Mobile security: Apps to protect Android devices

Topic

New Reply

	TOP STORY Mobile security: Apps to protect Android devices
	By Fred Langa There are hundreds of free and paid security apps for Android phones and tablets. But many of those offerings are of uncertain quality. Here’s a sampling of some of the best software for keeping Android devices free of malware, managing passwords, locking up your data, and more.

---

The full text of this column is posted at windowssecrets.com/top-story/mobile-security-apps-to-protect-android-devices (paid content, opens in a new window/tab).

Columnists typically cannot reply to comments here, but do incorporate the best tips into future columns.[/td]

[/tr][/tbl]

Reply | Quote

Replies

Hi- great review but a few omissions I’d like to add for a few of your categories:
1) Malwarebytes is a free service from one of the best (and free).
2) Cerberus is a great utility for lost phones and ability to track/disable
3) Lastpass is also a very good password manager that works on your desktop also.

Both are worthy additions to your review.

Thanks!
David

Reply | Quote

Does any of this apply to Kindles? Kindles are Android devices but can’t use Google Play (as far as I know). What’s up with that anyway? What’s Google got against Kindle. A money thing, I suppose.
Thanks,
CB

Reply | Quote

Does any of this apply to Kindles? Kindles are Android devices but can’t use Google Play (as far as I know). What’s up with that anyway? What’s Google got against Kindle. A money thing, I suppose.
Thanks,
CB

Kindle offers its own Apps, through the Amazon Marketplace. These include security Apps.

OTHER NOTES:
Linux has the most installations in the world only because of embedded versions in literally billions of devices. Java also has a claim in that department. Actual Linux desktop penetration remains around 4% worldwide. This does not classify Android, the most prevalent non-desktop OS in the world as a Linux distro (which it is not).

Any tablet or HDMI stick with 1GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage could theoretically run pure Linux (and Android) but Desktop Linux is not suited for a purely touch-centric environment, last I looked into the issue. With Android Tablets now going over to Intel Atom Baytrail 64-bit architecture, the ARM obstacle has been largely reduced. Ubuntu was working on an ARM version, but last I knew this project was incomplete. Linaro (LUbuntu) has been working on ARM for some time. For what it’s worth, Android does as lousy a job of scaling up to a desktop monitor as Windows RT. So these two branches of the Nix OSes (Android and Linux) remain appropriate mostly for their own respective domains.

While it has a similar name, KeepassX is open-source and available for all platforms, including Android. KeepassX is not the same program as Keepass for Windows. Unfortunate that there’s still confusion on that point. The database structure of KeepassX is universal across all platforms, and its database can be kept on a USB stick or even in the Cloud. Only the Windows version can actually run from a USB stick directly.

As for this being WINDOWS SECRETS, not ANDROID SECRETS, the issue has been debated from time to time here in The Lounge. I am not aware of any concensus about whether or not more or less coverage should be devoted each week to Desktop Windows, RT, Server Windows, or other OSes, especially those associated with the exploding popularity of tablets. Tablets are here to stay, and many run Android. It isn’t just a phone OS anymore.

Personally, I run mostly Linux on my laptop. But I want to keep up with Windows 8 and the upcoming Windows 9. I also still run Windows 7 on the same laptop. And my next PC will be an Android on Intel tablet, when the good ones hit American shores sometime within the next six months or so. I want to hit the ground running on any Android secrets which may help me manage my new device.

The tech world is become a very international and cross-platform world. We all are going to have to adapt to these changes. Part of being an informed Windows user is to be informed about the OSes and devices which may connect to our business and home networks in this BYOD world.

-- rc primak

Reply | Quote

… and the upcoming Windows 9.

Windows 9? Already? Ack!!!

Reply | Quote

Windows 9? Already? Ack!!!

Well, a year or so from now. Put your stick shift in neutral again.

