Antivirus for Android - Lower Resource Use

Which Antivirus for Android Products have lower Resource Use?

I currently have a lower end Android Phone and am using Dr.Web Free. I am thinking about changing to a different Antivirus Product.

I want good Anti-Malware Protection without quickly draining the phone's battery.

Thanks in Advance.

 

I own a Motorola Razr Droid and I use Ikarus. I think it's not too heavy and it has decent detection rate although I have to say that I have never really encountered a threat on my mobile device yet.

 

Sophos

 

I found an AV Test which gave me an 'indication' of Resource Usage.

http://www.av-test.org/en/tests/mobile-devices/android/jan-2013/

I looked at each Android AV Product having check marks for all three of the following:

1. '......does not impact battery life'
2. '......does not normally slow down device'
3. '......does not generate too much traffic'

AhnLab: V3 Mobile
Antiy: AVL
Comodo Mobile Security
Dr.Web Antivirus
ESET Mobile Security
GData Mobile Security
GFI Mobile Security
Ikarus Mobile Security
Lookout
NQ Mobile Security
Quick Heal Total Security
Sophos Mobile Security
Symantec Mobile Security
Trend Micro Mobile Security
TrustGo Mobile Security
Webroot: Secure AnyWhere Mobile

 

I am using the new Bitdefender Antivirus Free and it is very light on resources. I haven't been using it long but from what I have seen, it is lighter than Dr. Web antivirus.

So far this does feel like the lightest that I have tried. It's an antivirus only. It only uses 1.2MB of storage and from what I can tell does not run continuously in memory. It appears to run only when installing applications and while performing on-demand scans.

For web security, anti-theft, application audit, and SMS control, you would have to upgrade to Bitdefender Mobile Security.


-https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitdefender.antivirus&feature=nav_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDMsImNvbS5iaXRkZWZlbmRlci5hbnRpdmlydXMiXQ..

 

Avast Mobile Security, I have use Avast and Dr Web and Avast is great, doesn't have any noticeable effects on battery life or speed of my phone, I have a Motorola RAZRM.

 

I have TrustGo on RAZR, RAZR-M, and Xoom. It's full featured and battery life seems not to be affected much at all.

I have tried Dr. Web lite on the Xoom and it seemed to impact the battery more than TrustGo. I briefly tried Zoner and it wasn't too bad either.

I have heard good things about Avast and may try it out myself someday but I'm not sure an AV is really needed, never ran across malware on Android.

If you only want remote wipe and locate (no AV) Avira would work but it seems not to be as accurate as TrustGo on locate.

 

With a lower end Android phone, I wouldn't actually go for any real-time monitoring. I'd be careful about the apps installed, and do everything manually.

For example, few apps identify all the 'add-ons' and extra programs trying to run in the background. Some popular applications I've always trusted I've later removed.

Sometimes going for the paid apps is more worthwhile as they don't seem to package advertising material or try to collect your data (not all, but I'd say more paid apps are better for your privacy).

Some examples of programs which highlight apps that may be compromising your privacy/security:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.denper.addonsdetector&feature=related_apps

and

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...DIxMiwiY29tLmEwc29mdC5ncGhvbmUuYVNwb3RDYXQiXQ..

and

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.symantec.android.spot&feature=search_result

What I'd do is run a scan with some of these programs after installing any applications. Use the built in Android applications manager to see running applications, or use something similar to systempanel.

Big fan of using system panel for a quick look at what is running, and what may need to be continually force closed. That mixed with continually checking what is collecting data (which I later delete), and only downloading reputable apps, you'll have a secure smartphone.

 

Although I don't own an Android device, I know there's a VirusTotal app, if of any interest?

-https://www.virustotal.com/en/documentation/mobile-applications/

 

Lightest one I ever used was Bitdefender. Check it out.

 

If I wasn't using Dr. Web Light Free, I'd go back to Alyac (Roboscan).

 

I agree. Now with the latest updates AMS has some new features that give more protection with little system impact:

Version 2.0.4303

• Simplified Anti-Theft setup (AMS and AAT)
• New Anti-Theft user interface (AAT)
• Improved uninstall protection of apps (AMS)
• File Shield (also scans downloads) (AMS)
• Full activity log (AMS)
• Option to disable sending SMS to avast! Account (AAT)
• Folder scanning (AMS)
• Vietnamese localization (AMS and AAT)

Version 2.0.4400

• Initial Privacy Advisor scan should no longer repeat itself after going into the feature from dashboard
• Added "App security timeout" to AMS Settings (time after you have to insert PIN again to get into AMS after leaving)
• Completely changed layout of notifications on ICS+ devices (that's 4.0+ for those who are not familiar with the abbreviations)
• File Shield's "scan files when reading" should be turned off by default
• Uninstall Protection should now properly reset itself after the screen has been turned off
• Some other bugfixes (usually crashes resulting in AMS restart)

 

Tried vipre for my Nexus 7..forget it.......I searched for game hints and a hardcore porno page popped up..so much for web blocking

 

I have tried many for my single core android and I have found, at least for me, Ikarus and ESET to be the least resource hungry as far as AV's go.

 

The new release of Zoner is really light on battery and ram usage. The last release had sucked up my battery but now its fixed.