Sunday, 29 March 2015
Top 5 Android security apps: Do they protect you?
The subject of security for the Android platform is far from straightforward. There’s some debate about whether you really need antivirus apps on your smartphone. Much depends on whether you sideload apps, but there’s no denying that malware has grown into a much greater concern since we first wrote this article back in 2012. Luckily security apps have improved dramatically to keep pace with the new threats, so you have plenty of great protection to choose from.
The majority of Android security apps are actually packages that include a host of other tools from contact filtering to remote lock or wipe. We decided to take a look at the top five Android security apps and find out what they do. We are taking a look at these from a consumer point of view, so be warned that some of the “free” apps are only free for personal, non-commercial use.
1. 360 Scurity (free)
A major player in China, developer Qihu burst onto the scene and claimed the top spot in AV-Test’s September 2013 report with a virtually flawless detection rate of 99.9 percent, the highest of any of the security apps tested. In the latest March 2014 report it achieved a detection rate of 100 percent. The focus with 360 Mobile Security is firmly on detecting and nullifying threats to your system. It has a very streamlined, elegant design. It’s extremely lightweight, and it’s completely free.
A standard real-time scan will safeguard your device from malware, spyware, and the threat of infection. It’s also capable of detecting and fixing system vulnerabilities and cleaning up idle background apps to help your phone run more efficiently. There’s a privacy advisor and a tool to clear your usage history
The latest version of 360 Security boasts a lot of extras, including a junk file cleaner, memory booster to free RAM, a power saving option, app management, privacy with encryption, and anti-theft tools for locating or remotely wiping your phone.
For a good blend of usability and strong protection, you should think about 360 Security. It offers smooth performance and a host of extra features, so it is bound to appeal.
2. Avast Mobile Scirity
As a genuinely free app for the Android platform, Avast! Mobile Security is offering an impressive range of tools. It has antivirus protection, it scans your apps to provide details on what they are doing, and it has a Web shield that scans URLs for malware.
There are various additional tools in the package and the best of the bunch is the anti-theft component. The app is actually based on an old app called Theft Aware which Avast acquired. The anti-theft feature is hidden and allows you to remote control your smartphone using SMS. So if you lose your phone, you can remotely lock it, locate it, or wipe it. You can make it play a siren sound, lock down the SIM card, and prevent USB debugging as well. It’s a comprehensive solution for theft protection.
If you have a rooted device then there’s also a firewall that allows you to control network traffic. You can block access to Wi-Fi or the network for specific apps which is handy for security and potentially saving on battery juice as well.
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According to the latest AV-Test report of 31 popular Android security apps, Avast is a solid option with an overall detection rate of 99.9 percent. Although it is not top of the charts in terms of malware detection, the extra functionality (including the anti-theft tools and a firewall for rooted devices) still make it worth considering. It has a light footprint with no discernible drain on battery life and no impact on general performance. It also returned no false positives.
The fact this app is completely free, has a wide range of features, and offers protection for rooted devices, makes it a strong contender. If you’re looking for a security solution for your Android smartphone, and your primary concern is malware and safe browsing, then this could be the right app for you.
Avast Marketing Director, Milos Korenko, has assured us that “There might be a paid version in the future but that won’t have an impact on the free version. It will continue to be available and loaded with features.”
3. Eset Mobile Scurity & Antivirus.
This is a new entry for our top five and it deserves its place with a 100 percen detection rate in the latest AV-Test report and an easy-to-use interface. The basic app is completely free and it provides real-time scanning of apps to detect malware and potentially dodgy apps trying to send texts or make premium rate calls.
The free version also includes a suite of anti-theft tools. You can remotely locate and lock your smartphone or tablet, and you can prevent anyone from uninstalling apps by using password protection.
If you want remote wipe or SIM guard capabilities then you have to spring for the premium version at $20 per year, but it also delivers anti-phishing protection, an app audit feature, device monitoring for unwarranted use of data, and advanced call blocking.
4. Avira Antivirus Scurity.
With a 100 percent detection rate and no false positives, you can trust the free version of Avira to keep your Android smartphone or tablet safe. It has a light footprint in terms of performance and a sleek, minimalist design that fits in well with the Android platform.
Avira allows you to scan apps for potential trouble and it scans new apps or updates automatically. There’s also the usual batch of anti-theft tools, to help you find your device remotely, lock it, wipe it, or trigger an alarm.
There’s an additional tool that claims to be able to tell you whether your email account has been hacked and tell you what action to take if it has. A decent range of blacklisting options rounds off this app, so you can block problem callers or nuisance spam.
There is a premium version that adds anti-phishing, more regular updates, and better support, but the free version covers enough bases for most people.
5. AVL.
Some of you are probably just looking for malware protection that’s as barebones as possible. If you don’t want anti-theft tools, or identity protection, or any of the other possibly superfluous features that come in many security apps then AVL will suit you.
This app scored a 100 percent detection rate with no false positives and AV-Test found performance was good with no undue impact on speed or battery life. AVL can scan a variety of file formats beyond APKs and it’s designed to be fast and efficient.
Other Options
The fact that 18 of the 31 apps tested by AV-Test in March 2014 scored 100 percent detection rates shows how much security software on the platform is improving. If you don’t fancy any of our picks then McAfee Antivirus & Security, TrustGo Antivirus & Mobile Security, and Trend Micro Mobile Security & Antivirus all offer free versions that are worth a look. They all scored a 100 percent detection rate as well and could easily have made the list.