Umm, folks — Android and Linux branched away from each other shortly after Apple and Linux went their separate ways. Calling Android a flavor of Linux is like calling Linux a flavor of Unix. The shoes just don’t fit anymore.

Android is not more prevalent worldwide than desktop Windows. Facts are still facts. The Gartner Stats in this ZDNet article only cover mobile devices (tablets and phones), and do not cover PCs and workstations.

As stated in my earlier post, I totally agree that Android devices are more and more becoming part of the Windows PC and networking ecosystem.

-- rc primak

Reply | Quote

I’m using the free Comodo Mobile Security, which not only protects from malware but also enables you to password lock apps, along with various other useful features.

Reply | Quote

Thank you for this article! I will be studying it and these comments very closely because I’ve been pretty worried about Android security.

You know what OS has the largest installed base in the world? Linux. Why? Partly cost – most implementations of it aren’t really free anymore, but it’s still possible if you are determined. But to a great extent also due to security. Especially in the server world. Microsoft never paid much attention to security. It has become more and more secure by patching problems as they arise, but the basic OS just isn’t designed to be secure. It appears that Google – that weird building full of brilliant narcissists – paid no attention to learning from the mistakes of others and so Android is not very secure, either.

So guess what? You can now buy a tablet computer with Linux on it. And it looks awfully nice in the glossies, though I’ve never seen it in action. It seems like it is only a matter of time until you can get a phone with Linux on it, too. Then Android: watch out!

Reply | Quote

Backspacer – Android is a flavour of Linux. The reason Linux has the largest base is because of Android devices.
When Android took off, Microsoft lost half it’s market share of devices in a couple of years.

Ken – they explained this prior. A large % of Windows users do not have a Windows phone. They’re serving their market base. As you can subscribe to the full newsletter (this time with Fred and Susan on Windows) for next to nothing, you’d find it well worth the minimal cost. And then you’d be supporting their work rather than complaining about what you got for nothing.

Reply | Quote

Backspacer – Android is a flavour of Linux. The reason Linux has the largest base is because of Android devices.

Ah, I hadn’t thought of that. But Ubuntu has announced its notepad version and it looks a lot slicker than Android. At least the stuff they show looks a lot better than the stuff on my phone.

Incidentally – about Windows -vs- Android Secrets: an awful lot of us have Android devices and they sync and/or plug directly into our Windows computers. So I think it is of value to Windows users to be kept abreast of Android security. And of anything pertaining to Windows such as how to sync the devices and the ramifications of it, apps that let us use our Windows computers remotely or interface with apps on our Windows computers, and so on. Any way that Android impacts Windows seems like a reasonable subject to me. I think that things like reviews of the latest pong game (only for an example) or how to sync with Apple computers (don’t know if they can and don’t care) probably do not belong here. But our editors seem bright enough to have already figured that out for themselves. 🙂

Reply | Quote

Like Dave, I’d mention LastPass also- I use it on the desktop so adding it to Android is a no-brainer. You really don’t want 2 password systems.

I also use ESET AV on the desktop and see they also have an Android version on sale for $10 per year, $15 for 2 years. It has the main features I’m looking for.

Thanks for the great article though – it spelled out what to look for.

Reply | Quote

I for one applaud a bit of android thrown in w/ the mix. I am sure the Android articles will still be a minority and the lounge does have an alt os forum. Android does tend to attract the same sort of techy folk who frequent this lounge and provide so much useful info to us all.

PS cblounger I am fairly sure Google Play is available on Kindles if you are willing to fuss a bit, check out the appropriate forum for your dev @ http://forum.xda-developers.com.

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

Reply | Quote

I have been a subscriber to Windows Secrets paid edition for as long as I can remember and also to Fred Langa’s site before it was swallowed by WS. I originally came in to make a mild rebuke about the top story in WS being all about Android. The clue is in the name. Having just spent the last twenty minutes trying to navigate my way here through the WS equivalent of the Kremlin Walls and stupid out of date security checking that I am so incensed that I have cancelled future subscription. What used to be a fantastic and eagerly awaited newsletter has become less and less informative and now is outreached by many other tech newsletters out there. Good bye Fred and good look with Android Secrets in the future.

