Most of the mobile users are no longer using their smartphones for just making calls but are also storing most of their sensitive information or even transacting online using their handheld gadgets. To most users in this era, smartphones are the new laptops or the traditional desktop but now with a smaller fancy design. As the demand for these devices rises every day consumers continue to utilize them for a couple of various tasks; from say taking and sending pictures or even managing their financial obligations among other things. It is estimated that the number of mobile device users is likely to hit 4.68 billion by the end of 2019. With such a high number of mobile users, hackers and other malware programs will always be on the prowl for malicious activities.
The 3 Paths that Hackers are Infecting Viruses and Malware
A virus is a program often for malicious intentions that reproduces itself attaching itself to another program. However, in the mobile devices context, this malicious program is the malware and can be used by hackers to remotely control a device. This way malicious software can be used to steal private information, money, passwords, track a user’s location without his/her knowledge. This perhaps explains the increased cases of identity theft and cybercrimes. There are several ways that your handheld smart device can be infected with malware.
Apps
If a user downloads an app that may have malware embedded in the app, subsequently infecting your device after installation.
E-mail attachments
In some instances, one may receive an email with an infected link, file, or a pdf document. This is commonly referred to as phishing.
SMS/website links
This is probably one of the most common tactics used to spread malware and viruses in mobile devices. A link to an infected site, or one that sends a user an infected attachment via SMS.
Top 10 Antivirus Apps for Protecting your Android device
Android is one of the most widely used operating systems among many mobile devices. Due to its huge popularity, it is targeted by hundreds of malware from malicious hackers globally. One of the simplest ways to keep away from these programs is to download apps from trusted sites from Google’s native play store which has a wide variety of apps. However, there are a number of antiviruses that can help secure your phone against any malicious activities.
1. McAfee Security
<Best Mobile Security APP for Android>
This is another house-hold name among antiviruses. The McAfee Mobile Security is the mobile version of the renowned McAfee desktop antivirus software. After its installation, the software prompts you to put in a six-digit pin. After you successfully perform all the necessary installation steps, the app’s screen lists shortcuts to each of its components including Call & SMS Filter, Backup, Security Scan, Lock Device, App Protection, Restore & Wipe, and Web Protection. It is bundled with more than just a scanner but an exceptional feature that even take a photo if the device is stolen.
2. Bit Defender
Bitdefender Mobile Security is a subsidiary of the antivirus industry leader Bitdefender which was founded in 2001. Their mobile security is an extremely lightweight solution for your mobile device antivirus. Upon installation, no other additional configuration is required. Its usage is approximately 500 million users in more than 150 countries across the globe.
3. Avast Mobile Security
This is a great antivirus app that does not only scan your device for malware but offers other great features such as system cleanup and a secure password management.
4. AVL
This is another great antivirus that has previously won the AV-test (An independent antivirus testing platform). Apart from detecting harmful files and self-executing them, the software is also capable of troubleshooting security issues on the OS and fixing them. The software classifies potentially suspicious apps into various categories such as ‘malicious’ and ‘risky’ and is quite also lightweight.
5. Sophos Antivirus
Sophos antivirus has previously won an award for the best protection. It boasts of a feature where it scans apps for malware during installation and alerts you for phishing activities. It also has a Web-filtering feature which protects your device when you are browsing. After installing the app you can also enhance your device’s data authentication.
6. Kaspersky
This particular antivirus has an impressive reputation of sniffing out malware and other malicious sites, with a detection rate of 99.9%. The free version has quite a handful of security features such as blocking malicious links before you even click on them, the anti-theft feature, and a call and text filter.
7. Norton Antivirus
Norton antivirus comes bundled with a mobile insight module that is able to comb viruses inside apps or files and automatically delete them. Other brilliant features are locking your device by just sending an SMS.
8. AVG Antivirus
AVG has gained quite a reputation on its desktop antivirus program, something that it has carried over to its mobile solution. It offers quite comprehensive malware detection along with a major emphasis on anti-theft. Should you device get stolen you can remotely lock it, view where it is, activate an alarm at full-volume, or wipe of the data on the phone remotely.
9. AhnLab V3 Mobile Security
This is a mobile antivirus app that can even support older versions of Android. The software is from AhnLab Inc. a company founded in 1995 which focuses on providing comprehensive security solutions for desktops, mobile devices, online transactions, network appliances, and so on. Its Android antivirus boasts of a high malware detection rate and incorporates a speed booster that is meant to speed and enhance your device performance. Apart from detecting threats on Google app, the antivirus also detects threats on third-party app stores.
10. Eset Mobile Antivirus
Eset probably easily rules within the mobile antivirus circles. It includes a decent array of robust security features such as detecting malware while you are browsing or connected to social networks. Apart from its on-demand or scheduled scanning feature, it has a real-time scanning feature that ensures that all communication and applications are scanned, thus protecting you from online, offline, as well as USSD code attacks. It also provides protection for online transactions.
Conclusion
Competition among antivirus software companies is on the rise. This explains why most top-notch software not only provides malware and virus detection and prevention but also other privacy features such as the ability to remotely wipe off data or send commands once a device is stolen. The above list is by no means exhaustive. We’d be happy to hear of the antivirus software you use on your Android device and its effectiveness.
