The Android operating system is widely regarded as one of the most popular operating systems available. It is present in mobile devices, smart televisions, smart watches and other cutting-edge technologies. Therefore, it is not unexpected to see an increase in virus cases. Viruses have the ability to infiltrate your devices and cause substantial harm. Additionally, cybercriminals are starting to focus on Android-powered devices.
Unfortunately, you cannot protect your Android device by simply relying on best practices. There are various programs created to specifically target Android-powered devices. This means that you have to ensure you have the best antivirus for Android. Unfortunately, the so-called antivirus programs can cause even more damage.
Fortunately, before highlighting the list of the best Android antivirus, it is important to explain how we developed the list of the best antivirus software for Android. We will also discover why having antivirus for Android phones is important.
Get protected from malware or viruses for your Android device, use Malwarebytes.
This article was last updated on 29 October 2024
The Best Antivirus for Android
As stated earlier, taking the time out to find the best Android antivirus can be difficult, particularly, when you bear in mind that there is a plethora of Android antivirus software. When searching for the best antivirus for phones Android, you need to be careful that you don’t select just any software.
To ensure this doesn’t happen, we have taken the time to compare numerous solutions and antivirus programs to find the one that is best suited to you. To achieve this, we have ranked the best antivirus providers based on their performance in this review process. To this end, here is the best antivirus app for Android:
How we select the Best Antivirus for Android
This part of the article lists the criteria used to rank the best antivirus software for Android.
Protection
The first thing you should consider when trying to find the best antivirus software for Android is to find out the amount of protection you get. New threats are continuously appearing, with nefarious actors searching for ways to infiltrate your system to steal your personal information. When you have a great antivirus protecting you, you can be sure of having real-time protection. Simply because of this, you have to ensure that you have the best antivirus protection.
Malware
Malware is a program that can significantly damage your operating system. This simply means that the software has been developed to wreak havoc and damage your system. Unfortunately, simply browsing the internet raises the chances of your device becoming infected. The best antivirus software for Android is one that can seamlessly protect you from any issues.
Furthermore, you also need to ensure your device is protected from adware and the best paid antivirus for Android does that. Adware is a form of malware that places advertising on your device. These adverts tend to take over your system, appearing when you need to do something important. Furthermore, you cannot delete the adware without getting the best antivirus app.
The best antivirus software for Android is one that provides protection from spyware, another form of malware. This type of malware is said to be perhaps the most dangerous as its main aim purpose is to mine private and personal information from your devices. Once your device has been infected with spyware, it begins to search for information like your shopping accounts or financial data to exploit.
When you have the best antivirus app for Android, you can be sure that your private information and your network security are kept safe.
Effectiveness at Detecting Threats
The best antivirus software for Android is one that can seamlessly detect threats. When you think about it malware and viruses are created almost every day. You need antivirus protection that can remain up to the task by being updated. Because of this, the best antivirus app for Android is one that can easily identify any threats to your Android-powered device. This means that the moment there is a breach or attempted breach on your device, your best Android antivirus will kick in to protect your system from harm.
System Impact
The last thing you want when trying to protect your device is to get something that accidentally damages or places a strain on it. For this reason, you have to consider the best antivirus software for Android. This antivirus doesn’t place any undue strain on your system. This is something to truly consider if you want to use your device while the antivirus program is operating.
Considering that viruses and malware tend to be hidden at first, you should also consider getting the best antivirus app for Android as it works without placing undue strain on your device.
Extra Features
When getting the best antivirus for Android, you have to consider the additional features it offers ranging from digital password managers and safe browsers to VPN service to email protection. There really isn’t any limit to what you can get from the best antivirus for Android.
Furthermore, you also have to note that the best Android antivirus not only offers antivirus protection but also has scheduled scans to ensure that your device remains protected and safe. Some of the features that ensure this happens are smart VPN providers, privacy tools, anti-phishing tools, and more.
Usability/Interface
The best antivirus for Android is one that you can operate seamlessly. This means it shouldn’t have any steep learning curves. To this end, the interface should be user-friendly and have clear navigation instructions. The menus should also be clear enough for users to find what they need in the settings. The settings should also be spelled out correctly with information on what each option does.
Price
One of the most important factors to consider when trying to get the best Android antivirus is the price factor. How much you pay for antivirus is especially important. The simple fact is that you cannot place a price on having the best protection on your device.
Choosing instead to go for a cheaper option can be quite detrimental to you as it can create more problems than it solves in the future. The most effective way to consider price when trying to protect your device is to ensure that you get great value for your money.
Fortunately, we have taken the time to ensure that only the best Android antivirus is highlighted in this article, ensuring that whichever option you select, you get great value for your money. Moreover, the best Android antivirus is one that comes with promotions and discounts to help soften the blow.
Customer Support
Customer support is an important factor of any service and that holds true when searching for the best antivirus software for Android. Great customer service is all about being able to speak with a knowledgeable member of staff as quickly as possible on any issues or inquiries you might have. The best antivirus app for Android is one that lets you reach customer service via various channels. This means you should be able to reach customer service via telephone, chat, email, and more. Moreover, the best antivirus app for Android is one that is available 24/7 with dedicated ways for customers to get the help they seek.
Why You Should Use Antivirus
Having the best android antivirus means that you are protected from virus programs, adware, ransomware, and spyware. With so many devices powered by Android, the operating system is always going to be a target for nefarious actors.
Having the best antivirus app for Android means that you are protected from any scams or phishing. You can also get additional tools such as a safe browser to keep you from browsing malicious sites. With the right antivirus protection, you can keep your device free from malware. The best antivirus for Android smartphones has special tools such as dark web monitoring and VPN services to provide various layers of protection for you.
Free Antivirus Offer Only Basic Protection
While all of the above are exemplary reasons to get the very best, the price might be a factor that most people cannot look beyond. This, in turn, causes them to go for free antivirus. For most things, what you pay for is what you get and that is certainly true with antivirus protection. When you don’t pay anything, all you get are the basics.
While paid software provides you with a suite of advanced protection layers, the free stuff only gives you malware and antivirus protection and features, that are typically out of date by the time you get it. This simply means that your protection is only on the lookout for old virus definitions, and is unable to search for new ones. This inability remains updated with the trends can leave your device at risk.
Setting Up an Antivirus on Your Device
- The process is quite simple. The first thing you need to do is go to the Google Playstore to search for the best Android antivirus. We recommend Malwarebytes.
- Once you find the Android antivirus app that suits your preference, select the download icon.
- The file will begin downloading and then installing once the download is completed.
- Once installation is complete, you should be able to open the program.
- After opening the program, you might be required to download the latest signatures.
- Completing this download ensures that your device is adequately protected from any threats out there.
Conclusion
Trying to locate the best antivirus software for Android can be quite time-consuming, especially since there are so many programs out there that claim to be the best. Fortunately, this article should help you whittle down the plethora of choices, helping you find the best program that suits your needs. When searching for the best antivirus for Android in 2024, you need to remember that cheaper isn’t always better. You should also look for additional features such as password managers, VPN services, and real-time protection, like what Malwarebytes offers.
