Anti-Virus, Anti-Malware, Anti-Theft

Do you really need an AV app on Android? Let's see. There's an interesting graph at phandroid.com, and also a collection of relevant apps at AndroidAuthority. But there's also the conclusion that "many av scanners are useless" (Viele Android-Virenscanner sind nutzlos), or even a security risk themselves (Android-Virenscanner bringen schwere Sicherheitslücken mit). And one should also pay attention to "false security apps": some Trojans pose as security suite (ZitMo Trojaner tarnt sich als Android Security Suite Premium, 6/2012). And what seems "safe and secure" by rating and "big names" might turn out being nothing but a placebo.

Another interesting article is titled Android users give malware apps permission to rob them, express shock at the results. That probably fits about 95% of all real-world cases …

Here in Germany, the publisher Heise is counted a big authority in IT and security. Their article FAQ: Android und Sicherheit, dated December 2012 (c't 17/12) deals with this en detail, and sums it up, it's easily managable. Let me translate rawly: "Vendors of anti-virus software like to peddle with exaggerated horror statistics", and, "Currently almost all smartphone infections are caused by software the users installed actively themselves". They conclude: "The best protection is to use your common sense when installing new apps". I've said that already before they did … One last quote: "Do I need anti-virus software to be safe? – No. According to our assessment, the security gain by installing anti-virus software is too small to make up for the negative side-effects and the added nagging-factor, reduced battery runtime, and possible false-alerts."

And besides: The big-players in the AV business explicitly warn to install apps which ask for too many permissions – so especially pay attention to their numbers in below listings: Why such an anti-malware app needs to check for running apps (and might need to kill them) is quite clear (to find and get rid of the "bad guys"). Accessing the Internet for signature updates, check. Read SMS/MMS: yeah, for bad content, OK. Delete it as well if found, check. But what for does it have to send SMS, make phone calls, access the camera, read my bookmarks, read/write my contacts, call logs, calendars, access my precise location, and more? If you'd expect an explanation with the apps' descriptions: nope. Seeing those permissions (and their counts per app), according to the bold text above and even just to common sense, rather makes the impression of some malware camouflaging as security suite. That's like casting out the demons with the ruler of the demons. No, thanks: not on my devices. By the way: the "average Android App" requests about 7 Permissions. Less than 4% of the apps want more than 20. Just to give you a measurement what "too many permissions" could mean.

I don't think 99% plus users even get a benefit from [anti-virus]. There’s certainly no reason that they need to install something in addition to [the security we provide].
If I were to be in a line of work where I need that type of protection it would make sense for me to do that. [But] do I think the average user on Android needs to install [anti-virus]? Absolutely not.

Source: Adrian Ludwig, Google´s chief security engineer for Android

„Anti-Virus for Android“ is like wearing the helmet of a medieval knight to play „Russian Roulette“. You wouldn’t need that helmet if you wouldn’t willingly put yourself at risk (using some common sense is more effective). As you do both, some bullets still penetrate the helmet. And what’s more, the helmet has spikes. Inside. Think of all those „false positives“ causing unnecessary panic, plus vulnerabilities introduced by their often massively high demand on powerful permissions, as well as the again risky modules they usually contain (see here). Remember who wants to tell you that you need that kind of software: its makers. And if you now ask the common question what good it does them if they give it away for free: they don’t. You pay with your data, with your privacy.

For those who still insist, here we go. Try to find one that doesn’t come with malware (in form of trackers) itself:

Anti-Malware

2021-10-20

Though many of these apps call themselves „Anti-Virus“, that's rather to „raise their importance“ and make you feel you really need their protection. So I've included them into „Anti-Malware“ instead. (Basically, any app calling itself „Anti-Virus“ or even „Best Anti-Virus“ sounds very suspicious to me ) That said: Use at your own risk!

Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus: AppLock & Web Security (4.8@3,704,133) Ǥ 51 5 / Kaspersky Endpoint Security & Device Management (4.3@15,720) Ǥ 45 2
ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus (4.8@928,218) Ǥ 46 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Video Review & Tutorial 2/2017
AVG AntiVirus & Security (4.7@7,240,478) Ǥ 37 12
Avast Antivirus – Mobile Security & Virus Cleaner (4.7@6,709,595) Ǥ 55 11 verkauft Surf-Daten seiner User | Wie Avast die Daten seiner Kunden verkaufte (2/2020)
Mobile Security - Lookout (4.7@1,112,606) Ǥ 37 7
Avira Antivirus 2021 - Virus Cleaner & VPN (4.7@615,488) Ǥ 36 9
Malwarebytes Security: Virus Cleaner, Anti-Malware (4.7@350,900) Ǥ 22 5
Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus (4.7@303,371) Ǥ 31 5
Safe Security - Antivirus, Booster, Phone Cleaner (4.6@16,769,779) Ǥ 52 15 "Chuck Norris on Steroids": Task-Killer, "Virus" killer… Yo.
Norton 360: Online Privacy & Security (4.6@1,605,012) Ǥ 37 6
Mobile Security & Antivirus (4.6@437,670) Ǥ 40 12 Abo: ~EUR 2/month (Geld-wech)
AMC Security - Clean & Boost & Antivirus (4.6@350,257) Ǥ 53 15 Swiss army-knife: Anti-Malware, Anti-Theft, System-Tuner, Call-Blocker & more
Mobile Security & Antivirus (4.6@91,612) Ǥ 48 8
Antivirus Free (4.6@12) 39 LastUpdate: 2016-09-09 Wikipedia
Anti-virus Dr.Web Light (4.5@1,148,492) Ǥ 21 2 / Dr.Web Security Space Life (4.4@5,622; ~EUR 67.00) Ǥ 28 2
Mobile Security: VPN Proxy & Anti Theft Safe WiFi (4.4@774,589) Ǥ 62 8
VirIT Mobile Security (4.4@1,966) 15 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
Sophos Intercept X for Mobile (4.3@44,951) Ǥ 33 2
Zoner AntiVirus (4.2@49,966) Ǥ 17 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2019-11-28
Anti Spy Mobile Free (4.1@20,883) 0 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ / Anti Spy Mobile PRO (4.3@1,597; ~EUR 5.00) Ǥ 3 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ AppThread@XDA-Forum
Emsisoft Mobile Security (4@1,927) Ǥ 28 4
LibreAV (4@12) 4 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github
G DATA Mobile Security Light (3.9@10,558) Ǥ 54 2 / G DATA Mobile Security (4@736; ~EUR 10.00) Ǥ 20 1 ~EUR 20/year
Antivirus Free (3.9@32) 6 16
IKARUS mobile.security (3.8@3,168) Ǥ 25 2
Webroot Mobile Security & Antivirus (3.7@17,134) Ǥ 45 3 LastUpdate: 2019-07-26 comprehensive care-free package: AntiVirus, WebThreats, AntiTheft
Hypatia (0@0) 4 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ GitLab

Exploit Detection/Protection

2021-10-20

Fake ID fix (4.4@371) $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2014-08-10 XDA incl. instructions; Video Demo 8/2014; Security against installation of certain malicious apps
Stagefright Detector (4.3@11,409) 1 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Vorstellung 8/2015 (mit Video)
Stagefright Detector (4.3@7,531) 1 1 LastUpdate: 2015-08-19 Vorstellung 8/2015 | 8/2015; Intro 8/2015
Heartbleed Security Scanner (4.1@19,290) 1 1 LastUpdate: 2014-04-10 Kurzvorstellung 4/2014; Intro 4/2014
ReKey (for rooted phones) (4@528) 2 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-09-13
Heartbleed Detector (3.9@385) 0 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2014-08-06
VTS for Android (0@0) 3 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2015-12-14 Github; Vulnerability Test Suite. Check your device!
StartFlagExploit (0@0) 0 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; affects Android 10+11

Anti-Theft

2021-10-20

An overlap with the anti-malware section is unavoidable: full-fledged security suites try to cover (almost) everything …

Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus: AppLock & Web Security (4.8@3,704,133) Ǥ 51 5 / Kaspersky Endpoint Security & Device Management (4.3@15,720) Ǥ 45 2
Avast Antivirus – Mobile Security & Virus Cleaner (4.7@6,709,595) Ǥ 55 11 verkauft Surf-Daten seiner User | Wie Avast die Daten seiner Kunden verkaufte (2/2020)
Avira Antivirus 2021 - Virus Cleaner & VPN (4.7@615,488) Ǥ 36 9
Norton 360: Online Privacy & Security (4.6@1,605,012) Ǥ 37 6
Mobile Security & Antivirus (4.6@437,670) Ǥ 40 12 Abo: ~EUR 2/month (Geld-wech)
AMC Security - Clean & Boost & Antivirus (4.6@350,257) Ǥ 53 15 Swiss army-knife: Anti-Malware, Anti-Theft, System-Tuner, Call-Blocker & more
Antivirus Free (4.6@12) 39 LastUpdate: 2016-09-09 Wikipedia
Lockwatch - Thief Catcher (4.5@61,352) Ǥ 15 2 Video Walk-Through 4/2015; Video Intro 8/2016; mails you w/ photo of unsuccessful unlock attempters, SIM changes etc.
Mobile Security: VPN Proxy & Anti Theft Safe WiFi (4.4@774,589) Ǥ 62 8
CrookCatcher - Anti Theft (4.1@57,204) Ǥ 24 3
WardWiz Android Essentials (4@598) Ǥ 24 2 Anti-Theft, movement alert, device locator …
Anti Theft Mobile Tracker (3.9@2,052) Ǥ 18 2 LastUpdate: 2020-02-26
Cerberus anti theft (3.9@14) Ǥ 46 2
Anti Theft Android Watchdog (3.8@310) Ǥ 16 23 take photos & record thief's conversation, track (falling) device; stealth mode
Webroot Mobile Security & Antivirus (3.7@17,134) Ǥ 45 3 LastUpdate: 2019-07-26 comprehensive care-free package: AntiVirus, WebThreats, AntiTheft
SmSimApp Anti Theft (3.6@716) Ǥ 14 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ remote lock/wipe, find device, remotely take photos, have it call you (hidden to thief) so you can listen in, forward all incloming messages
Prey Anti Theft: Find My Phone & Mobile Security (3.5@62,318) Ǥ 22 2
Antitheft Droid WEB - Security (3.4@8,254) Ǥ 24 2

