Do you need to use antivirus apps on Android?

 

A couple of decades ago or more, antivirus software was so popular that almost every computer is free of antivirus due to the spread of virus infiltration and the lack of smart tools in operating systems to detect them. But times have changed and both computer and smartphone operating systems are largely self-sufficient when it comes to security and protection.

 

But what if we highlight Android? This regime has had its share of security concerns over the past years. With its bundle of security improvements, does the user still need to be concerned about the "antivirus" apps that are plentiful on the Google Play Store that promise round-the-clock protection?

 

It depends on how careful you are

 

Users are types, there is no standard way to use smartphones, so the need for an antivirus application depends on how you use the phone - are you careful enough to be free from it or your use is risky? Since we are talking about Android, you know that it is an open system where you can customize every part of it, download apps from outside the store and even install a different ROM completely unlike a closed system like iOS. Of course, this is a double-edged sword, that is, yes you can customize your phone and make the most of it, but this may expose you to some security issues.

 

So, the more adventurous you are, the more likely you are to cause damage to your device. But you probably know that and take precautions. But if we had to tell you one thing to be wary of, it would be downloading apps from outside the Google Play Store. Android allows you to install APKs of unknown source. To do this, you need to enable the “Unknown sources” option from the phone settings, while in the Android version 8 and above, you will be able to specify the source of the installation of unknown applications, such as allowing them to be installed only if they are downloaded via Chrome browser.

 

The idea here is that after downloading and installing APKs from unknown third parties, you are solely responsible for any risks! Meaning that the Google Play Store will not help you update the application or at least check it to ensure that it is free of viruses. So, if you are not quite sure where your apps that you download from outside the Play Store are coming from, you should consider using an antivirus app for additional protection. It in turn scans the apps you're trying to install and tells you if a suspicious item is detected in the app.

 

Google Play Store is not 100% secure

 

Android has not been secure since its launch in the early years, it started to grow with a steady set of security improvements gradually until Play Protect came in 2017 to ensure permanent security for Android. It uses artificial intelligence to scan the Play Store around the clock for malicious and suspicious apps and clear it of any unwanted items.

 

Indeed, this feature has succeeded in discovering a huge number of applications that harm users' data. Not only that, but Play Protect also checks the apps installed on your mobile every once in a while to make sure that there is no inappropriate activity for any app. You can perform a scan manually by going to the Google Play Store, then selecting My apps & games, then under the Updates tab, click on the Update button at the top for the feature to scan immediately.

 

However, we cannot say that Play Protect is a substitute for antivirus applications, as there are still some security disparities in the Google Play Store. It is rare for a month or two to pass without reading the news of the existence of some kind of malicious application spread on the store and which has a large number of users.

 

 Just in the past year, the famous Malwarebytes discovered several applications claiming to be an "alarm clock", "QR code reader app", "photo editing apps" or "file management apps" but they actually contain a Trojan called AsiaHitGroup that performs some scams Until he gets permission to fully control the phone and then collect personal data in secret.

 

Of course, in such cases, Google immediately deletes suspicious applications from the store, but this is not before tens of thousands of users have downloaded them.

 

Speaking of deceptive apps on the Google Play Store, researchers at Trend Micro have discovered 85 malicious apps disguised as “games” as well as “TV remote control apps” on the Google Play Store.

 

Where applications come with Adware software to display an exaggerated amount of ads on users’ devices and can only be eliminated by formatting the phone. These apps also tend to ask for a lot of permissions to harvest as much of the victim's data as possible.

 

As usual, Google immediately intervened and quickly removed the apps from the App Store, but after all these apps got a total of 9 million users around the world. Feature There are some security tolerances, so store apps cannot be 100% reliable. The thing that keeps you safe from the harms of these apps is that you have a modern Android phone that gets security updates regularly.

 

What should you do?

 

What we can offer you is “Avoid downloading any applications unless you are confident in them.” Before you download the application, check if it is developed by a well-known programmer? Or got good reviews on the store? Or falls under the "Editor's Choice" category? Try searching for any app on Google before you download it to see what people say about it. Always remember that the damage comes from the simplest applications that you did not expect to affect your phone - installing a “calculator” application may be a disguised medium to acquire your data and transfer it to others without your knowledge!

 

But back again to repeat the phrase “it depends on how careful you are.” If you are careful enough when using your phone, you do not need to download an antivirus app. However, if you're still hesitant to download an app you suspect, then you'll need an anti-virus app that's guaranteed to be an extra layer of protection over your data and privacy. Also keep in mind that most phone manufacturers integrate an antivirus app into their phones, so you may need to download another app from the Store. For example, on Samsung devices, you will find the “Device Security” tool under the settings, which represents the McAfee antivirus application.