Android is the world’s most popular operating system. It is a platform used by over two billion people around the world. Developed by Google, Android is an open-source system that allows OEMs to create their own software on top. It leads to fragmentation problems will, in turn, lead to security concerns.
Google argues Android is fundamentally secure at its source level. However, once it leaves, Google’s OEMs can change the source and the truth is Android can be insecure. As such, all Android smartphone users should have an anti-virus app to protect them.
Deciding on the best anti-virus tool is tough. Certainly, you want something that protects you across all facets of smartphone usage. Let’s not forget that people use their mobile phones for multiple purposes. You could be browsing one-minute, streaming video the next, then playing casino games at BetRivers, before lastly posting on social media.
All those different tasks require an anti-virus tool that protects across layers of Android use. Below, we have found two of the best security apps for Android; both are entirely free to use are.
AVL is a leader in the anti-virus realm and its software transitions are seamless to Android. While many other tools are comparable in terms of features and protection, AVL stands out how much system resources it uses. This is a very light application that does not hog resources. This means even if you have a modest Android smartphone, you can use AVL to keep it secure without seeing a performance drop in battery life.
Despite its light load in your system, AVL delivers plenty in terms of features and protection. For example, it can spot nefarious executable files and stop them from accessing your smartphones. Furthermore, the app also includes phone blocking to stop unwanted numbers from contacting you. If telemarketers have contacted you frequently, you know how valuable this tool is.
Perhaps the biggest flaw with AVL is how accurate it is… or how accurate it wants to be. It throws up far more false positives than the average anti-virus, which means it flags legit content as malicious.
If the false positives from AVL are too much, Avast Mobile Security is a good alternative. It boasts many of the same abilities and is more accurate. This is the mobile version of the popular Avast desktop anti-virus client.
Avast has integrated most of its desktop tools into the Android app, making this a comprehensive protection tool for your smartphone or tablet. It gets tools such as a firewall layer and the ability to block certain calls. Arguably the best feature is anti-theft that allows you to lock your device from a remote location if it is lost or stolen.
App-locking is another interesting tool, allowing you to lock sensitive applications with a designated PIN. It is worth noting that Avast used to be a paid service on Android, but the company decided to switch to a freemium model. This means you will have to deal with ads on the app, which is annoying but not a dealbreaker.
Conclusion
Both the Android apps above will keep your smartphone or tablet protected under more threat scenarios. Choosing the best depends on your personal usage needs. Avast has some cool, unique features, but you have to deal with intrusive ads. AVL may be too eager to please, but it is excellent if you don’t want to chew through resources and lose performance.
