Mobile Security App Shootout - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Jan

[Review] Avast! Mobile Security For Android

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Applications, Mobile Security App Shootout

After getting a glimpse of Avast's new mobile security solution a few weeks ago, I just had to dive in and give the app a full review. Avast, the long-awaited marriage of Avast and IT Agents' Theft Aware (see our review), certainly doesn't disappoint. It has an insane number of features, all of which appear to work perfectly, and it sounds like things will only be improving with time.

And did I mention the full-featured, root-enhanced app is completely free with no paid version in sight? As in, even the previously paid (Theft-Aware used to cost 10EUR) features.

Check out this handy feature matrix:

And this video, which provides us with a quick overview of just a few of Avast's capabilities:

At A Glance

Avast Mobile Security is stunning not only in terms of functionality, but also in its design and usability.

Nov

[Mobile Security App Shootout, Final Roundup] Out Of A Sea Of Apps, Just One Emerges As A Clear Winner In Keeping Your Device Safe

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Applications, Mobile Security App Shootout

Last Updated: November 29th, 2011

In the past couple of months, I've covered more than a dozen mobile security apps, carefully weighing the pros and cons of each, and determining their relative values. I've spent time with 17 apps in all, and it's about time to wrap up the series, and tell you, the end user, which apps are your best bet for protecting your Android device(s).

Before I get to the nitty-gritty of which app is best, I think it'd be helpful to review what we've covered so far, to get a clear grasp on each of the solutions we've covered. To save your eyes from pages upon pages of analysis, I've made the following handy table, outlining the various features we've covered, and which apps have what you need.

Nov

[Mobile Security App Shootout, Part 17] NetQin Security Pro Focuses On Anti-Virus Protection Over Anti-Theft, Still Makes A Capable Solution

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Applications, Mobile Security App Shootout

Last Updated: November 21st, 2011

Coming in at number seventeen in our shootout, NetQin Security Pro is a security app that offers a lot more than your average anti-theft protection, even if that means skimping a little on features that may help you recover your lost device.

At A Glance

First, I want to comment on NetQin's design. The app's overall appearance is clean, and relatively well thought out. The main screen gives you access to all the app's main features, and the layout makes it virtually impossible to misstep. Speaking of features, NetQin has plenty of them, including anti-virus, privacy protection, traffic management, and anti-theft options.

Sep

[Mobile Security App Shootout, Part 16] XtraSEC Mobile Security Offers The Most Basic Protection At A Very Modest Price

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Applications, Mobile Security App Shootout

Landing at number 16 in the Mobile Security App Shootout is XtraSEC Mobile Security, from developer wedjohn57. XtraSEC is dedicated specifically to loss and theft protection, providing a clean, no frills experience, an intuitive interface, and support for multiple devices.

At A Glance

XtraSEC is certainly a lightweight app, housing most of its power in the app's online interface. XtraSEC comes in both free and paid flavors. The free version lacks Remote Locking, Data Wipe, Battery Info and on demand SIM information, but the paid version comes in at a modest $1.99/year. The app's design is straight-forward, and the online interface is convenient and intuitive, offering up all your options in only a couple of screens.

Sep

[Mobile Security App Shootout, Part 15] Kaspersky Mobile Security Offers Familiar Security Features, Adds Few New Twists

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Applications, Mobile Security App Shootout

Kaspersky, a huge name in computer security, not only protects your home and office computers, but your Android device as well. Kaspersky Mobile Security, now in its 9th revision, is a robust app packing anti-virus, anti-malware, call blocking, and theft/loss protection into one lightweight package.

At A Glance

Kaspersky's security solution for Android comes in a relatively lightweight app, costing only 1.5MB in storage. The app's loss/theft protection relies totally on SMS commands, meaning your phone is still protected even if data is turned off. Personally, I always like to see an online interface option, because it makes using the app that much easier in case you've lost your handset and don't have someone with a cell phone handy to send commands to your device.

Sep

[Mobile Security App Shootout, Part 14] ESET Mobile Security RC Still In Development, Offers Strong Features Nonetheless

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Mobile Security App Shootout

The developers behind the already popular ESET Security solutions for various desktop platforms is responsible for the next entry in our Mobile Security App Shootout: ESET Mobile Security for Android. Before we get started with reviewing the app, it's important to note that right now ESET for Android is in its Beta stage, and the app available on the Market is a Release Candidate, meaning it's not quite finished yet. The good news, however, is that the app is free throughout its stages in beta. ESET's other mobile solutions (for iOS and Symbian) run about $30.00/year.

At A Glance

ESET Mobile Security is a well-designed, easy to use app.

Sep

[Mobile Security App Shootout, Part 13] Trend Micro's Mobile Security Personal Edition Provides Strong, Basic Protection

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Mobile Security App Shootout

Trend Micro, the company that "Secures Your Journey To The Cloud" with an extensive line of security products for home and business, also offers a mobile security solution for Android users, called simply Mobile Security Personal Edition. This app is what we'll be discussing in the thirteenth installment of our Mobile Security App Shootout.

At A Glance

Within Trend Micro's security app we find another smoothly designed, well functioning security solution that sets up quickly and is exceedingly easy to use. The phone app has a nice set of features, but the real practicality in Mobile Security Personal Edition is its loss/theft protection.

Sep

[Mobile Security App Shootout, Part 12] Webroot Mobile Security Pairs Useful, Unexpected Features With Functional, Reliable Controls

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Applications, Mobile Security App Shootout

Webroot Software Inc. are the developers behind the popular security solution of the same name for desktops, and have brought the same protection to Android users with Webroot Mobile Security. This app, unlike its desktop counterpart, has features specifically for lost or stolen devices, giving the user the ability to track, lock, and wipe the device remotely from the handy online console.

At A Glance

Webroot Mobile Security has a free version and a paid version coming in at $14.99. The free version is only different in that its features list is more constrained than in the full version. I go back and forth on whether this app is worth the price -- on the one hand there are free apps that do much more for lost and stolen devices; on the other hand, Webroot is a trusted name, and the app comes with antivirus/malware protection and a handful of other features that I haven't seen combined with a security app yet.

Sep

[Mobile Security App Shootout, Part 11] Wave Secure From McAfee: A Big Name That Delivers A Nice Set Of Features

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Mobile Security App Shootout

Coming in at number 11 in our shootout is McAfee Wave Secure. McAfee is one of the biggest names in digital security, and by buying the popular security app Wave Secure, they're bringing the McAfee name and protection many have come to trust to your Android device.

At A Glance

It took me a couple of tries to get Wave Secure installed on my Evo, but once I did I was quite pleased with the interface. Setup takes just a few moments, and forces the user to assign "buddy" numbers, which will be notified if the phone's SIM card is changed.

Aug

[Mobile Security App Shootout, Part 10] Anti-Virus From AVG Mobilation Can Handle Loss, Theft, And Malware With Ease

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Mobile Security App Shootout

Looking to protect your mobile devices as well as it protects your computer, AVG has cooked up Anti-virus, available in free version, or a Pro offering for a one-time payment of $9.99. It's an app that not only helps you locate your lost device, but also protects your phone or tablet in real time by scanning apps, web pages, and settings to be sure you're safe.

At A Glance

AVG's anti-virus/security app comes in a small package but packs a lot of features. It installs easily and goes right to work scanning your apps for malware.

You can easily register your device for remote control and in seconds you'll receive an email with a link to the online console, which is exceedingly easy to use and has a total of just 7 buttons which do everything you could want security-wise.