Android: The best free antiviruses
Antiviruses on Android are at the heart of a great debate: some consider that they are not necessary, while others prefer to feel better protected. That's why we offer you a comparison of the best free antiviruses for Android.
This guide brings you a selection of the best free Android antiviruses. Before going any further, keep in mind that an antivirus is not essential on a smartphone, especially if you use it with some basic security measures. Our report on the interest of installing an antivirus on your Android smartphone can help you see more clearly.
360 Security
It is one if not the best antivirus on Android. It is currently used on more than 200 million smartphones around the world. In addition to of course offering all the necessary security, this small application will offer other features.
It thus turns into a RAM “booster”, which allows you to kill unnecessary applications in the background. It also offers an all-new smart battery saving feature to help you monitor the apps you use the most and conserve your battery life.
Avast Antivirus 2020 - Virus Cleaner, Anti-Theft avast 2020
Avast is known to be efficient. Whether it's scanning for viruses, blocking apps outright or protecting your privacy, the Avast app takes care of everything to make your experience smoother.
It is also possible to perform a scan on all storage spaces (including memory cards). In addition, the application offers a firewall to manage the traffic (Wi-Fi, data) of your applications as you wish. The “Privacy” section allows you to collect a lot of information about your phone and your network.
However, even if this solution seems relevant, Avast has been pinned around the exploitation of the personal data of its users. We therefore invite you to consider other options as a priority.
Avira - Free Antivirus
Avira, also known on PC for its formidable efficiency, speed and low resource consumption, which is pleasantly found on Android. Not that the mobile version of the antivirus is a beast in search of viruses, but it adopts an interface as simplified as possible and which goes to the point, as long as you have created an account.
For the rest, we find an anti-theft device to locate your lost or stolen Android device, and even options to lock it remotely or directly delete the data on it. It is also possible to create a blacklist to block unwanted contacts who would have used to disturbing you.
Antivirus and Mobile Security, AppLock and Booster, by Trend Micro
Trend Micro is, like Kaspersky, Symantec or McAfee, one of the experts in PC security. A Japanese company, Trend Micro is very often featured in the rankings of the best antiviruses in the world. And, naturally, its Android offering builds on this know-how to offer a suite that is just as complete and efficient as that of the most direct competition.
You will find in this package an antivirus, of course, with a very high detection rate. Application monitoring takes place before, during and after installation. The same goes for browsing URLs, which are scanned and blocked before accessing them. And that just as well on a traditional web browser or in the browser integrated into some applications.
The system also includes protection tools dedicated to mobile payment (against phishing) or to monitoring public WiFi networks (to avoid those with an excessively low level of security). In addition, the application includes optimization tools to clean the system of software that you do not use or that hog too much RAM. These are just a few examples of the many features of this suite.
Bitdefender Antivirus Free
Bitdefender also offers a free solution on the Play Store. The publisher of the famous solution highlights several features concerning its application, a low impact on autonomy, the support of the cloud to more easily detect potential threats and few manipulations to be carried out to benefit from effective protection in all circumstances.
The solution is limited to certain features, Bitdefender notably offers another paid version for those who wish to further enhance the security of their smartphone. Here are some things highlighted by the antivirus editor:
Lightweight solution: the signatures of known viruses are not stored on the smartphone, but in the Bitdefender cloud which greatly limits the impact on storage space. The performance of the device remains optimal under all circumstances.
Autonomy: the application has a low impact on the battery, an “Autopilot” system analyzes the applications during their installation.
No tedious handling: no configuration is required, installing the application is enough for maximum security.
The publisher also offers a paid solution for: locating the device, analyzing the web pages viewed, locking the smartphone remotely.
Dr.Web
Dr.Web is a fairly well-known Russian application with a community of over 70 million users (Developer figures). It has been downloaded over 100 million times from Google Play. Like its compatriots mentioned above, it is there to protect you from all possible threats on your mobile devices under Android, but this one differs from the others in certain advantages, but also disadvantages.
First of all, its main advantage is its lightness, in fact, you will only need less than 1 MB to store the application, it is the lightest antivirus in Android. Skip the installation almost invisible for your storage space, you will find yourself facing a very simple interface that gets to the point with a scan module (Fast, Complete and Custom), SpIDer Guard and statistics.
I won't go back to the scan, which works the same as all other apps. The SpIDer Guard is the monitor that monitors your device in real time to intervene at any time in the event of detection of potential threats and it is formidable. A persistent notification will then appear for faster access.
