You are reading the article Do You Need An Antivirus On Your Android Phone? updated in September 2023 on the website Khongconthamnam.com. We hope that the information we have shared is helpful to you. If you find the content interesting and meaningful, please share it with your friends and continue to follow and support us for the latest updates. Suggested October 2023 Do You Need An Antivirus On Your Android Phone?
“Antivirus” as a buzzword has been on the slide over the last decade. Fifteen to twenty years ago it was virally popular, but times have changed and operating systems have become largely self-sufficient when it comes to security.
But what about Android? The relatively new platform has had its share of scares over the years, but now, with years of security improvements under its belt, does Android really need all those “antivirus” apps promising round-the-clock protection? We’re here to tell you.
What Kind of Android User Are You?One thing to be wary of, for example, is downloading apps (APKs) from outside the Play Store. (To do this you need to “Allow Unknown sources” from your phone’s settings.)
Once you’re downloading APKs from third-party sites, the protections in the Play Store can’t help you, and you’re on your own. Unless you’re absolutely confident about the source of your non-Play Store apps, you should consider an Android antivirus app to provide that extra protection.
Google Play Store Isn’t 100% SafeAndroid has grown into a pretty tightly secure OS over the years. Alongside a constant stream of incremental improvements, in 2023 Google introduced Play Protect which uses machine learning to scan the Play Store for malicious apps and purges them.
Play Protect also scans apps locally on your device. You can run a scan manually by going to the Play Store app, selecting “My apps & games,” then under “Updates” tapping the “Refresh” icon near the top of the screen.
Play Protect is a great feature, but it’s not completely watertight, and it’s rare that half a year goes by without a story about some kind of malicious apps on the Google Play Store. Just last year several apps – posing as alarm clocks and QR code scanners – containing the AsiaHitGroup Trojan were discovered on the Play Store, but not before tens of thousands of users downloaded them.
Then there’s the matter of how slow and fragmented the Android update process is. While stock Android phones are always at the forefront of OS security updates, other Android manufacturers have been known to get such updates days or even weeks later.
So What Should You Do?Implementing the above approach, I’ve never felt the need to download a third-party antivirus. However, if you’re still afraid that you might download something you shouldn’t, then we already know that Android’s defences aren’t guaranteed to protect. In that case, an Android antivirus app might be just what you need.
And where do you find one of these? By looking at our list of the best Android antivirus apps, of course! All of those listed should provide that extra layer of protection on top of what’s already there. Each of those apps is filled with all manner of ‘bonus’ features, like ad-block, website scanning and so on, so you can pick one depending on whether you want more or less of these extras.
Robert Zak
Content Manager at Make Tech Easier. Enjoys Android, Windows, and tinkering with retro console emulation to breaking point.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox
Sign up for all newsletters.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy. We will not share your data and you can unsubscribe at any time.
You're reading Do You Need An Antivirus On Your Android Phone?
Update the detailed information about Do You Need An Antivirus On Your Android Phone? on the Khongconthamnam.com website. We hope the article's content will meet your needs, and we will regularly update the information to provide you with the fastest and most accurate information. Have a great day!