Best antivirus for phones

Powerful security tools check for common security vulnerabilities missing updates, a jailbroken device , monitor running apps for suspect activity, and raise an alert if you connect to a dangerous Wi-Fi network. An effective set of anti-theft technologies include various device location tools, an alarm that works even if your device is on silent, and the ability to display a custom message on the lock screen to help you get the device back.

McAfee Mobile Security won't exactly surprise you with its functionality. Anti-theft, contacts backup, secure local storage for your media files: it's all very familiar. But don't let that put you off — the app is more interesting than you might think.

The Media Vault hides your photos and videos, for instance. That's not unusual, but you can also snap photos or videos directly from the app, and have them automatically encrypted and stored in the vault. The anti-theft features take a similarly thorough approach. Yes, there are the standard options to track your device on a map, or activate a remote alarm which sounds even in silent mode.

But the bundled CaptureCam feature can email you with a snapshot of anyone trying to get into your vault.

You're able to initiate an alarm from your Apple Watch for easier location. The app can even save your device location when the battery is low, giving you a better chance of tracking it down. Bonus features include automatic contacts backup, remote wiping of contacts if your device is stolen, and a battery indicator which allows checking your iPhone battery level on your Apple Watch.

McAfee Mobile Security may not have the most imaginative of feature sets, then, but there's a lot here, especially for a free app from a big-name vendor. If you don't have some of these functions already, it's well worth a closer look. Your iOS devices may not need antivirus software in the traditional sense, but there are plenty of other threats out there online, and Trend Micro Mobile Security tries to combat them all.

Unfortunately, this also makes Android a playground for hackers. Ransomware, spyware, cryptojacking software, surveillance apps, and other malware compromise Android users every single day.

Android users also face risks from phishing sites, smishing links , and even pickpockets. To keep your device safe from all of these threats, you need to have a good Android antivirus with real-time protection, web protection, anti-theft tools, and other additional features.

If you want a free antivirus, go with Avira. Most antivirus apps also offer additional paid premium features, and for every free app out there, there are dozens more premium apps. Professional Reviews. Affiliate Commissions.

Reviews Guidelines. Ben Martens Updated on: January 1, This article contains. Short on time? Panda Dome — Good malware scanner with Android smartwatch compatibility. Kaspersky — Intuitive app with a good scanner but no real-time protection. Traced — Privacy-focused app with a good Wi-Fi network scanner. Those who purchased and reviewed this antivirus for iPhone appreciated that even at the free tier, there were still plenty of useful features to help keep their device safe and secure.

People also liked the ease of being able to check WiFi safety and leaked passwords right from the app. The quality service associated with the brand, as well as the ease of setup and use more than justifies even the additional fees. It has a rating of 4. While it might not have all the bells and whistles of some of the other antivirus options on our list, it does come with the standard features of its PC virus protection software that people know and love.

Features include anti-theft protection, contacts backup, and secure local storage for your media files. It also offers the ability to remotely wipe your contacts if your device is stolen, and includes a battery indicator which allows you to check your iPhone battery level on your Apple Watch.

Those who downloaded and reviewed this antivirus for iPhone appreciated that it was easy to set up and offered anti-theft security. People really liked that they received a solid level of protection with minimal effort on their part.

With no monthly or annual fees, this antivirus for iPhone is a solid choice for those looking for an antivirus for iPhone option on a budget. The Lookout Mobile Security app is an excellent option for those looking for a subscription-based antivirus for iPhone. While there is a free version of this antivirus, the valuable security features are in the subscription version.

It offers four layers of protection in order to provide deep security for your device. It checks for common security vulnerabilities including missing updates or a jailbroken device, and will alert you should you connect to a dangerous WiFi network. Those who purchased and reviewed this antivirus for iPhone appreciated that the alarm was audible even when their device was on silent, and that there were automatic alerts for updates.

You have the choice of backing up your device locally on your computer, or in the cloud using Dropbox or Google Drive. Its security analysis feature checks your device for potential risks, and the phishing protection functionality immediately blocks manipulated and fraudulent sites, keeping your online transactions secure. Those who purchased and reviewed this antivirus for iPhone appreciated that it offered an extremely high level of security for daily use at home, and while on public WiFi networks.

People also liked the strong firewall, data encryption, and exploit protection this software offers. Users also commented on the ease of using the Password Manager to have access to all their important data with ease. Additionally, antivirus for iPhone is also a good choice for people who want to ensure that tracking software is not installed on their phones. Some hackers will install tracking software on your phone or use a fake website to record keystrokes in order to gain access to your sensitive personal information, such as bank PIN or other passwords.

A good antivirus software can ensure malware does not get installed onto your device. The free version of Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus has no ads, and its call-blocking and anti-theft features work well.

Its malware protection is very good, but it lacks a Wi-Fi network-security scanner. Yet there's little third-party lab-test data on Lookout's antivirus efficiency, so we don't really know how well it protects against malware. Sadly, it's terrible at protecting against malware. You should rely on something else. For malware protection on other platforms, be sure to visit our pages on the best antivirus software and the best Mac antivirus. Bitdefender's Android security app has nearly flawless malware protection, a very light performance impact, Android Wear watch integration, a VPN client and a malicious-website blocker that works with most Android browsers.

It also has robust privacy-protection tools, including an app lock, a Wi-Fi scanner, anti-theft features and data-breach notifications. A newly added feature, Scam Alert, flags possibly malicious links in SMS text messages, messaging apps and screen notifications. Bitdefender Mobile Security offers a day trial period, but this is not a freemium app. The separate Bitdefender Antivirus Free for Android app which is indeed totally free only scans for malware.

The built-in VPN client gives you only MB of free data per data — just enough to check your email while traveling. It's our choice for the best Android antivirus app. Read our full Bitdefender Mobile Security review.

Norton Mobile Security, aka Norton , offers the best malware protection of any of the Android antivirus apps we tested. Unfortunately, it no longer has anti-theft functions, nor its contacts backups and Link Guard malicious-link blocker.

Norton also killed Norton Mobile Security's free tier, which was the best among all the Android antivirus apps we'd recently tested.

All of these subscriptions can be paid for right through the Norton app, which has a day free trial period. Norton's killer feature is the unique App Advisor, which checks apps on your device for heavy data usage and unusual behavior. It also checks apps in the Google Play store for security and privacy risks even before you install them. Read our full Norton Mobile Security review.

But while Avast's malware protection is good, it's far from perfect. Some of Avast's anti-theft functions didn't work for us, and its call-blocking feature didn't work at all. It's since been removed. And the free version's ads and constant nags to upgrade are annoying and intrusive. Users of either paid plan also get additional anti-theft features, an app locker and tech support.

Read our full Avast Mobile Security review. Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus, also known as Kaspersky Internet Security for Android, offers nearly-perfect malware protection, a small system impact and a call blocker that actually works. There are no ads in the free version, and not much nagging to upgrade to the paid plan.

Free users get call filtering, Android Wear support and a strong set of anti-theft functions, but you have to scan each new app manually. Paying users get automatic scans of new apps, an app lock and blocking of known phishing websites.

And that's about it. There's no Wi-Fi network scanner and none of the privacy tools that other Android antivirus apps now offer.