🛡️ The best antivirus for Android in 2022, do you really need to install one?

Estimated read time 9 min read

The Google app store has a huge catalog of apps, and a large part of them are dedicated to computer security. find a good antivirus for android operating system It is quite simple, but not all have the same quality of protection or against all possible attacks. But, is an antivirus really necessary on Android to protect our smartphone? Which are the best antivirus in 2022 What can we install on our mobile devices?

AV-TEST is a independent organization that evaluates and rates antivirus software and security suite for the Microsoft Windows and Android operating systems, so there is no better ranking than the one they themselves recommend after evaluations every two months. To this day, these are the best valued by the company that specializes in protecting our smartphone or tablet.

Antivirus for Android in 2022: why you don’t need to install one

In general, a couple of computer viruses appear every year that are really relevant, so the question arises if it is necessary to install antivirus for Android, whether they are freeor payment.

is-needed-antivirus-android

There are several well-known security companies that make mobile applications, but they mainly focus on computers. The theoretical function of these applications is to protect us from all kinds of malware, phishing among other malicious software. But really Android terminals they are not in danger of being infected.

Many of the magical applications that promise to protect our phone are not always so good, but with this we are not saying that they do not fulfill their function. If we realize, they are not only limited to being a simple antivirus but they come with many more functions such as optimizing the device or VPN functions. For the most part really what they will really do is consume device resources and lower its performance.

Still, in this article you will find The best free and paid antivirus for Android, so you can decide which one is preferable to install based on the added features they bring. They are all found on Google Play, so you won’t have to resort to a APKs external.

How to determine which are the best antivirus of 2022

Before we get to see which are the best antivirus for Android, we must see what the AV-TEST standards are to issue a blessing and affirm that one is better than another. Three different sections are measured: protection, performance and usability. The maximum score they can achieve is 6 points, while the minimum is 0, for each specific section.

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The company tests malware in real time, the most recent malicious programs and those that have been present for longer than the last four weeks. Note that the maximum attainable total score is 18 points. This is what is tested in each section:

  • Protection: level of security guaranteed by antivirus software against malware.
  • Performance: load on the hardware resources of the system by the antivirus.
  • Usability: functions available to the user and facilities in the configuration.

The best antivirus on Android, for mobiles and tablets

Before we start listing them, we want to remind you that at the end of the article we will state when the last update is based on the evaluation date of the AV-TEST company. Now yes, these are the best antiviruses to protect your smartphone.

AVL

avl

It’s true that we don’t have a very flashy interface, but it does its job perfectly thanks to its virus scanner. With AVL we can start the search for malicious software both manually and in real time to protect our Android smartphone.

We have a completely free version, and it will be more than enough to receive alerts about applications that pose a risk to our data. So you can be protected, with an excellent score.

  • Protection: 6 points.
  • Performance: 6 points.
  • Usability: 6 points.

AVL Sec

avl-sec

It belongs to the same company, but in this case with a more careful aesthetic and offers some extra options. We will be able to see in the form of a list the applications that are safe and which may be infected for complete uninstallation.

One of the options is the possibility of activating or deactivating the scanning of dangerous applications in real time, so it is useless, it must be consuming resources. Only when we are interested.

  • Protection: 6 points.
  • Performance: 6 points.
  • Usability: 6 points.

Avast Anti-Virus Free

avast

One of the most renowned companies in this aspect of security is Avast, which also has its own Android application. Despite being better known on computers, it not only acts as an antivirus on our smartphones but is similar to a multipurpose knife. It has complete and real-time analysis, but it also allows us to free up RAM memory, take advantage of a VPN connection, perform a speed test on our network connection or clean garbage.

We have a large number of options to enjoy it, and it may be one of the most complete that we can install on our phone. In addition, we have a striking design that invites its use.

  • Protection: 6 points.
  • Performance: 6 points.
  • Usability: 6 points.

AVG Anti-Virus Free

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AVG is also a well-known program on personal computers, and in this case we have an option in case our mobile is stolen. We also have statistical data to see the use of applications, which we already have natively in Android 9 Pie, but it is also optimized to offer the maximum performance of the phone without affecting its performance.