Reply | Quote

I have been a subscriber to Windows Secrets paid edition for as long as I can remember and also to Fred Langa’s site before it was swallowed by WS. I originally came in to make a mild rebuke about the top story in WS being all about Android. The clue is in the name. Having just spent the last twenty minutes trying to navigate my way here through the WS equivalent of the Kremlin Walls and stupid out of date security checking that I am so incensed that I have cancelled future subscription. What used to be a fantastic and eagerly awaited newsletter has become less and less informative and now is outreached by many other tech newsletters out there. Good bye Fred and good look with Android Secrets in the future.

What is this “Kremlin Wall of Security”? I only have to log in with my user name (for The Lounge) and my Password (for The Lounge). For the newsletter, paid subscribers also may create a password for the Paid Content only, but that login is strictly optional to use The Lounge. I find no security around here which is any different from a typical Web Mail account.

I’m fed up with Android Secrets too. It’s been years since Windows Phone got a mention in WS newsletter, despite the recent Windows Phone 8.1 and Universal Windows Apps.

Bruce

Shirley you jest. I assume at least some sarcasm in this comment.

But Windows Phone could be mentioned more often, if the editors want to cover Mobile Devices more thoroughly.

-- rc primak

Reply | Quote

Shirley you jest. I assume at least some sarcasm in this comment.

None (and stop calling me Shirley).

Reply | Quote

Having just spent the last twenty minutes trying to navigate my way here through the WS equivalent of the Kremlin Walls and stupid out of date security checking

Apparently there is a whole part of WS that I am missing!:unsure:

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

Reply | Quote

I guess we all have our bad days…

Reply | Quote

I’m fed up with Android Secrets too. It’s been years since Windows Phone got a mention in WS newsletter, despite the recent Windows Phone 8.1 and Universal Windows Apps.

Bruce

Reply | Quote

I know I’m a little late getting into this forum, but I’m reporting my experience using the recommended “Lookout” on my Nexus 10. Not sure why I put it on there, as I haven’t had any problems in the 1.5 yrs. that I’ve off-and-on used it. Shortly after installing Lookout, I started getting a popup saying: “The page at ads.yahoo.com says: Warning (3) viruses have been found on your Android. Tap OK to remove them“. Nope, I don’t tap or click things like that! It didn’t say anything about “Lookout”, plus, I’ve never used yahoo anything. I didn’t like the coincidence of this, so after a week of it, I uninstalled Lookout but I still get the same pop-up now and then. Any ideas? I’m not all that familiar with Android, so I’m wondering if there’s an equivolent to “System Restore”.

Reply | Quote

The Theft Alert option (in Lookout anyway) is useless for wi-fi only tablets as there is no mobile (cell phone) sim in it.

Reply | Quote

I use Avast Mobile Security on my phone. It has one of the best Anti-Theft programs I’ve ever seen on any mobile security suite.

Reply | Quote

Yeah, I wasn’t too worried about theft. Is there a trusted app that could either get rid of the “3 viruses” or the fake notification? I’m a PC guy with no smart phone, so I’m not very familiar with Android at all.

Reply | Quote

Sadly, there’s no System Restore equivalent in Android. Have you tried installing Avast from the Play Store? It has pretty good virus detection rates. Also, when do you get the popups? Do you get them even if your phone isn’t connected to the Internet?

Reply | Quote

I’ll try the Avast app. It’s only that one pop-up that I get on my Nexus 10 tablet, and yes, when I’m internet connected. As I pointed out, it never happened until I installed Lookout- and I don’t have a smart phone.

Reply | Quote

All right then. Install Avast, run a full scan and report back here with the results.

Reply | Quote