Anti virus software for Android tested

Anyone with a Windows PC will be well aware of the security problems caused by various types of malware - viruses, Trojans, spyware and so on. Security probably isn't foremost in your mind when you use a mobile phone or tablet though.

This may be because in the past, mobile phones simply couldn't be infected with malware. At one time they couldn't even install any extra apps, but times have changed and modern phones and tablets are becoming more like mini computers in your pocket. As smartphones become smarter they also become more vulnerable to security threats.

Apple has a tight grip on the software that gets installed onto iPhones and iPads, so it is unlikely that you will ever get a virus on one. iOS apps have been known to access information they shouldn't and spy on your activities, but there isn't any malware.

Android is different and there is looser control on what apps are available and what can be installed on a phone or tablet. It is possible for malware to infect an Android phone or tablet and security is something you should be aware of. There are anti virus and other security products available for Android and traditional security software companies see it as a growth market. Many companies are getting into mobile security and are producing apps to ensure that your Android device is safe and secure. The question is, are they any good?

AV-Test, the security testing company, has just released a report on tests it carried out on Android security software. The company looked at 41 different virus scanners for Android and measured their ability to detect malware. They had 618 malware samples and they found that nearly two thirds of the scanners identified less than 65%. They concluded that a lot of malware scanners just aren't good enough.

So which security software should you use on your Android phone or tablet? AV-Test found that Avast, Dr Web, Kaspersky, Ikarus, Zoner, and Lookout detected more than 90% of malware and are well worth having. Products that performed poorly were Bullguard, Comodo, McAfee, NetQin, and Total Defense, but even these weren't the worst. They detected 40-65%. There was a group of security products that detected less than 40% of malware, which is shocking. Android Defender and Android Antivirus scored 0%. In other words, they detected no malware!

You can read/download the PDF report here. It is essential reading if you use an Android device.