Essential Features of a Mobile Antivirus

Your smartphone goes everywhere and does almost everything with you, from collecting all kinds of personal information, to contacts, photos, financial account details and private messages. Smartphones have almost replaced PCs and laptops. Just like PCs and laptops are prone to security threats, so is your smartphone. The one thing that can't be refuted today is that the amount of malware for the Android platform has skyrocketed. After all, it's only natural for malware authors to target one of the most popular and fastest growing mobile platforms.

There is still a perception that Android is the ‘Windows of smartphones’ even though it is ensuring maximum safety with every new release. Like Windows for PCs, Android is prone to the various malwares and viruses, that can be combated only by installing a mobile antivirus app. While the Android virus and malware problem is nowhere near as bad as Windows as yet, it’s always better to be secure.

There are numerous android antivirus apps on the Play Store that offer comprehensive security with additional features like performance booster, phone finder and other security features. Antivirus for Android secures against unwanted phishing, malware, spyware, and malicious viruses such as trojans and even against loss or theft.

Enlisted below are some of the must have features in antivirus for android apps:

 

Device Scanner

A flexible scanning feature that can run various types of scans including customized and scheduled scans. This also helps remove viruses.

 

App Manager

This feature helps determine if apps that are being downloaded from the Play Store are genuine enough and safe. It warns against potentially unsafe apps. Also offers the app lock feature that deters other users from opening or using apps like mobile banking apps.

Antitheft

This android antivirus feature, essentially a mobile tracker, helps remotely lock the device, locate it or wipe all data. There’s also a ‘ring’ function to locate the device. The SIM protection feature sends out a notification if the SIM is replaced. The user can then either lock down the device or wipe its data.

 

Parental Control

This feature enables parents to discreetly monitor their child’s use of the mobile device. It blocks malicious and potentially dangerous websites. With this feature, you can block a particular website's URL or websites based on their category such as adult, gambling, violence, etc.

 

Call & Message Filter

This Android security feature helps you block incoming calls and SMSs from unknown or unwanted numbers. You can also block numbers starting or ending with a particular series.

 

Message Exception List

This list displays non-numeric senders that are excluded from SMS blocking.

Regular Automated Virus Database Updates

This mobile antivirus feature helps you receive regular automated security updates. This helps protect your device and data from new and emerging threats.

Antivirus for android also helps improve device performance by enabling you to check the functioning of your device, extend battery life, speed up device performance, and view performance reports. Quick Heal Mobile Security offers all the essential features of mobile antivirus to protect Android devices from malware and threats of all kinds.

About Author: Dhanya is extremely passionate about expressing her thoughts through words by writing on myriad subjects, including IT security technology. Through her articles, she aims to help readers stay on top of emerging technology trends.

4 Home Truths about Android Malware

It is no great secret now that Android is the targeted platform of choice for malware authors and malicious programs that are aimed at infecting and stealing data from smartphones. The reasons for this are manifold – the wide utilization of millions of smartphones all over the world, the open-source nature of the platform and the general carelessness of users to safeguard their data while using their smartphones.

While the former points can be tackled with an effective antivirus for Android solution like Quick Heal Total Security, the latter issue about the negligence and carelessness of Android users is something that needs to be rectified. Most people feel that Android malware is nothing but a hyped up threat so as to persuade them to purchase a mobile security app. This could not be more inaccurate, as security solution providers only create solutions for platforms that have genuine threats on them. With that in mind, here are 4 home truths about Android malware that every Android owner must know. 

1. Android malware does exist after all

Any device or platform that has access to the Internet, can contract malware or security threats. This is a truth every user should know. There is no reason to believe that Android is an exception to this, especially when you take into consideration the millions of Android devices already in use and the hundreds of thousands new devices being activated every single day. 

2. There is built-in security available from Google

While Google has several inbuilt security features that protect Android users and Google Play visitors, the fact is that these measures are the bare minimum necessary. Just like a Microsoft Windows platform will not ship out without some inherent security feature, Google cannot afford to ignore the inclusion of such security measures. Whether these features are app scanners, device scanners or something else is irrelevant. The fact that Google also acknowledges the security threat should be reason enough for users to realize that the threat exists and that greater protection in the form of an antivirus for Android is necessary.  

3. Security apps can also be fake

Riding on the crest of this security wave, certain malware authors have created fake security tools for Android. These apps display messages that create panic in the users’ minds and entice them into installing the fake security app. The app then turns out to be malicious in nature and injects further malware into the device, or opens a backdoor or leaks out private information. 
  

4. Self-awareness is the perfect solution

You should also be aware that genuine security apps do exist on Google Play. They are verified by Google and used and reviewed by hundreds of Android owners across the world. But the best Android security can only be achieved if you are aware of the security risks involved. That is half the battle won. Always read app reviews before installation, always download apps from trusted sources, always read the permissions needed carefully, always be wary of clicking on suspicious links or ads and always keep your antivirus for Android turned ON. 

Apps are the single biggest source of Android malware so being cautious about their installation and nature will ensure smartphone protection. With these pointers in mind, every Android user can remain protected and avoid malware and security threats.