such as AV-TEST10, AV-Comparatives11 and MRG Effitas12 use roughly the same assessment parameters.
So, first, you should cut off all options with inappropriate performance. It is better to immediately abandon the antivirus that slows down the system, makes the phone warm up or makes surfing the Internet unpleasant. These disadvantages will be too high a price for protection, which may never come in handy with careful use of the smartphone.
Secondly, it is important to learn about the quality of antivirus protection. To do this, just go to specialized sites and see the results of the latest research. There you can find at least five antiviruses with 100% threat protection, and then it remains to choose the one that suits the last criterion.
Usability – the last criterion is the third in line, but the first in importance. Using an inconvenient, overly complex or visually repulsive program every day is not a good prospect, especially if it cost the user money. To accurately choose a good antivirus for your Android smartphone, you can first evaluate its free version. Better yet, use the trial period and use the full range of services for a while.
Popular questions and answers
What parameters should an antivirus for an Android phone have?
Antivirus for Android smartphones should successfully protect against threats specific to mobile platforms. Most of the user traffic on the network now comes from smartphones and tablets, so it is very important to check the resources opened in the browser for malicious scripts and phishing links. Many vendors enable the installed anti-virus application to participate in their own defense network against new threats by default. In this mode, the phone will automatically send suspicious files and links to the developer’s server. This can lead to additional consumption of battery power, mobile traffic and leakage of confidential information. The settings should have an option to disable such a function. It is advisable to turn it off immediately after installation, says Alexander Shchukin.
Do I have to install an antivirus on my smartphone?
It is optional for smartphones based on iOS, since this OS does not provide superuser rights, and Apple’s policy regarding the app store is known – only the AppStore and no alternatives. All this together significantly complicates the spread of malware on the iOS platform and makes it relatively safe to use your phone without an antivirus. At the same time, iPhone users are limited in their options for choosing and installing software.
Android users are rooted to their devices and can install apps from unofficial sources. This flexibility is fraught with the potential risk of malware and rogue software from unverified sources.
Therefore, expert Alexander Shchukin recommends Android users to use anti-virus programs, at least free. Antivirus will be especially relevant if the owner of the phone often installs applications not only from Google Play and visits web resources that are questionable from a security point of view.
What is the difference between antivirus for PC and for smartphones?
Antiviruses for both PCs and smartphones perform the same function – protecting the user from Internet threats. Their differences are due to the platform, the “hardware” on which they work. Thus, computer antivirus can consume more resources and electricity, but smartphone antivirus should be more economical and not consume excessive battery power.
Another difference will be the function of controlling access to receiving and sending SMS by applications. It is not uncommon for fraudulent software to try to access SMS. Sending can be used for paid messages or subscription to paid services.
Interception of incoming messages is interesting for cybercriminals to pass two-factor authentication and gain access to a mobile banking application. There is simply no SMS functionality in computers, so there is nothing to control, said Alexander Shchukin.
