13 excellent Android security apps

[51CTO.com Quick Translation] AV-TEST Institute is an independent service provider based in Germany that is engaged in IT security and anti-virus research. In November 2018, it evaluated 20 Android security apps on the market and released a related report (see details).

AV-TEST scored each tool on three dimensions: protection (up to six points), practicality (up to six points), and functionality (up to one point). All participating apps had an average real-time malware detection rate of over 98%. Of the 13 Android security apps on the list, eight scored six points in both protection and practicality, while the others did not score more than three points in either protection or practicality. Below we list these apps in alphabetical order.

1. AhnLab V3 Mobile Security 3.1

AhnLab V3 Mobile Security's detection scores are not yet excellent: its real-time malware recognition rate is only 99.1%, and its recognition rate for new malware generated in the past four weeks can reach 99.9%. However, when testing the installation and use of some legitimate apps in the Google Play store, the software actually issued false warnings.

It also has some very good feature sets, including: theft protection, call blocking, safe browsing, etc. However, it lacks services such as parental controls, personal data backup, and encryption.

2. Avast Mobile Security 6.11

Avast Mobile Security 6.11 can identify 99.8% of malware in real time and 99.7% of new malware in the last four weeks. The software does not negatively affect the battery life of the phone or cause the device to become unresponsive during normal use. When testing the installation and use of legitimate apps from third-party app stores, its false positive rate was zero.

Mobile Security's safe browsing feature helps protect against phishing attacks and various malicious websites. It also offers theft protection features such as remote wipe. Of course, the software also has a call blocker. However, AV-TEST did not evaluate its app lock, privacy advisor, and Wi-Fi security features.

3. AVG AntiVirus Free 6.11

AVG AntiVirus Free 6.11 detected 99.9% of malware in real time and 99.6% of new malware in the last four weeks. It had no false positives in our testing. It also has a very good feature set , including : theft protection, remote wipe, call blocking, safe browsing, personal data backup, app lock, Wi-Fi security, and privacy advisor. However, it lacks message filtering, parental controls, and encryption.

4. Bitdefender Mobile Security version 3.3

Bitdefender Mobile Security has a 100% real-time malware recognition rate and a 100% recognition rate for new malware that was created in the last four weeks. In terms of practicality, the software neither negatively affects the battery life of the phone nor causes the device to become unresponsive during normal use. When AV-TEST tested installing and using some legitimate apps from the Google Play Store, it did not report any false positives.

Bitdefender Mobile Security offers theft protection (including remote lock, wipe, and location), safe browsing, and phishing protection. Unlike many other Android security tools, it does not include features such as email filtering, call blocking, and encryption. Its app lock and privacy advisor features were not evaluated.

5. F-Secure Safe 17.5

F-Secure Safe can identify 99.6% of malware in real time, and 100% of new malware in the past four weeks. In terms of practicality, the software will not have a negative impact on the battery life of the phone, nor will it generate too much data traffic. When testing the installation and use of some legitimate apps in the Google Play store, it did not have any false positives; however, it still generated a false positive when installing legitimate apps from third-party stores. The software's features include: theft protection (remote locking, wiping and locating), call blocking, safe browsing, parental controls and application privacy.

6.G Data Internet Security 26.5

G Data Internet Security has more features than other anti-malware apps. AV-TEST evaluated its remote lock, wipe and locate capabilities, call blocking, message filtering, safe browsing, and parental controls. The downsides of this software are that it cannot save personal data to an SD card or cloud storage, and it does not support any type of encryption.

Internet Security has a 100% real-time malware recognition rate and a 100% recognition rate for new malware in the last four weeks. The software does not negatively impact the battery life of the phone, nor does it cause the device to become sluggish during normal use, nor does it generate too much data traffic. It did not generate any false positives when testing the installation and use of various legitimate apps from Google Play and third-party stores.

7. Ikarus mobile.security 1.7

Ikarus mobile.security is a new software in this entry. It has a real-time malware recognition rate of 99%. It can provide location, lock and wipe the target device if it is stolen. It also supports message filtering and safe browsing.

8. Kaspersky Lab Internet Security 11.18

Kaspersky Lab Internet Security can identify 99.9% of malware in real time, and 100% of new malware in the last four weeks. In terms of practicality, the software will not negatively affect the battery life of the phone, nor will it cause the device to become unresponsive during normal use, nor will it generate too much data traffic. It also supports remote locking, wiping and positioning functions, and has powerful functions such as call blocking, message filtering, safe browsing and phishing protection. However, its text privacy protection and phishing protection have not been evaluated.

9. McAfee Mobile Security 5.0

This Android malware scanner can identify 99.8% of malware in real time and 100% of new malware in the last four weeks. Its practicality is good, mainly reflected in the full set of theft protection tools, call blocking, safe browsing, phishing protection, parental controls, and saving personal data to SD card or cloud. However, McAfee Mobile Security does not support all types of encryption. Other features that were not evaluated include: battery optimization, privacy checker, and app lock.

10. Sophos Mobile Security 8.6

Sophos Mobile Security can identify malware at a real-time rate of 100%, and can also identify new malware in the past four weeks at a rate of 100%. In terms of practicality, the software will neither negatively affect the battery life of the phone nor generate too much data traffic. The software has the functions of theft protection, call blocking, email filtering, safe browsing, privacy advisor, security advisor, application protection, and authentication.

11. Symantec Norton Mobile Security 4.3

Symantec Norton Mobile Security has a real-time malware recognition rate of 100%, and a recognition rate of 100% for new malware generated in the last four weeks. It does not generate any false positives. In terms of practicality, it has features such as safe browsing, personal data backup, theft protection and call blocking. The function that was not evaluated was the app advisor.

12. Tencent WeSecure 1.4

Although AV-TEST did not evaluate Tencent WeSecure's specific features, you can still get features such as call blocking, safe browsing, phishing protection, and backup of personal data to an SD card or the cloud. The software can identify 98.8% of malware in real time, and 100% of new malware in the last four weeks. It is very practical, does not affect battery life and performance, and does not generate false alarms.

13. Trend Micro Mobile Security 10.1

Trend Micro Mobile Security has a full range of features, including: theft protection, call blocking, text message filtering, safe browsing, phishing protection, parental control, privacy scanning, message protection and network protection. You can back up your personal data to an SD card or cloud storage, and it supports any type of encryption. The software can identify malware at a 100% real-time rate, and the recognition rate for new malware generated in the last four weeks can also reach 100%. Its practicality is equally impressive, and it will not affect battery life and performance, nor will it generate false alarms.

The state of Android security

In addition, AV-TEST's research shows that the number of samples of Android malware they collected has been increasing year by year. As shown in the figure below: in 2014, there were only 326 million samples; the following year, it reached more than 470 million; in 2016, AV-TEST recorded 597.5 million samples; and in 2018, it has increased to 838.1 million.

AV-TEST data shows that Android malware is increasing rapidly year by year

Original title: Best Android antivirus? The top 13 tools, author: James A. Martin

[Translated by 51CTO. Please indicate the original translator and source as 51CTO.com when reprinting on partner sites]