Android has evolved into one of the biggest operating systems in recent years and sadly that makes it a target too. In fact, you must have heard a lot about Android malware that can literally wreck your phone. That is perhaps one of the biggest reasons why many security companies are always interested in developing and introducing virus scanning applications that can somehow lower down the risk of intrusion.
Having an Android antivirus app installed on your phone is crucial. After all, we do so much with our Android devices including mobile banking and other relevant tasks that could be truly cumbersome and risky if we don’t invest in the right antivirus app for our Android smartphone or tablet.
While the basic purpose of antivirus software is to keep our devices free of viruses and malware, many times the antivirus app itself becomes the root cause of faults or problems. One of the reports issued by AV-Comparatives revealed that as many as 138 malware detection apps designed exclusively for Android failed to perform their antivirus detection duties. In fact, some of them may even pose high security risks to your device.
The Austrian company basically tested 250 antivirus apps available on the Google Play Store by trying to install and run over 2k malicious apps along with 100 benign apps. Interestingly, 80 out of 250 apps detected 80% of all the threats while 138 were found to be risky based on their app score that was below the company’s 30% threshold. Also, those apps were found dependent on suspicious white/black lists that left alarming loopholes open. Some of them even were identified as PUAS/Trojan Horses.
It’s also noticeable that some antivirus apps do not run properly on Android 8 or above. Also, they fail to run successfully in the background. Because of these reasons, these apps won’t identify threats while running in the background and aren’t labeled as perilous as they otherwise perform pretty well.
Ways to Know Your Android Antivirus App is Really Working?
Most cyber security companies are only interested in making easy money. They’re least bothered about your security level and generally limit their premium features including real-time protection and malware removal. Obviously, you have to pay premium fee to get access to these features. If you have heaps of precious data to secure, you should opt for the premium version in order to benefit from dependable mobile protection. But, if your needs are limited, there are plenty of reliable free versions you can actually trust provided that you spend some time in doing basic research.
The good news is that not all Android antivirus apps are created alike. AV Comparatives discovered 23 apps that detected 100% of their virus threats. Also, there are many Android antivirus apps that offer pretty decent results and must be trusted if you’re really looking to keep the data inside your phone safe and protected (see a list of the best android antivirus apps here).
Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Result-Driven Antivirus App for Your Android Device
As mentioned above, you must do some research beforehand and should be careful as some of the antivirus apps available on Google Play Store are actually dangerous, waiting for you to grant access to all the sensitive areas on your phone just to swipe your data. As these apps come with fake descriptions and ratings, many times it becomes hard to doubt their credibility. Make sure you pay attention to the below-listed points when choosing an antivirus app for your Android device.
Free Trial
There are many antivirus companies that try to trick users with a ‘Free Trial’ or ‘100% Free’ options. Once you get comfortable using their software, oftentimes you forget to cancel the trial version and end up paying anyway. The trial versions of some of the reputable security companies like Norton or MacAfee are worth it. Otherwise, it’s just a business tactic to get more users install the app.
Reliability
Make sure you only look for apps from reliable and well-known companies. This point is extremely crucial as there are many fraudulent companies that pay for positive reviews. So, instead of blindly trusting a company with good reviews, be certain to look for companies with respected desktop malware detection software.
Efficiency
Don’t forget to check out all the features (free + subscription) to see whether or not your chosen product would be a good value for money.
How Can You Test Your Android Antivirus App?
It’s incredibly important to test your Android antivirus apps to assure they provide trustworthy security. Here’s a simple testing method that can help you check whether or not your Android antivirus app is really working.
Purchase the Software
Taking into account the above-listed points, choose a product that guarantees great results and incomparable security. One of the easiest ways to clear your doubts is by getting in touch with the company’s customer care and get all of your queries answered.
Installation
Another important aspect you must pay attention to is to test how difficult the overall installation/downloading process is. See how it impacts your system and also check its compatibility with an Android device.
Open Malicious URLs
One of the ways you can check the performance of your antivirus software is by opening malicious URLs in a virtual environment in order to check how the program responds to the threat.
Check Real-Time Protection
Check if your chosen software is able to restrict your device from installing malicious files.
Conclusion
While there are many free antivirus software available these days, you must not risk the privacy of your important data just to save a few bucks. Get a premium app with full features if you know your phone contains sensitive information. Look for the options that come with smartwatch integration and VPN access to have maximum protection.
There is no denying the fact that you don’t have to purchase an antivirus software for your Android device to stay protected. But yes, if you’re not ready to compromise on the safety of your personal data, it’s always a good idea to invest in one.
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