The best antiviruses for Android phones in 2022

Over the past ten years, the smartphone has become the main tool in human hands. We constantly use it for everyday needs and business tasks, but at the same time we almost never think about our own security. And Internet scammers who want to enrich themselves due to the inattention of users are well aware of this. To protect yourself from their tricks, it is enough to install a good antivirus and follow the basic rules of digital hygiene.

Today, you can not do without a mobile antivirus, security software manufacturers assure, but they exaggerate a little. If the user is careful about their privacy, does not click on suspicious links, and does not install pirated applications, the chance of becoming a victim is low. Security software just insures against such situations, which any person can get into even with extreme concentration. That is why smartphone software is not a mandatory measure, but an airbag. 

What mobile antivirus can protect against:

• Phishing  A type of internet scam based on fake websites. The victim receives a message about a promotion, sale, or winning a contest. By clicking on the link, she gets to a fake website of an online store or bank, and when she tries to log into her account, she loses her personal data. Some emails seem very attractive and believable, and fake sites are almost indistinguishable from the original, so it’s best to protect yourself from anti-virus phishing. 
• Extortionists. Malicious software that blocks the owner’s access to the smartphone and demands a ransom. You can get infected by installing unlicensed applications or by clicking on a banner on an unreliable site. The malicious program will work only after installation, which can be prevented by the antivirus in time.
• Spy viruses. After installation, the program begins to monitor personal data or steal user passwords. It may also collect information about his interests and online activity in order to transfer or sell it. Antivirus protects personal data, but in most cases it will not even allow spyware to get on the device.
• Theft of money from the SIM card. Some viruses can call from an infected device or send paid SMS. For a user without an antivirus, this can result in the loss of all money from the SIM card.
• Advertising software. Hidden program for displaying ads that interfere with the use of a smartphone. Often you can’t turn off ads on your own, but a high-quality antivirus can handle it. 

To protect readers from Internet threats, the editors of Healthy Food Near Me have compiled a rating of the best antiviruses for Android phones in 2022. The sample is based on the most recent data from the independent AV-TEST survey conducted in November 2021¹. A detailed result for a specific product can be viewed by clicking on the name of a specific product. In addition, data from the AV-TEST conducted in September 2021 were taken into account.².

Editor’s Choice

Kaspersky Internet Security for Android

This antivirus is well known not only to foreign users, but also to independent Western experts. They regularly test the program for security features, usability, and performance. By all criteria, Kaspersky Internet Security receives high marks⁸. 

Antivirus protects your smartphone in real time, stops tracking attempts and warns you about fake phishing sites. Anti-theft and call filter work as standard, but there is no VPN or parental control in the program. These functions are integrated into other Kaspersky Lab products, so if necessary, the user will have to purchase them separately.

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Top 10 Best Antivirus for Android Phones in 2022 According to KP

1. Avast Mobile Security Premium

One of the best antivirus for Android. Its signature database contains information on 8 million malware and is updated daily thanks to users and analysts. Avast protects against the main threats: Trojans, adware, and ransomware that block access to your device. 

As a paid subscriber, you can use VPN, automatic daily scans, and the protection of important programs that use personal data or conduct financial transactions. 

In addition, only in the Premium version can you disable ads, which in the free Avast Mobile Security take up almost the entire bottom of the screen. 

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2. Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android

With this program, you can completely forget about malware on your smartphone. Bitdefender products receive top marks in independent research and are regularly ranked among the top antivirus products for computers and phones. 

According to one of the latest tests⁴, Bitdefender Mobile Security was able to reflect 100% of threats in real time and blocked 100% of the latest viruses at that time. In addition, the study showed that the antivirus does not slow down the system, does not generate a lot of traffic and saves energy.

The application does not falsely trigger, so it will only restrict access to dangerous games and programs. The service package has all the important features, except for blocking unwanted calls and data backup, and the traffic for the VPN is limited to 200 MB per day.

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3. Dr. Web Security Space

Android version of the popular domestic antivirus with a large updated database and reliable protection. Thanks to the URL filter, the user is protected from dangerous and unreliable Internet resources. Any site can be added to the white or black list – it will be opened or blocked regardless of the general settings of the program. 

The mobile version of Security Space, like the computer version, features a convenient spam filter: the antivirus screens out all unwanted calls and advertising mailings. To use this feature, you need to install the application from the official Dr.Web website, not from Google Play. 

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4. McAfee Security: VPN protection and antivirus

One of the most functional antivirus tools for Android. For mobile antivirus, there are only 7-9 main options besides virus protection, and almost every service package lacks something from this list. However, McAfee has everything you need, with the exception of call blocking. 

The program includes a full-fledged high-quality VPN for online protection, the ability to safely browse sites and screen out suspicious resources, an anti-theft function with a full range of remote control, and application code protection. To check the security of a home or unfamiliar network, McAfee Security uses a Wi-Fi hotspot scanner. 

The antivirus also warns the owner if someone has stolen and used his phone number or email address on the Internet. The disadvantages of the product include the price, which exceeds the cost of other paid subscriptions by 3-9 times. 

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5. Norton 360: Mobile Security

Antivirus with 100% protection⁶ and the complete absence of false positives. The program copes with the main task perfectly well – it detects all new threats, blocks transitions to fake sites and does not affect the speed of the smartphone. Among the useful features is the privacy advisor – it warns the user in advance about applications from Google Play that can secretly use his personal data.

The antivirus also notifies you of suspicious and dangerous Wi-FI networks that can steal personal information or infect your device with viruses. In terms of privacy protection, Norton 360: Mobile Security can be considered one of the best solutions. However, it does not have a free trial period, and the VPN is installed separately and is not available in some countries. 