Theft-Alert: Make noise when device is moved

2021-10-20

Don’t Touch My Phone (4.7@8,659) 5 2
Anti Theft Alarm (4.6@72,010) Ǥ 10 12 LastUpdate: 2017-12-08
Alarm Anti Theft Screen Lock (4.5@35,576) Ǥ 14 2 LastUpdate: 2016-08-07
Don’t touch my phone™ (4.4@184,005) Ǥ 15 10 touches your data, oops…
Anti-theft alarm (4.4@110,238) Ǥ 22 5 LastUpdate: 2020-02-02
Anti Theft Phone Alarm - Free Phone Security (4.4@29,922) 17 1
Anti Theft Alarm (4.3@787) 16 3
Anti Theft Alarm (4.3@58) 7 4 LastUpdate: 2017-01-16
CrookCatcher - Anti Theft (4.1@57,204) Ǥ 24 3
alarMob - Anti-theft alarm (4.1@1,635) Ǥ 13 6 LastUpdate: 2019-04-02
Intruder Selfie™ (4@27,414) Ǥ 9 2 LastUpdate: 2018-01-21
Emsisoft Mobile Security (4@1,927) Ǥ 28 4
globio Alarm System (3.9@7,004) 17 3 LastUpdate: 2020-04-10 / globio + Donation (3.6@1,819; ~EUR 1.00) Ǥ 20 2 LastUpdate: 2019-03-09

Find my device

2021-10-22

Apps dedicated to find lost devices. Certainly overlaps with anti-theft and anti-malware sections, where some apps might include this feature.

Whistle Phone Finder (4.8@2,907) 4 1
Google Find My Device (4.4@1,002,471) Ǥ 15 1
Find My Phone Whistle: finder (4.3@344,214) Ǥ 15 14
Whistle to Find Phone: Find Phone by Whistle 2 (4.3@11,521) Ǥ 16 3
Find my phone by whistle PRO (4.2@55,601) 11 4 / Find my phone clap PRO - clap to find your Phone (4@17,966) Ǥ 12 4 / Find my phone by Voice - Voice to find your phone (3.3@1,892) Ǥ 12 3
Find My Phone: Find Lost Phone (4.2@50,888) Ǥ 15 3
Find iPhone, Android Devices, xfi Locator Lite (4.2@37,240) Ǥ 9 9
Find My Phone (4.1@307,302) Ǥ 27 17
Wheres My Droid (4.1@112,243) Ǥ 30 7
Find My Phone Lite (4@852) 14 16 LastUpdate: 2016-09-18
Lost Android (3.9@75,599) Ǥ 29 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
Whistle Phone Finder PRO (3.8@19,859) 8 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
Clap to Find (3.6@46,027) Ǥ 16 4
Seguime (3@1) 13 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ GitLab; Find-my-Phone with your own server
Device Locator (0@0) 6 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2018-08-15 GitLab
FindMyDevice (0@0) 15 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ GitLab
Finder (0@0) 15 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github

Anti-Others

2021-10-20

What didn't fit elsewhere

NoPhish (4.7@92) 1 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2017-07-13 Vorstellung 6/2017; Lernen, Phishing-Attacken zu erkennen
Intruder Selfie Alert (4.4@9,193) Ǥ 13 3 LastUpdate: 2019-04-14
Third Eye - Intruder Detection (4.3@51,917) Ǥ 15 7
Who Touched My Phone (4.2@15,133) 9 2 logs every unlock with a photo
PilferShush Jammer (4.1@245) 3 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; blocks your mike so other apps cannot use it; shall protect against NUHF signals (ad trackers)
Who Tried To Unlock - Don’t Touch my phone Alarm (3.8@12,398) Ǥ 10 2 wrong password photo capture
SnoopSnitch (3.7@3,788) 16 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Intro 1/2015 | 4/2015 | 7/2019; Vorstellung 2015 | 4/2018 | 1/2020; Video Demo 11/2016; Mike’s favorite; detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers and missing security patches
PluckLockEx (3.7@18) 2 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2018-07-19 Github; locks your device when „snatched“ (fast acceleration)
Privacy Cell (0@0) 5 verify that a phone is using the most secure cell protocols
AirGuard - AirTag tracking protection (0@0) 11 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; protect yourself from Apple's Find My Tracking
LockUp (0@0) 4 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Cellebrite UFED self-defense app

