The same applies to installations from Google Play in principle they should be more trustworthy, but there are still plenty of instances of viruses being distributed via Google’s own app store.Īs well as on-installation scanning, many antivirus apps will also carry out real-time scanning, to keep an eye on software as it runs. Most antivirus apps will scan new software as soon as it’s installed on your phone and warn you immediately if it’s recognised as malicious. When you do this, you have no way of knowing what’s inside the code you’re installing. That is to install apps via APK files downloaded from locations other than the Google Play store. The most common way to pick up malware on your smartphone or tablet is to “sideload” software. READ NEXT: The best free and paid-for antivirus software for Mac and PC How to choose the best Android antivirus for you Here’s a rundown of our favourite Android antivirus apps, complete with real-world malware-detection scores from.

Although some of these additional features only become available with a paid subscription, you can get excellent base-level protection for free. What’s more, these apps go beyond stopping malware, with features designed to help you if your phone is lost or stolen, features to protect you when you’re browsing and tools that can protect specific apps from being opened without a PIN code.

That’s where mobile antivirus or internet security apps come in, identifying malicious behaviour and shutting down the apps and processes involved. Best microSD card 2022: Give your smartphone, tablet, camera or handheld games machine a storage boost

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