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6. Avira Security Antivirus & VPN

The optimal solution for fans of mobile gaming. The program optimizes the resources of the phone and improves its performance, and also allows you to get rid of temporary and residual files. Thanks to this, the device does not slow down, heats up less during a long game, and the storage is not littered with useless data. The program is not demanding – it almost does not affect the battery and does not load the system during background threat monitoring. 

If necessary, Avira Security Antivirus can scan the network and give the owner information about its security and connected devices. In addition, the antivirus protects the owner from surveillance through the microphone and camera. However, unlimited VPN and password manager are only available in a paid subscription, and even then not on all plans.

In the free version, the user can get acquainted with some features, evaluate the interface and settings, try out free 100 MB VPN per day and decide if he needs to pay for this product. 

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7. AVG AntiVirus Pro for Android

An absolute clone of Avast in terms of interface. If the user once had one of these antiviruses, it will not be difficult to deal with the second. AVG’s desktop and mobile applications regularly top positions in independent research ratings and are distinguished by a high level of protection.⁹.

The set of functions is standard for most paid antiviruses, but the “anti-theft” is also able to take an automatic snapshot when replacing SIM-cards in the phone. AVG is similar to Avast in the absence of a firewall, so the antivirus cannot filter information transmitted over the network. 

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8. Panda Mobile Security

Speed ​​and wide functionality are the main advantages of this antivirus. It can block calls, optimize system performance and prolong battery life, and if the device is stolen, it allows you to remotely erase all confidential files, capture the face of an intruder, and even turn on an anti-theft alarm. Even if the battery runs out completely, the owner of the stolen smartphone will be able to track its location.

Panda Mobile Security has several tools in its arsenal for smartwatch users. For example, the owner of the gadget will receive a warning if the watch and the smartphone are too far apart. Unfortunately, in terms of protective properties, the program is inferior to advanced antiviruses.

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9. Malwarebytes for Android

An antivirus that takes up little storage space and does not load the system. The main protective features of Malwarebytes for Android are blocking ads and adware, monitoring security when visiting web pages, and proactively disarming ransomware. 

At the same time, the antivirus has a long and not the most thorough scan, there is no Wi-Fi check, call blocking and VPN. This product is suitable for those who want to get rid of ads and protect themselves from the threat of malicious sites without unnecessary load on their smartphone. 

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10. ESET NOD32 Mobile Security

ESET NOD32 – machine learning-based security software recognizes and eliminates 100% of modern viruses and repels 99,9% of threats³ in real time. It also has a home network check feature that analyzes the security level and identifies possible vulnerabilities. 

If the phone is lost or stolen, the owner will be able to manage it through a personal account on the ESET website. This feature allows you to remotely wipe sensitive data, lock your device, locate it for quick return, and get a picture from your camera.

A special option will help you recognize the face of the kidnapper or consider the surroundings. The rest of the features are standard: password protection for applications, automatic scheduled scanning and anti-phishing to block fake sites. 

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How to choose an antivirus for your Android phone

Choosing a mobile antivirus for your requirements is not so difficult. But first of all, you need to figure out whether it is worth paying for the software at all. 

Paid or free – which antivirus for Android is better

Even the best free antivirus for Android is a half-measure in some ways. Today, Internet fraud has become the main threat for smartphone users, and only programs with a developed and wide range of features protect against them.

And so the most obvious advantage of the Premium versions is функциональность. Some free antiviruses can only perform forced scans and detect threats after the fact. They have a couple more useful features, but phishing protection, ad blocking, and VPNs are mostly only found in the advanced versions.

The second argument in favor of paid subscriptions is lack of advertising. Shareware products still need to be monetized, so they regularly offer to buy a paid package, show ads, and may even collect personal user data. When choosing a free antivirus, you need to carefully study the privacy policy and be prepared for the constant imposition of goods and services. 

What criteria to choose an antivirus

Any antivirus can be evaluated by three parameters: protection efficiency, the convenience of use и performance. The last criterion includes not only the speed of the program, but also its impact on the system and energy consumption. Approximately the same evaluation parameters are used by reputable research laboratories, such as AV-TEST¹⁰, AV-Comparatives¹¹ and MRG Effitas¹².

1. So, for starters, you should cut off all options with inappropriate performance. It’s better to immediately abandon the antivirus that slows down the system, makes the phone warm, or makes surfing the Internet unpleasant. These shortcomings will become too high a price for protection, which may never come in handy with careful use of a smartphone.
2. Secondly, it is important to know about as antivirus protection. To do this, just go to the specialized sites and see the results of the latest research. There you can find at least five antiviruses with 100% protection against threats, and then it remains to choose the appropriate one according to the last criterion.
3. Convenience use – the last criterion is the third in the queue, but the first in importance. Using an inconvenient, overly complex, or visually repulsive program every day is not a good prospect, especially if it cost the user money. To accurately choose a good antivirus for a smartphone on Android, you can first evaluate its free version. Even better is to use the trial period and use the full range of services for a while.

Popular questions and answers

Alexander Schukin, technical director of Tendence.ru hosting provider, at the request of the editors of Healthy Food Near Me, answered the most frequently asked questions of readers and help them choose the best defense program.

Sources of

1. https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2021/
2. https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/september-2021/
3. https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/september-2021/eset-mobile-security-6.3-213506/
4. https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2021/bitdefender-mobile-security-3.3-213605/
5. https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2021/mcafee-mobile-security-5.14-213611/
6. https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2021/norton-norton-360-5.21-213612/
7. https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2021/avira-antivirus-security-7.8-213604/
8. https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2021/kaspersky-lab-internet-security-11.76-213610/
9. https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2021/avg-antivirus-free-6.42-213603/
10. https://www.av-test.org/en/
11. https://www.av-comparatives.org/consumer/
12. https://www.mrg-effitas.com/