Dr.Web incorporates a large number of features such as high-performance antispam, an accelerated scanning system if you don't want to wait, internet access control, an anti-theft device (in case of loss or theft) or even a guard. -full fire. But as I told you, beyond its advantages, this antivirus has a big drawback.
Indeed, if you can download the application for free, it is far from complete, you must have seen the word Light in the title. If you want to unlock all the features, you will have to pay 58.13 € for a lifetime license.
ESET Mobile Security
ESET goes beyond a simple Antivirus with advanced features like protection against unwanted calls and texts, against phishing, and even against theft - the latter two features are nevertheless paid for a reasonable annual price.
ESET thus offers a free version of a powerful antivirus to scan your smartphone against threats, but also a “shield” against ransomware, a tool for scanning devices that connect to your device's USB port (useful when you charge your smartphone on unknown sockets), or real-time protection.
All this with automatically updated virus definitions. ESET has long been a fairly respected benchmark in the industry both for the effectiveness of its antivirus software and for respecting users' personal data.
Kaspersky Internet security
We no longer present Kaspersky, it is one of the pillars of antivirus on PC and inevitably it has become a must on the smartphone. Its application is very well thought out, it also allows some welcome features.
We have for example the location of the smartphone, blocking calls and SMS unwanted numbers, but also protects your Wear OS watch, it is true that we can never be too careful! In any case, Kaspersky brings all its expertise on Android and then we must recognize that the application is rather pretty while in Material Design.
McAfee
Another big name adding to the list, McAfee is known to many Windows users. The publisher provides an application that improves the performance and security of Android smartphones, as the publisher explains through the Play Store listing.
McAfee offers an all-in-one solution: anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-malware, and device optimization. Here is a list of the features described by the publisher:
- Security lock and CaptureCam: lock your device and take a snapshot of the person holding it
- Anti-spyware: prevents thieves from gaining access to your personal data
- Remote data wipe: erase selected data or restore factory settings using your anti-theft functions
- Backup SMS, contacts and restore data *
- Locate, track and alarm: find your phone, locate it on a map, sound an alarm or get step-by-step help to recover it
- Anti-theft uninstall protection: prevent a thief from uninstalling your app
- Remotely manage your mobile security antivirus app via the web portal @ https://www.mcafeemobilesecurity.com/ or via SMS from any laptop or tablet
- Other features: pair your Android Wear, S.O.S.
- App protection: identify apps that put your personal data at risk
- Call blocking and SMS filtering *
Norton Antivirus and Security
Like the free version of Avira, this free antivirus will only fulfill its primary function, that of protecting you from viruses. From then on, you can scan your system for threats.
Of course, if the virus protection is not enough for you and you have confidence in the tool, there is nothing to stop you from upgrading the Norton app for additional options.
In any case, for the free version, it's here, and that's all you need to ensure optimal protection for free.
Sophos Mobile Security
The Sophos Mobile Security antivirus application won the AV-Test award for the best antivirus protection 2015 and 2016. This one, in addition to being free, does not contain any advertising.
Protection level, the application offers to block unwanted websites that may represent a danger for users. Every application is scanned for malicious content.
- Web filtering
- Block websites with malicious, unwanted, or illegal content. App protection
- Password protection for apps. Wi-Fi Security
- Check your connection for man-in-the-middle attacks.
- List of apps that access personal data or may incur costs. Security Advisor
- Tips on how to optimize the security of your device. Protection against unwanted calls
- Block unwanted phone calls.
- Checking URLs of malicious or inappropriate websites.
V3 Mobile Security
V3 Mobile Security is an antivirus developed by the Korean company AhnLab. It is a complete package including all the expected technological bricks. Virus detection, with different levels of analysis (rapid or thorough). Real-time monitoring. Scan for root files.
Inspection of URLs and QR Codes before access. Block unwanted calls. Verification of access granted to applications. Help in deleting browsing history. And (software) improvement of mobile performance (understand the optimization of background applications).
A digital safe is also present to place sensitive applications and files, such as banking applications or your family photos). Some system settings have also been added, although this can duplicate the quick settings: silent mode, blue light filter, etc. Please note, some functions are not necessarily accessible with all versions of Android.
Of course, the antivirus engine is updated regularly to accommodate new threats. And the app has received AV-Test certification, for the more careful. However, don't be surprised by the Korean origins of this app and the screenshots available on the Play Store. The interface is available in the language of Molière so that everyone can fully benefit from it.
Conclusion
We hope this list has enabled you to learn about the best free Android antivirus solutions. Do not hesitate to come and comment to give us the name of the antivirus that you use, and if applicable the reasons for your choice or simply come to ask questions and discuss mobile security in general.