What We Look For
The great news for Android security is that when it comes to malware, detection rates are sky-high. At PC Mag, we use the testing results from independent labs to evaluate malware. According to AV-Test, the average detection rate in August was 95.2 percent. Which is great, because the number of malicious apps is exploding.
With detection rates so high, we look to other issues for a big part of our evaluations. Design and ease of use, for instance, are critical. Extra features, like back up, call-blocking, anti-theft, and so forth are great features that really help users. Additionally, we look at how security apps impact user experience, such as how long it takes to complete a malware scan.
We also look at how those features are implemented. For instance, most security apps will remotely lock your device but unfortunately some allow you to continue to interact with your device even when it's locked. That's something our readers should know before they make a purchase.
Do You Need Security?
The question of whether or not security apps are "worth it" is one I go over a lot in my head. While all the reports that I see indicate that Android malware is rising, it's usually limited in how it can attack devices. It wasn't long ago that a security expert told me that Android security was a success story compared to the madness of PC security in the 1990s.
But there are some indisputable benefits to security apps. Theft and loss, which are by far the most common and most immediate threats to your phone and its data, can be drastically reduced. And if malware seems too unlikely to be a threat, remember that simply being on a phone or a tablet doesn't make phishing emails (or SMS, or Facebook messages, and so on) any less dangerous.
These days, you wouldn't use a Windows computer without AV software simply because of the risks out there. Android isn't as tasty a target (yet), but security apps will keep you from becoming a target and will give you valuable tools that just make owning an Android better.
FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUP
avast! Mobile Security & Antivirus (for Android)
Free
avast! brings an enormous kitchen sink app, with extensive anti-theft tools, more remote SMS commands than anyone else, and top-tier malware protection. While its lockscreen is not as secure as I'd like, the price plus the sheer number of features make it an easy choice for those who want great protection without breaking the bank. Read the full review ››
Free
avast! brings an enormous kitchen sink app, with extensive anti-theft tools, more remote SMS commands than anyone else, and top-tier malware protection. While its lockscreen is not as secure as I'd like, the price plus the sheer number of features make it an easy choice for those who want great protection without breaking the bank. Read the full review ››
Bitdefender Mobile Security and Antivirus 1.2.3 (for Android)
$9.95 per year
Bitdefender's mobile security app is a pragmatic product, with a reasonable annual cost and carefully pruned list of features. It uses a unique cloud-based scanning system, and can scan your entire phone in about ten seconds. While it also scans each app upon download, it can't perform scans without an Internet connection. A recent update added support for Bitdefender's Clueful app reputation service. Read the full review ››
$9.95 per year
Bitdefender's mobile security app is a pragmatic product, with a reasonable annual cost and carefully pruned list of features. It uses a unique cloud-based scanning system, and can scan your entire phone in about ten seconds. While it also scans each app upon download, it can't perform scans without an Internet connection. A recent update added support for Bitdefender's Clueful app reputation service. Read the full review ››
Lookout Security & Antivirus Premium (for Android) 8.13
$29.99 per year, $2.99 per month
Lookout gets a lot of points in my book for being entirely mobile, and focused on good user design. They also have great detection scores, and are very responsive—sometimes updating their app to address new Android threats before Google has the chance to close a vulnerability. Read the full review ››
$29.99 per year, $2.99 per month
Lookout gets a lot of points in my book for being entirely mobile, and focused on good user design. They also have great detection scores, and are very responsive—sometimes updating their app to address new Android threats before Google has the chance to close a vulnerability. Read the full review ››
Kaspersky Mobile Security (for Android)
$14.95
Kaspersky delivers a solid product with their mobiles security offering. It provides the full slate of anti-theft tools, new privacy settings, top-rated malware protection, and some unique features that allow you to keep some information hidden on your device. I particularly liked the app's secure lockscreen, and the ability to perform either a full system restore or to simply remove personal data. Read the full review ››
$14.95
