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According to recent surveys, more and more people are purchasing smartphones for themselves or their children. That’s great news—smartphones are powerful devices that can make life easier and more convenient. The bad news? Mobile security threats are also on the rise, as hackers develop new ways to break into phones and steal sensitive information from private accounts like banks and email servers. In order to keep your phone safe, you should consider installing one of the following mobile security apps.
McAfee Mobile Security
McAfee's mobile security app is a little more expensive than the others on this list, but it provides a comprehensive set of features that are worth the price. McAfee includes antivirus and anti-theft protection as well as a tool for locating your phone if you misplace it. It also has a password generator that can create strong passwords and then store them in the app so you don't have to remember them all yourself. You can use the app to remotely lock your phone or wipe it if it's been stolen or lost, which is handy in case you ever get mugged and want to protect your personal information before handing over your phone. Another unique feature is privacy advisor, which monitors the apps installed on your phone and tells you what they're doing with your data. If any apps send text messages or take photos without permission, they'll be flagged by privacy advisor to let you know something might be wrong. The app comes with an attractive interface that should work smoothly even on older phones. While there are other options available for free, the premium version may be worth it just for its ability to remotely locate your device when you lose it (something that Android lacks). One downside: Some customers report receiving false alarms from the app because they often receive notifications when their battery reaches low levels.
Another great thing about McAfee is how easy it is to install! Clicking install takes less than 30 seconds! All you need to do is download the app and allow it permissions. I usually allow it access to my location and enable notification settings (so I can get alerts if my phone moves out of range). Finally, tap install. From here you will be able to start using the app immediately. That's all there is to installing McAfee - I promise!
Avast Antivirus
Avast's latest update has been praised by many users because it was designed to work with iOS 11 in a way that doesn't interfere with any system settings or third party apps. It integrates with iCloud backups too.
Avast boasts that it's scanning more than 300 million mobile devices on a daily basis which makes it one of the most comprehensive security programs out there today. It also provides an anti-theft feature where you can remotely lock and wipe your device if it is lost or stolen.
Garmin Anti-Theft: Garmin Anti-Theft is available for both Android and iOS devices and offers a variety of different features including: location tracking, remote locking, SMS commands and Wifi protection. The app also allows you to set up your phone so that only certain contacts can unlock it if your phone is lost or stolen. You can even take pictures of those people so they are never forgotten! The downside is that you have to pay $1.99 per month or $2.99 per year for this service after the initial trial period ends. Still, when considering all the amazing features this app offers, we think it's well worth it. Fingerprint Scanner & Lock Screen: A quick fingerprint scan will activate a private locker where all your sensitive data is stored including photos and videos. If you're not looking at your phone when someone tries to access the contents of your private locker then they won't be able to see anything! And as soon as you put down your finger on the scanner then everything will disappear from sight again. But don't worry; this isn't some sort of complicated process - fingerprint scanning is fast and easy. StealthGenie: StealthGenie uses GSM monitoring technology that sends information about every call and message received on an unattended smartphone straight to their servers.
Lookout Antivirus & Security
You may have heard the term malware. Malware is a catch-all term that includes viruses, worms, trojans and other forms of malicious code. It's what can infect your phone or tablet when you visit the wrong website or download an infected app.
Lookout is a mobile security app with a deep scanning engine that will detect malware on your device and warn you about dangerous websites before you visit them. If it detects malware on your device, it will offer quick instructions for removing it from your device. Plus, if your device gets lost or stolen, Lookout has an easy way to track it so you can find it again. You can also see where they've been with the location history feature and erase all data if necessary with just one tap. With a free account, this app offers real-time protection for Android devices.
F-Secure Mobile Security: F-Secure Mobile Security does everything you need to keep your smartphone safe and secure - including antivirus protection against malware, spyware and Trojan horses. With automatic updates every day, F-Secure protects up to 99% of all new Android devices without slowing down the performance of your device or draining its battery. Downloading apps? Use App Advisor to scan any app you're considering downloading before installing it to make sure there are no threats lurking in the background. Safer browsing? The Anti-Phishing tool helps protect your personal information while browsing online, preventing fake sites from stealing passwords and credit card numbers. And even if something goes wrong and there's an intrusion, F-Secure provides a set of tools for managing risks such as remote locking/wiping or data recovery options.
Bitdefender Mobile Security
Bitdefender's mobile security suite offers a variety of features that will keep your phone secure. The app offers antivirus, anti-theft, web filtering, and other features designed to protect you from cyber threats. Bitdefender also has a VPN, which encrypts your data and enables you to bypass geo-blocking restrictions set by content providers. It also has a firewall that blocks intruders and protects your privacy by preventing apps from accessing sensitive data on your device. Bitdefender is the perfect choice for those who are looking for comprehensive security measures in an easy-to-use package. F-Secure Mobile Security: F-Secure offers a diverse range of features designed to keep your phone safe. These include anti-virus protection, SMS messaging encryption, remote lock and wipe capabilities, the ability to locate your lost or stolen phone via GPS or WiFi connectivity, and even protection against malware. On top of these protections, it also includes advanced settings that enable you to configure how much information can be accessed by certain apps so you can limit their access as needed. AVG Antivirus & Security: AVG provides a powerful mobile security solution that combines world-class antivirus technology with battery optimization tools. The app shields your device from potential viruses and malware with patented scanning technology that won't slow down your system. You'll also have peace of mind knowing AVG will warn you when websites are trying to take over your browser or trick you into downloading malicious software onto your phone. Not only does AVG offer world-class protection, but it also gives you plenty of control over what happens on your device - like blocking annoying ads! Avast Mobile Security & Antivirus: Avast's free app provides state-of-the-art defenses against viruses and hackers while optimizing battery life to save power.
Avira Antivirus Free
1. Malware Protection - Avira has always been known for having one of the best malware protection engines out there, and their free mobile security app is no different. It will find and remove any malicious apps you may have installed, as well as scan your device for vulnerabilities that might allow malware in the future. It also scans other apps to ensure they are safe and notify you if it detects something unusual.
Avast Mobile Security & Antivirus: 2. Real-time Protection – Avast's free mobile antivirus uses real-time scanning so it can detect threats before they infect your phone or tablet.
It offers a variety of other useful features such as a virus scanner, spam filter, web shield, data backup service and even anti-theft protection if the unthinkable happens. You'll need to pay after a trial period, but at $39.99 per year (for up to five devices) it isn't too pricey. In addition to all of its other features, this app also includes a very handy power manager tool that allows you to see what's running on your device and then kill processes when necessary. If you're looking for an all-around great security solution with plenty of extras, this is the way to go.
Lookout Mobile Security & AntiVirus: 3. Device Backup - With Lookout Mobile Security, not only do you get access to their excellent antivirus engine and advanced threat protection system (including trojan detection), but also complete access to your phone’s files should anything happen including theft or loss!