From the big name security software brands, Kaspersky and Symantec will attract many people because they are familiar names, but compared to some of the free options there’s really nothing there to justify the price tags. Same goes for the excellent NQ Mobile Security & Antivirus and Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus. All scored 100 percent, but they are only free trials and will bug you about paying out an annual subscription.
And The Winner is..
You can read about whether you actually need antivirus protection and run through some common sense ways to safeguard your Android device in the next two parts of this security series. However, if you do want to go ahead and get an Android security app, 360 Mobile Security is your best bet right now. It offers the functionality you’d expect from a premium app for free. If you’re not sure about 360 Mobile Security then we’d recommend ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus.
If you’ve tried any of these apps out or you have another Android security app you feel is worthy of a mention then post a comment and let us know about it.
Saturday, 28 March 2015
Lockwatch Mobile Security– Keeping An Eye On Your Droid, Literally!
As everyone knows how much I like to go on and on about mobile security and how safety is of utmost importance, I am going to add to that today but not with another run of the mill mobile security apps. Today’s app one ups any security app ever because it is amazing! This app has the potential to set fear in people’s minds, provided those people are thieves.
Today’s app actually gives a sense of security because if something happens, the culprit is sure to be arrested. Today’s app is Lockwatch Mobile Security. While the name is ordinary, what it dies is pretty extraordinary!
Lockwatch takes a photo of any person who tries to unlock your phone with the wrong passcode, and then sends the photo and a map of their location to your email address. Protect yourself against a lost or stolen phone by providing police with photo evidence. Find out if your partner or a work colleague is trying to get into your phone.
I know right!! It includes the following features:
– Takes a photo of the intruder using the front camera when the wrong unlock code is entered.
– Determines the location of the break-in attempt using GPS and WiFi.
– Immediately sends the photo and a map of their location to your email address.
– Completely silent and invisible operation. No warnings are shown to the intruder.
– No need for a third-party lock screen. We use the lock screen built into Android.
– Works with pattern, pin or password lock screens. Fingerprint and face unlock are not supported on all devices.
– No battery drain. The app runs only when the wrong unlock code is entered.
Android requires a minimum of 4 digits or dots for each unlock attempt. Make sure you read the help page to understand how Lockwatch works.
Lockwatch even has a set of premium features, including:
– Detect SIM card changes – Sends you an email if a new SIM card is inserted into the phone.
– Send email after power on – If a thief turns off your phone and turns it back on when they are home.
– Take multiple photos – Takes three photos of the intruder, each photo is taken roughly one second apart.
– Record sound – Records 20 seconds of high quality sound using the built-in microphone.
– Turn on data connection – Automatically turn on your data connection when sending the email.
– Send an SMS to a friend – Sends an SMS to your friend if you have no data connection to send the email.
I have not come across a cooler app that this. Not only does it ensure the safety of return of the phone in cases of theft, it actually helps the police find out the thief easier because not only do you receive the coordinates of where the thief is, you actually receive a picture. This is an app that can set feat in a thief’s’ heart. If they know that this app is downloaded on a particular device, they will definitely leave that device alone. And if they are unaware, Lockwatch Mobile Security will make sure that they are behind bars.
Android Lollipop Features You Will Not Find In Stock Kit Kat
There has been a lot mentioned about the Android Lollipop and how it is a game changer for Google and for Android users in particular. However, to put things in perspective, it is necessary to compare the Stock Kit Kat version with the Lollipop to appreciate just how the Lollipop scores over Kit Kat.
So here goes:
1. Lollipop now has the flashlight notification on the panel without the user having to install any third party app. Just ensure your device has the LED flash and use flashlight pulling the notification panel down.
2. Battery power and better conservation has been accorded its due priority in Lollipop by Google. You can now see how long your device would take to get charged and you also get a nice graph indicating the time left for the battery to run out. Once the device is plugged in, you get the time for the full charge to be completed.
3. With Lollipop, you can now limit or restrict information that others would be able to see on your device. Just go to the Settings – Users – Add Guest should you wish to offer your phone for somebody else to use.
4. The popular Flappy Bird Easter Egg game is now available in a modified version on the Lollipop. In this version, you unlock the Easter egg and can get the robot to do the job instead of the bird. Just tap Settings-About Phone and click a number of times to get this android robot.
5. The notification panel is thankfully a lot simpler. The main change is the ability of the user to see the notifications on the lock screen itself. If you feel this is not in order, you can always disable it by Settings-Sound and Notification-When Device is Locked.
6. The Trusted Places is yet another smart feature that is a first for Android. Despite the fact that our devices have passwords, disabling it each time when you are in your own car or house is quite a task. You can use this feature to notify the device about locations that are safe so that there is no need to keep unlocking the device each time you are at these places. Go to Settings-Security-Smart Lock.
7. The soft key buttons also get the redesign that was overdue. The icons now look more compact and the design is a simple but elegant one.
8. Multitasking too is very simple as you can now go through the notifications due to the better level of detail available before you enter the application.
9. You can also now prioritize apps you want retained rather than a whole host of them crowding the screen with their associated notifications. You can now get only notifications from apps you use regularly. This works even when you are sleeping and therefore pretty convenient to manage.
10. Get quicker access to Chromecast without having to install any other app as the Lollipop would have Chromecast as its official app. Streaming media becomes simple as you only have to visit the notification panel and tap on the Cast Screen option.
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