Further Readings:

Category Ad-Modules and Privacy Checker
General
- Why You Should Uninstall Your Android Antivirus Software (10/2021)
- Closely check BEFORE you install: Warnung vor „Fleeceware“ (8/2020)
- Schadprogramme: Was tun bei Infektionen? (11/2018)
- Umfrage Bitkom: Panikmache? (12/2017)
- Dauerbrenner Phishing (9/2015 - 11/2019)
- Vault7: CIA und Anti-Virus-Software: Was sagt die CIA über Anti-Virus-Produkte? (3/2017)
- Sicherheitsapps für Android-Geräte (8/2015 - 11/2018)
- Android-Virenscanner bringen schwere Sicherheitslücken mit (6/2016)
- Ausgerechnet Sicherheits-Apps sind eine Gefahr (6/2016)
- Clickjacking: Der Trick mit dem überdeckten Bildschirm (4/2016)
- Stagefright-Lücken in Android: Geräte-Hersteller lassen Nutzer im Unklaren (8/2015)
- So schützt ihr das Smartphone vor der Stagefright-Sicherheitslücke (8/2015)
- Android-Virenscanner greifen private Daten ab (2/2014)
Malware
- Google Play Protect Sucks at Detecting Malware (7/2021)
- Populärer Gratis-Virenscanner verkauft Surf-Daten seiner User (1/2020)
- How effective is the antivirus app on your smartphone? (4/2019)
- Schadsoftware auf dem Handy? (6/2015 - 6/2019)
- Malware-Angriffe auf Smartphones – die unterschätzte Gefahr (7/2018; mit Tipps für Vorsichtsmaßnahmen)
- Play Protect: Virenschutz made by Google (9/2017 - 11/2019)
- Antiviren-Scanner: Mehr Risiko als Schutz? – Snakeoil Teil1 (4/2017) | Teil 2 (4/2017) | Teil 3 (5/2017)
- Is there really such a thing as an Android virus?
  technically there are no Android viruses. […] Most people think of any malicious software as a virus, even though it is technically inaccurate.
- Schadprogramme: Was tun bei Infektionen? (1/2017 - 11/2018) / Schadprogramme auf Mobilgeräten (6/2015 - 6/2019)
- McAfee VirusScan Enterprise gefährdet Linux-Systeme (12/2016)
  in other words: don´t use such stuff where it´s not even needed
- Wenn sich Apps zum Angriff verbünden (7/2016)
- Virenscanner für Android-Geräte: was sie leisten können und wo sie an ihre Grenzen stoßen (8/2015 - 11/2018)
- Android antivirus apps are useless — here’s what to do instead (4/2015 - 7/2021)
- Malware is an exaggerated issue (4/2015)
- Android Malware-Gefahr stark übertrieben: Google veröffentlicht Android-Sicherheitsbericht für 2014 (4/2015)
- Even „Google Play“ isn't spared: Malicious Android apps spamming users with adware have reportedly made their way into the Google Play Store (2/2015)
- Android Sicherheitschef: Anti-Malware-Apps sind überbewertet (7/2014)
- Must read: Android Antivirus: 6 truths about smartphone malware (5/2014)
- Android-Virenscanner schnüffeln Surf-Verhalten aus (2/2014)
- 2013: Zielgruppenspezifische Malware und der Aufstieg (und Niedergang) von Adware (2/2014)
- Antivirus-Apps im Test (2/2013 - 4/2019)
Theft/Loss
- How to find a lost or stolen phone (5/2020)
- Handy orten – wie geht das? (8/2015 - 2/2021)
- How to find a lost or stolen Android phone (7/2017)
- Checkliste: Handy geklaut oder verloren? So sorgen Sie vor (5/2017 - 8/2019)
- Smartphone-Diebstahl: So schützt ihr Smartphone und Daten am besten (3/2015)
- Wo ist mein Smartphone? Verlorene oder geklaute Handys orten (3/2013 - 12/2019)
Misc
- The 3 Best Android Apps to Catch Someone Unlocking Your Phone (7/2021)

Possibilities to check apps for security issues

Some websites offer such services:

Android & iOS: Gratis-Werkzeuge zur Malware-Analyse (2/2014: ViaForensic's Santoku Linux)
Exodus Privacy for trackers in apps
MobilSicher.DE AppChecker
VirusTotal: more than just malware inside

2021-10-22

IzzyOnDroid