Of course, it also allows you to analyze applications in real time, stop tasks that slow down your device to increase speed, extend battery life with Power Saver, etc.

  • Protection: 6 points.
  • Performance: 6 points.
  • Usability: 6 points.

Avira Antivirus Security

It gets a full score, 18 points, thanks to not only protecting the device against malware, but also having application blocking with specific security systems. We also have protection for Internet browsing, as well as options to mitigate the theft of our electronic device.

Likewise, it protects us against applications that make improper use of the camera or microphone. Therefore, we could qualify it as one of best android antivirus

  • Protection: 6 points.
  • Performance: 6 points.
  • Usability: 6 points.

Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus

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According to AV-TEST company, it is one of the best Android security products from 2015 to present. It is not only an antivirus, it also performs VPN functions, for safe and anonymous browsing, since we have 200 MB of free traffic per day, but we can have unlimited traffic in the paid application.

In addition, we also have WearON, so with Bitdefender Mobile Security we can protect Android Wear devices, but Android 4.3 or higher is required.

  • Protection: 6 points.
  • Performance: 6 points.
  • Usability: 6 points.

Security Master

security-master

This ad-free antivirus for Android also has a junk cleaner, an applock to protect your applications, secure connection via VPN as well as WiFi network protection. The company claims that it offers real-time protection and improved mobile phone performance.

It is a free app that protects your mobile from viruses, malware, adware, keeps your personal information safe. You also get the best possible score.

  • Protection: 6 points.
  • Performance: 6 points.
  • Usability: 6 points.

ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus

We will have 30 days free to test the application, and if it convinces us we will have to pay for it, if we want all the premium features available. It is also widely known for protecting Windows operating systems in homes.

It offers us tools against the theft of our phone as well as avoiding identity theft attacks, in addition to ransomware. Although the application has a minimal impact on the performance of the phone.

  • Protection: 6 points.
  • Performance: 6 points.
  • Usability: 6 points.

G Data Internet Security

G Data Internet Security not only has protection against phishing and other types of Internet threats, but it is also a very safe antivirus for Android. The app protects the device’s memory and installed applications against malware or suspicious behavior, without affecting battery performance or the device’s own operation.

  • Protection: 6 points.
  • Performance: 6 points.
  • Usability: 6 points.

McAfee Mobile Security Antivirus

Protect your Android devices and personal information, and keep your private data safe from prying eyes with the McAfee Mobile Security app. This is also among the best free antivirus for Android without advertising that we can find in the Google app store. It is widely known in the computer platform.

We also have anti-theft features, so if someone tries to unlock your device and fails, they’ll take a photo of it so you know who tried to look at your smartphone or tablet.

  • Protection: 6 points.
  • Performance: 6 points.
  • Usability: 6 points.

Norton Antivirus and Security

It is designed to protect your device against threats such as malicious apps, theft, and websites created to steal your information and money. It also performs an analysis to protect the mobile phone on public Wi-Fi networks and warns if they are not secure.

Norton is among the best android antivirus 2019 because it has a safe search engine, among other functions like the one mentioned above. It gets full marks like the rest of the apps in this article.

  • Protection: 6 points.
  • Performance: 6 points.
  • Usability: 6 points.

Kaspersky Android Antivirus

Kaspersky-Antivirus-Android

Kaspersky Internet Security is a free lightweight antivirus for Android with which you can protect phones and tablets, as well as your private information, against the dangers of the Internet. It also performs real-time, on-demand scanning for viruses, spyware, ransomware, and Trojans.

It also has anti-theft protection, as it protects personal information from thieves by erasing it from the device. In this case, AV-TEST grants one point less in terms of usability compared to the rest. Kaspersky is an international company dedicated to computer security with a presence in approximately 200 countries around the world.

  • Protection: 6 points.
  • Performance: 6 points.
  • Usability: 5 points.

» It will interest you: How to protect an Android smartphone from viruses, Trojans and other malware

For more information you can access the AV-TEST website. And for you, which antivirus for Android is better?

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