Tablets and smartphones are a prime target for hackers, who recommended you read can damage devices or take personal information. Antivirus software shields devices from malware and corrupted apps. Many of the top antivirus programs include additional features to help keep your phone or tablet safe. Some of these features include the ability to manage passwords as well as a virtual personal networks (VPN) and an app lock which requires a password to open the apps. Some devices have a mechanism that can locate your device in the event it is stolen or lost.
Certain apps are completely free, while other apps have an upgrade option that includes features such as a VPN or an identity theft protection service. These premium apps usually cost between $15 and $30 per year and some have one-year subscriptions that give users unlimited access to their services.
The most popular antivirus for android is Norton Mobile Security, which has been awarded top scores in independent lab tests. It comes with an array of security features including an anti-theft system, excellent malware detection capabilities, and low use of system resources. It also detects ransomware, other malware threats and erase or encode files. A useful feature is Camera Trap snaps a picture of anyone trying to get into your phone.
Another highly-rated option is Kaspersky, which has almost perfect malware detection rates and a low impact on performance. It provides a range of other security features like call filtering and Wear OS support. A Wi-Fi network scan is available to block devices from connecting to unsecured networks. It’s not as fully featured like the other apps listed in this roundup but there aren’t any advertisements in its free version and it’s not a lot of nagging to upgrade to its premium version.