Which Android security apps are the most effective?

• By Lance Whitney, m.cnet.com
• View Original
• February 3rd, 2014

Looking for a reliable security app for your Android device? AV-Test recently checked out 30 different apps, awarding many of them good grades.

The January 2014 report page lists all the apps included in AV-Test's analysis. One column shows how the app fared at basic protection, while another column displays its record at usability. Six solid white squares in row means the app got a score of 6 out of 6.

Drilling down on any one app reveals further details, including the criteria AV-Test used to gauge the protection and usability. A Features section also also tells you which important security features are in the app and which ones are missing. A convenient link to Google Play helps you download any of the apps.

So which ones scored the highest grades?

Avira: Free Android Security 3.0, Bitdefender: Mobile Security 2.6, G Data: Internet Security 25.0, Kingsoft: Mobile Security 3.3, KSMobile: Clean Master 4.0, KSMobile: CM Security 1.0, McAfee: Mobile Security 3.1, Qihoo: 360 Mobile Security 1.5, Trend Micro: Mobile Security 3.5, and TrustGo: Mobile Security 1.3 all scored 6 out of 6 for both protection and usability. The apps from G Data and Trend Micro also offered all of the important security features except two.

Do you actually need security software on your Android device? That's been an ongoing debate that never seems to end.

The security vendors certainly think you need protection. However, Google and others have in the past argued against the need, claiming that the vendors are simply trying to drum up business for their products. Either way, those of you want to secure your device should read AV-Test's report for the full scoop on the latest apps.

(Via ZDNet)