Kaspersky delivers a solid product with their mobiles security offering. It provides the full slate of anti-theft tools, new privacy settings, top-rated malware protection, and some unique features that allow you to keep some information hidden on your device. I particularly liked the app's secure lockscreen, and the ability to perform either a full system restore or to simply remove personal data. Read the full review ››
Trend Micro Mobile Security & Antivirus 3.0 (for Android)
$29.99 per year
Trend Micro seemed bent on not only delivering quality malware protection, but more options than any other service. The app has good malware scores, anti-theft features, SMS/call blocking, and some parental controls among others. Interestingly, when wiping the device you select how much to remove from the phone but trigger the wipe remotely. However, it lacked a spy cam feature and its lockscreen left me concerned. Read the full review ››
$29.99 per year
Trend Micro seemed bent on not only delivering quality malware protection, but more options than any other service. The app has good malware scores, anti-theft features, SMS/call blocking, and some parental controls among others. Interestingly, when wiping the device you select how much to remove from the phone but trigger the wipe remotely. However, it lacked a spy cam feature and its lockscreen left me concerned. Read the full review ››
Norton Security antivirus
$29.99 per year
This app works with Norton 360, giving you total protection for all your devices. It has high scores for malware detection, includes call and sms blocking along with the typical list of features. Unfortunately, a remote system restore was not among the anti-theft options. Read the full review ››
$29.99 per year
This app works with Norton 360, giving you total protection for all your devices. It has high scores for malware detection, includes call and sms blocking along with the typical list of features. Unfortunately, a remote system restore was not among the anti-theft options. Read the full review ››
McAfee Antivirus & Security
$2.99 per month, $29.99 per year
I was very impressed by McAfee's detection scores and numerous extra features, which includes robust backup options for premium subscribers. With it you can back up your SMS messages, call log, contacts, and the media files on your device. I also liked the fine-grain controls for wiping my device with McAfee and the different profiles for controlling access to apps. Besides a problematic lockscreen, McAfee is a very strong mobile security app. Read the full review ››
$2.99 per month, $29.99 per year
I was very impressed by McAfee's detection scores and numerous extra features, which includes robust backup options for premium subscribers. With it you can back up your SMS messages, call log, contacts, and the media files on your device. I also liked the fine-grain controls for wiping my device with McAfee and the different profiles for controlling access to apps. Besides a problematic lockscreen, McAfee is a very strong mobile security app. Read the full review ››
Bitdefender Anti-Theft
$3.95 per year
If you don't want to pay for the malware protection of Bitdefender, but you do want the anti-theft features, Bitdefender Anti-Theft will let you secure your phone at a bargain-basement price. Using a webportal or extensive SMS commands, this app will keep you in control if of your phone even after it has been stolen. Read the full review ››
$3.95 per year
If you don't want to pay for the malware protection of Bitdefender, but you do want the anti-theft features, Bitdefender Anti-Theft will let you secure your phone at a bargain-basement price. Using a webportal or extensive SMS commands, this app will keep you in control if of your phone even after it has been stolen. Read the full review ››
Android Device Manager
Free
Google's take on Apple's excellent Find My iPhone, Android Device Manager offers baseline security for your Android device. It's not as complete as other products however, and won't allow you to lock a device, activate the camera, or message your lost phone. It's good, but more of a compliment or back up for an existing solution. Read the full review ››
Free
Google's take on Apple's excellent Find My iPhone, Android Device Manager offers baseline security for your Android device. It's not as complete as other products however, and won't allow you to lock a device, activate the camera, or message your lost phone. It's good, but more of a compliment or back up for an existing solution. Read the full review ››
LastPass Premium Password Manager
$1 per month
With LastPass, you can create and manage unique, complex passwords to make yourself just a little more secure. Best of all, premium account holders can sync their passwords between mobile devices and their computers. The interface is outdated, and a bit tricky to get the hang of, but it's an invaluable service. Read the full review ››
Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2425153,00.asp
$1 per month
With LastPass, you can create and manage unique, complex passwords to make yourself just a little more secure. Best of all, premium account holders can sync their passwords between mobile devices and their computers. The interface is outdated, and a bit tricky to get the hang of, but it's an invaluable service. Read the full review ››
Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2425153,00.asp