Best Antivirus Apps For Mobile Phones

Do you need antivirus software for your mobile device? Here are some scary facts…

In September 2019 alone, researchers uncovered a total of 172 infected apps on the Play Store. The worst part? These apps had racked up over 335 million installs by the time they were detected by security experts.

The apps pretended to be legitimate services including games, utilities, photography software, and photo galleries.

The Android.Joker family was found to be embedded in Android utilities, camera plug-ins, and image editors, among other software. Joker contains some of the typical functionality of a Trojan, including the installation of a backdoor to maintain persistence, the theft of sensitive handset and user data, and a particular proclivity towards stealing financial information.

It is believed up to 800,000 Android users have been impacted and data including names, handset information, and locations may have been stolen.

Although it's less likely that your Apple iPhone or iPad will get infected by malware compared to a Windows or android device, it doesn't mean they are completely immune.

Whether it's malicious websites, annoying ads, web trackers or just someone grabbing your device when you're not looking, there's plenty to be concerned about if you own an iPhone.

As a smartphone user, so much of your personal life is stored within your mobile device, including banking logins, private photos, email, social media and much more. Now imagine all of this data being stolen, lost or altered without your permission and you will agree with us that our mobile devices are actually more exposed to security and privacy breaches than desktops or laptops.

Viruses and other malware don’t really care which device you have. Though iPhones are definitely safer than android devices, malware can penetrate your iPhone since these malicious programs often have the ability to jump from device to device, for example via email, through a local Wifi connection in a hotel or airport, or via SMS and other messenger services.

Think this is a rare occurrence? According to recent statistics, a hacker attack takes place every 39 seconds, affecting one in three Americans every year. That’s exactly what an antivirus app is designed to prevent happening to your smartphone.

If you don’t want to become a victim of cyber crime, having the best security apps installed on your devices is becoming absolutely essential.

How We Test The Best Smartphone Security Apps

Many big-name antivirus and security vendors have products that are especially tailored to devices that run on mobile operating systems such as android and iOS.

In our ranking and research we specifically looked at:

1. How well the antivirus app protects these devices against viruses, ransomware, Trojans and other malware
2. How much it affects working memory and processing speed
3. Which security features other than antivirus protection are offered
4. Reviews by leading independent testing labs, consumer reports and customer reviews.

Must-have features of the leading antivirus apps for your mobile:

The best antivirus apps don’t just protect your device from malware, viruses or trojans. The security apps we recommend above can also do the following:

+ Scan for new viruses and the latest threats in real time on a daily basis to make sure your device is protected 24/7.
+ Clean your phone consistently, thereby boosting memory space.
+ Delete unused and redundant apps to prolong your device’s battery life.
+ Automatically back up personal files from your device so that if you ever lose your phone your vital data is always safely secured in the cloud.
+ Allow you to surf anonymously via built-in VPN to increase your privacy.
+ can all used Wifi networks to ensure you are not being hacked when at the airport, hotel or other public networks.
+ Advanced ‘Find my Phone’ tracker which locates your device if it is ever lost or stolen.
+ And much more...

All of the above will enhance your security without slowing down your phone or negatively affecting your user experience.

Our list of the best antivirus apps will give you the extra protection you need to use your device to its full potential, without needing to fear hacks, ransomware or other nasties!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do mobile phones need an antivirus app?

Yes, our smartphones are essentially handheld computers. This means that your mobile phone is just as susceptible to viruses as your desktop and laptop computers. There are a number of ways that cybercriminals can break your phone’s defenses. Some events that can pose as threats include downloading untrustworthy apps, losing your phone, public WIFI, man-in-the-middle attacks, and more.

Can an Android device get infected with viruses?

Unfortunately, yes. Android’s code is open source which makes it particularly vulnerable to malware and other malicious threats. Android also dominates the OS market with a 72% share, making it an attractive target for hackers. Your phone can catch a virus through bogus text messages or email, fake apps, public WIFI, or malicious advertisements.

Can an iPhone get infected with malware?

Although not as prone as Android devices, iPhones can also get infected with malware and viruses. This is becoming increasingly common, especially via infected emails or by downloading apps outside of the App Store.

How do I know that my phone has been infected with a virus or malware?

There are certain signs that you need to look out for. If your phone drains faster than expected, you start seeing apps that you don’t remember downloading, you get bombarded by pop-up ads, apps are suddenly crashing, or if your data usage is unusually high, then you should definitely run an antivirus scan on your phone.

How do I know if an antivirus program is compatible with my phone?

The top antivirus apps we recommend on this page are all compatible with major smartphone brands, including but not limited to: Samsung Galaxy, Apple iPhone, Google Pixel, Motorola, Huawei, Xiaomi, OnePlus and LG.