5 Best Antivirus Apps To Protect Your Android Phone

The best Android antivirus apps (Photo: Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Smartphone antivirus software has become a big business in recent years as online threats continue to increase, from malware, viruses, and other unwanted programs.

With so many threats that exist, we are presented with a large selection of antivirus applications that are available either for free or paid.

Maybe we find it difficult to determine which application is food in quality and more effective. In this article, there are some of the best antivirus apps for Android to help you make the right choice.

1. Avast Antivirus

Avast remains one of the most popular antivirus applications among the public for mobile devices and laptops or desktops.

The mobile version of this app has a set of tools to keep your device safe such as, app lock, anti-theft feature, photo vault, access to VPN, privacy permission dashboard, junk cleaner, web protector, and of course, virus scanner and wipe function.

Avast is available in two versions, namely a free version and a paid version.

2. Kaspersky

Kaspersky is one of the most popular antivirus apps for Android. The security app offers both free and paid versions.

The free version offers all the protections such as antivirus protection, background check for viruses, spyware, ransomware, and Trojans, find my phone feature, and anti-theft tool.

While the other version, we have to pay 40 US dollars (IDR 570 thousand) per year. This paid access will get you access to anti-phishing features, web filters, and app lock tools. The premium version also adds real-time threat detection, rather than relying on manual scanning.

3. Avira Antivirus

Avira claims to be the best free antivirus app for Android. This includes network scanner, identity protection, and web protection. Impressively, you also get access to a free VPN; it's a feature that almost all antivirus apps choose to limit to their paid tiers.

There is also a paid option that will cover all your devices, including Windows and Mac machines.

In addition to the free features, you get real-time malware detection, encrypted web browsing, a password generator, and computer and mobile speed optimization tools. Prices start at 99 US dollars (IDR 1.3 million) per year.

4. Norton 360

Norton 360 is one of the fastest and most reliable apps out there. Some of the best features like dark web monitoring, pre-downloaded app scanner, Wi-Fi security alerts, and web protection.

You also get bank-grade encryption via the included VPN, password manager, smart firewall, and 10GB of cloud backup storage.

The biggest downside of Norton 360 is its cost. You can try the app for free thanks to a 14-day trial, but after that, you'll have to pay $85 per year for a single device.

5. AVG

AVG is a big player in the world of Android virus protection. It offers one of the best free antivirus apps for Android, as well as a powerful paid app.

Features available in the free plan include anti-theft functionality, app lock, "camera traps" for cell phone thieves, and malware scanning.

If you upgrade to a paid plan of US$4 per month, you also get phishing protection, a website scanner, a network security verification tool, and protection against ransomware.