Looking for the best FREE security app for Android

Discussion in 'mobile device security' started by taytong888, Oct 31, 2017.

  1. taytong888

    taytong888 Registered Member

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    Hello,

    The title says it all. Any suggestions?

    Thanks.
     
  2. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    I use ESET (free mode) on my tablet and am happy with it.
     
  3. zapjb

    zapjb Registered Member

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    USA still the best. But barely.
    I use BitDefender Free (not Free trial but the Free version).
     
  4. imuade

    imuade Registered Member

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    Sophos, Avast, AVG and McAfee. They all add browser protection
     
  5. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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  6. taytong888

    taytong888 Registered Member

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    I use MBAM Free on my PC to replace Avast AV. Quite happy with it, so I am looking for something similar for Android phones. I understand that Android MBAM charges an annual subscription fee.
     
  7. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    It's the same as the Windows version, in that there is a free version without realtime protection, and a Premium version which adds realtime protection and other features.

    Using the free version of Malwarebytes as replacement for Avast on your PC, is a bad idea, as except for the initial trial period, the free version lacks realtime protection. It works very well as second opinion scanner, but should not be used to replace an antivirus unless you upgrade to the paid version.
     
  8. illumination

    illumination Guest

    As many have suggested here, most of the security Apps have free and paid versions, difference being what modules your allowed to use or not with the free versions.
     
  9. ABaird3

    ABaird3 Registered Member

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    I'd recommend Sophos free. There's a balance in free versions between functions available, and those kept for paid, and nags to upgrade. I find Sophos free covers the bases more than adequately, without any annoyances.
     
  10. RockLobster

    RockLobster Registered Member

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    Kasperskey for Android free

    Edit: I was just browsing the Kasperskey website they have several free Android tools I didn't know about including a 200mb per day VPN (300mb if you connect to something called, my kasperskey)
    and a password manager I'm going to test them on my phone.
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2017
  11. assersegsten

    assersegsten Registered Member

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    Bitdefender free for sure:thumb:
     
  12. RockLobster

    RockLobster Registered Member

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    Well I tested Kaspersky internet security free version. It is a manual virus scanner with three modes, app scan, folder scan and entire device scan. It also has optional anti theft protection that allows you to interact remotely with the device via a my kaspersky account, if you set one up you get 300mb data per day as opposed to 200mb without.

    I also tested Kaspersky free VPN,
    It auto connects to a server in a different country.
    The connection security options allow you to configure each app individually to turn on the vpn before connecting if it is not already on.
    If you get the paid version you can choose which country's server each app uses.

    Both Kaspersky internet security and Kaspersky VPN work flawlessly on my phone and as the current anti Kaspersky sentiment in the media is purely political and not technical, I would recommend to try them.
     
  13. bigc73542

    bigc73542 Retired Moderator

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    I use BullGuard on my android and home computer.
     
  14. mekelek

    mekelek Registered Member

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    I would suggest Norton, since i'm using that on my phone, well the paid version but the free one has basics you need already.
    Been having 100% on almost all tests the past half a year alongside with 2 or 3 other AVs.
     
  15. daman1

    daman1 Registered Member

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    $3, well dang close to being free I've been using bitdefender been very happy with it the detection rate is top-notch :thumb:
     
  16. taytong888

    taytong888 Registered Member

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    Hello,
    I forgot to ask which FREE firewall you use for your Android phone.
     
  17. ichito

    ichito Registered Member

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    Hi @taytong888
    First firewall - on my Xiaomi RN 4 I'm using NoRoot Firewall
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.greyshirts.firewall&hl=pl
    although I think LostNet NoRoot Firewall is worth of cosider...it has useful experimental fature to block addons
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lostnet.fw.free&hl=pl
    I'm not using any AV because Redmi has its own scanner with builtin 3 engines (you choose which one) - AVL, Tencent, Avast - and for me it's enough.
    Two next security apps are:
    - adblocker DNS66
    https://github.com/julian-klode/dns66/releases
    - Wi-Fi Privacy Police against leaking sensitive information
    https://f-droid.org/en/packages/be.uhasselt.privacypolice/
     
  18. RockLobster

    RockLobster Registered Member

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    No root firewall does a good job as a firewall, but it has to create a fake VPN to do it, which is in itself a clever idea as you can't access IP tables in Android without root.
    This means you have to trust the no root firewall developers because all your traffic will pass through their application. They do say it does not send any traffic to the internet of its own and I have not read anything that condradicts that claim...
     
  19. imuade

    imuade Registered Member

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    I've just installed Webroot Mobile Security (free version) and I have to say I like it a lot.
    Now the registration is no longer required.
    It doesn't have any ads (just a static banner on the home screen to buy the Premier version), it offers real-time scanning, on demand / schedule scanning, web protection (at least on Adroid default browser) and call/sms protection.
    And it doesn't have any impact on battery life :thumb:
     
  20. daman1

    daman1 Registered Member

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    It looks like WMS(paid?) hasn't been tested(AVTest) since Nov. 2016 and earlier, and test scores weren't all that good back then, If it has real time web protection for free? not bad but test scores would keep me away.
     
  21. imuade

    imuade Registered Member

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    It has been tested here https://www.av-comparatives.org/android-security-test-2017/
    I used it in the past, but website protection was not working.
    Yesterday I tried it again and I found it improved a lot
     
  22. daman1

    daman1 Registered Member

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    I forgot about AV-C I checked AVtest, I was going to try it out a few months back but settled on BD, like I said if you get web protection free that good.
     
  23. imuade

    imuade Registered Member

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    BD paid is great too, but BD free just offers basic protection to scan apps and apks.
    In my opinion, Sophos is the best free option, but on my phone it uses a lot of battery (not sure why, on my tablet is not like that).
    Avast and AVG are good options too, they both offer website protection for free, but recently they have added too many unnecessary features and ads.
    Now I'll stay with Webroot for a while and check how it performs :)
     
  24. daman1

    daman1 Registered Member

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    :thumb:
     
  25. Eforcedude

    Eforcedude Registered Member

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    Anyone tried Lookout?
    Free app in the Play store, loads below the kernel, active updating.
    If you are on TMO, you get premium for free - even more features.
    I use Lookout on all of my devices (phones and tablets), and I bought it to protect my work phones.
     
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