A lot of personal data is stored on our mobile phones – photos, bank and movement data and much more. Installing an anti-virus program for the PC or laptop is now widespread. So the question arises as to whether this would not also be an option for a smartphone. TECHBOOK investigated this question and checked some providers of smartphone virus protection.
The dangers for smartphones and thus indirectly for their users are manifold. While most viruses are still computer-targeted, there are thousands of new malware discoveries in mobile devices every day. According to the Bitkom industry association, more than 80 percent of PC users actively protect themselves, while virus protection is significantly less widespread among smartphone users – here it is not even half.
Whether spyware that is smuggled in via advertising, banking Trojans that target users’ bank data, mobile phishing that uses manipulated apps or messages, or ransomware, the purpose of which is mostly to blackmail the victims: our smartphones are sometimes more vulnerable than we would like.
What should you generally pay attention to when it comes to virus protection for your smartphone?
In parallel to the growing variety of threats to mobile phones, the market for corresponding protection programs has also grown. In addition to their comprehensive solutions for computers, well-known providers such as Kaspersky also offer mobile protection.
Similar assessment criteria apply. The focus is on the security aspect: How many attacks are correctly detected? But the handling of the protection program and the range of functions also play a role. With smartphones, the aspect of speed is even more important. Since mobile phones are used constantly in everyday life, anti-virus programs, which lead to significant losses in speed, are not practical.
Apple users tend to be less affected by security issues. Since legal installations with iOS are only possible via the in-house app store and this is subject to strict guidelines, the risk of downloading malicious software onto the iPhone is reduced. As a rule, however, virus protection apps are also largely designed for Android and other operating systems apart from iOS. For Android users, there is the pre-installed and therefore free Play Protect virus protection, but it performs poorly in the test.
The well-known test laboratory AV-Test from Magdeburg regularly publishes its results, both for PC and for Smartphones with Android. According to current data, the following programs are recommended in terms of security, speed and user-friendliness.
Good virus protection programs for smartphones:
- Avast Mobile Security
- Avira Antivirus Security
- Bitdefender Mobile Security
- G-Data Mobile Security
- Kaspersky Standard for Android
- McAfee Mobile Security
- Norton 360
Important point: data protection!
The catch, none of these programs are free! Only basic functions are available for free, otherwise all premium and pro versions cost money. In return, they offer good protection, manual setting options, little to no performance impairment, intuitive handling and detailed scan reports.
Of course, there are also free programs, but these often require full access to the smartphone and contain advertising in order to finance themselves. One Investigation by Stiftung Warentest in 2018 revealed that many of these free apps primarily required more data access than was necessary for the functions offered. A certain degree of access is of course necessary, for example to be able to locate lost mobile phones and identify manipulated data. Nevertheless, data protection is often not guaranteed with free virus protection for smartphones.
Basic safety precautions
Apart from protective programs, smartphone users should be very careful. The best protection against malware is cautious and prudent user behavior. Many browsers offer a firewall; this should also be used to be warned about unsafe websites. Apps should only be installed from reliable sources and preferably on recommendation.
Hotspots and public networks should only be used if there is no other option and, above all, you should not work with sensitive data during this time. An example of this is banking: Only use your online banking app in secure WiFi networks. Other well-known precautionary measures that also apply to computers can be easily applied to mobile phones, such as handling e-mails or messenger messages with care.
Who should additionally protect their smartphone with virus protection?
Basically, virus protection on the smartphone is not absolutely necessary. However, it is still recommended for anyone who surfs a lot on the go. Above all, those who are often on the go and use public networks should think about additional security precautions – in addition to the security precautions just mentioned in everyday life.
What speaks for a smartphone virus protection?
- increased protection = higher sense of security
- Depending on the app, smartphones can be remotely located, blocked and manipulated/data deleted
- Warnings about unsafe websites and emails
- Firewall to surf safely on public networks
- various settings possible
What speaks against a smartphone virus protection?
- can put a lot of strain on the battery and memory
- free programs often contain advertising and are insecure in terms of data protection
- sometimes the programs advertise with functions that are already integrated into the operating systems (e.g. location)
The following applies to the installation of virus protection programs for Android: only install apps from the official store!