Top 5 Free Antivirus Software for Android Security

The growing popularity of Android devices is clearly visible to one and all. It has grown exponentially and likely to continue the same in the coming years as well. Based on the 2013 records, it has been expected that by the year 2014, Android device shipments will reach 1 billion units. A platform so popular is sure to attract both good and bad. 

Developers are trying their best to develop more interesting apps for the Google Play Store. Currently there are 1,100,000 apps available at the Play Store. In 2013 alone, 50 billion downloads were generated. Therefore, it is not very difficult to assume how with the exponential growth in the usage of Android devices will also increase the use of apps in the coming year.

While on one hand, the popularity of Android has indulged developers to design and develop Android apps, there on the other hand hackers are also putting their best efforts to exploit this medium to take advantage of careless Android users.

How Vulnerable Android Devices Are?

If you are an Android user, then you too must be using the Play Store to download apps either for gaming or utility purpose. If you want that through the medium of Android, no one should exploit your data or information or make you a victim of ID theft and other felonies against your privacy, then it is important that you realize how vulnerable your Android devices are.

The popularity of Android OS has turned it into hacker’s one of the favorite targets. Development of viruses, Trojans, spyware, exploits and fake apps targeting the Android OS are on constant rise to cause big threat to your data. To guard your data from these kinds of threats, you can easily get “Antivirus apps for Android.” But do you know that actually no virus can attack an Android OS as Android apps work under a “sandboxed” security scheme. 

 

The OS faces more threats from Trojans, spyware, exploits and fake apps, so when you read Android Antivirus Program, it is actually not a program for viruses but a complete mobile security app. There are both paid and free apps in this line. You can easily get some of the best mobile security apps for free. 

Following are five popular Free Antivirus for Android Security

CM (CleanMaster) Security 

•   Runs as a stand-alone program
•   A complete and effective security suite in a small package
•   Supports full SD Card scan option
•  It does Malware scanning beyond APKs
•   It is RAM-friendly
•   It has a small installation size
•  Version: 1.2.0
•   Download file size: 2.8 MB
•   License type: Unrestricted freeware
•  System requirements: Android 2.2 and  above

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 

•           Runs as a stand-alone program
•          Easy to use
•          It has a fast and effective anti-malware engine
•          Equipped with useful set of privacy tools
•          Not very much battery-friendly
•          Require maintaining manual update check
•          Version: 1.03.0.5000
•          Download file size: 6.9 MB
•          License type: Unrestricted freeware
•          System requirements: Android 2.3 and above

Avast! Mobile Security & Antivirus

 

•          Runs as a stand-alone program
•          A strong anti-malware engine
•          Integrated with a complete set of protection tools
•          Advanced Anti-Theft options
•          Anti-theft alerts through SMS and online commands
•          Firewall needs a rooted device to work 
•          Advanced features to work on a rooted phone
•          To use the online anti-theft tool, creating Avast! free account is mandatory
•          Version: 3.0.7387
•          Download file size: 7.3 MB
•          License type: Feature limited freeware
•          System requirements: Android 2.1 and above

Comodo Mobile Security

•          Runs as a stand-alone program
•          It has awesome and strong anti-malware engine
•          Clean and simple interface
•          Highly useful anti-theft features
•          It supports personal data backup to SD Card
•          Useful set of tools
•          It lacks a web protection option
•          No specific blocking for Wi-Fi, 3G or roaming
•          Version: 2.4.5
•          Download file size: 8.3 MB
•          License type: Unrestricted freeware
•          System requirements: Android 2.2 and above 

Lookout Security & Antivirus

 

•          Runs as a stand-alone program
•          Offers fast protection against malware
•          Supports Contacts Data Backup & Restore functions
•          Good at anti-theft component
•          Has a special “My phone” function that requires creating a free account at mylookout.com
•          Most of the advanced features are available on paid version only
•          Version: Varies with device - 8.xx
•          Download file size: Around 7 MB
•          License type: Feature limited freeware
•          System requirements: Android 2.1 above (also available for iOS)

No mobile security or antivirus app can give you 100% security if you personally don’t get cautious of what you are downloading, app’s permissions criteria, the source of the app, etc. It is always safe to download app from your Google Play Store. Apart from that while selecting your antivirus for Android phone, keep a check of its anti-malware engine, the extra protection it is offering, USSD exploit protection, and extra tools integrated.