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

2021-07-17

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@3,643,635) Ǥ 52 5 / Kaspersky Endpoint Security & Device Management (4.3@15,667) Ǥ 45 1
ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus (4.8@912,547) Ǥ 46 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Review 1/2014; Vorstellung 2/2014; Video Review & Tutorial 2/2017
AntiVirus (4.8@15) 11 3
AVG AntiVirus 2021 - Free Mobile Security (4.7@7,179,271) Ǥ 37 13
Avast Antivirus – Mobile Security & Virus Cleaner (4.7@6,612,053) Ǥ 55 12 verkauft Surf-Daten seiner User | Wie Avast die Daten seiner Kunden verkaufte (2/2020)
Lookout: Mobile Security, Antivirus, ID Protection (4.7@1,104,375) Ǥ 37 5
Malwarebytes Security: Virus Cleaner, Anti-Malware (4.7@340,437) Ǥ 22 5
Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus (4.7@292,544) Ǥ 29 7
Safe Security - Antivirus, Booster, Phone Cleaner (4.6@16,779,685) Ǥ 52 15 "Chuck Norris on Steroids": Task-Killer, "Virus" killer… Yo.
Norton 360: Online Privacy & Security (4.6@1,564,482) Ǥ 34 6
Avira Antivirus 2021 - Virus Cleaner & VPN (4.6@608,410) Ǥ 36 11 Video Demo 4/2014
Mobile Security & Antivirus Free (4.6@437,475) Ǥ 39 11 Abo: ~EUR 2/month (Geld-wech)
AMC Security - Clean & Boost & Antivirus (4.6@349,639) Ǥ 53 15 Swiss army-knife: Anti-Malware, Anti-Theft, System-Tuner, Call-Blocker & more
Mobile Security & Antivirus (4.6@89,021) Ǥ 48 10
CM Security (4.6@411) Ǥ 58 14 / CM Security Lite - Antivirus (4.6@270,374) Ǥ 32 1 LastUpdate: 2018-10-17 / Stubborn Trojan Killer (4.5@170,626) 17 2 LastUpdate: 2017-12-27 Sicherheits-Check 12/2015 (Cheetah Mobile = do-not-use!)
Antivirus Free (4.6@12) 39 LastUpdate: 2016-09-09 Wikipedia
Anti-virus Dr.Web Light (4.5@1,145,815) Ǥ 21 2 / Dr.Web Security Space Life (4.4@5,600; ~EUR 67.00) Ǥ 27 2
Mobile Security: VPN Proxy & Anti Theft Safe WiFi (4.5@763,215) Ǥ 62 7
VirIT Mobile Security (4.5@1,947) 15 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
Sophos Intercept X for Mobile (4.3@44,783) Ǥ 33 3
AntiVirus & Mobile Security (4.3@6,645) 12 LastUpdate: 2016-05-28
OWASP Seraphimdroid security (4.3@58) 22 3 LastUpdate: 2017-12-20 Github; open-source security package: anti-malware, anti-theft, app-locker, sms/call blocker and more
Zoner AntiVirus (4.2@49,860) Ǥ 17 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2019-11-28
Anti Spy Mobile Free (4.1@20,814) 0 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ / Anti Spy Mobile PRO (4.3@1,596; ~EUR 5.00) Ǥ 3 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ AppThread@XDA-Forum
Emsisoft Mobile Security (4@1,915) Ǥ 28 6
LibreAV (4@12) 4 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github
G DATA Mobile Security Light (3.9@10,493) Ǥ 54 2 / G DATA Mobile Security (3.9@717; ~EUR 10.00) Ǥ 20 1 ~EUR 20/year
Antivirus Free (3.9@32) 6 16
IKARUS mobile.security (3.8@3,149) Ǥ 25 1
Webroot Mobile Security & Antivirus (3.7@17,086) 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

2021-07-17

HeartBleed Detector (4.6@3,589) 1 LastUpdate: 2014-05-06 Intro 4/2014; Vorstellung 4/2014
QuadRooter Scanner (4.4@4,138) 4 LastUpdate: 2016-08-28
Belarc Security Advisor (4.4@1,156) 1 LastUpdate: 2016-08-08
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@11,432) 1 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Vorstellung 8/2015 (mit Video)
Stagefright Detector (4.3@7,535) 1 1 LastUpdate: 2015-08-19 Vorstellung 8/2015 | 8/2015; Intro 8/2015
Norton Halt exploit defender (4.2@2,932) 7 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2019-05-13
Heartbleed Security Scanner (4.1@19,299) 1 1 LastUpdate: 2014-04-10 Kurzvorstellung 4/2014; Intro 4/2014
Certifi-gate Scanner (4.1@1,338) 4 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-08-11
ReKey (for rooted phones) (4@528) 2 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-09-13
Recap (4@42) 9 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-02-18
Heartbleed Detector (3.9@385) 0 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2014-08-06
Qualcomm QuadRooter Scanner (3.9@197) Ǥ 4 LastUpdate: 2016-08-26
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

2021-07-17

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@3,643,635) Ǥ 52 5 / Kaspersky Endpoint Security & Device Management (4.3@15,667) Ǥ 45 1
Avast Antivirus – Mobile Security & Virus Cleaner (4.7@6,612,053) Ǥ 55 12 verkauft Surf-Daten seiner User | Wie Avast die Daten seiner Kunden verkaufte (2/2020)
Norton 360: Online Privacy & Security (4.6@1,564,482) Ǥ 34 6
Avira Antivirus 2021 - Virus Cleaner & VPN (4.6@608,410) Ǥ 36 11 Video Demo 4/2014
Mobile Security & Antivirus Free (4.6@437,475) Ǥ 39 11 Abo: ~EUR 2/month (Geld-wech)
AMC Security - Clean & Boost & Antivirus (4.6@349,639) 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
Mobile Security: VPN Proxy & Anti Theft Safe WiFi (4.5@763,215) Ǥ 62 7
Lockwatch - Thief Catcher (4.5@59,783) Ǥ 15 3 Video Demo 7/2014; Video Walk-Through 4/2015; Video Intro 8/2016; mails you w/ photo of unsuccessful unlock attempters, SIM changes etc.
Antitheft Droid SMS - Security (4.3@30,571) Ǥ 22 14 LastUpdate: 2018-07-25
OWASP Seraphimdroid security (4.3@58) 22 3 LastUpdate: 2017-12-20 Github; open-source security package: anti-malware, anti-theft, app-locker, sms/call blocker and more
CrookCatcher - Anti Theft (4.2@172) Ǥ 24 4 XDA 4/2014; Intro 6/2014
Anti Theft - Thief Catcher (4.1@430) 8 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2018-03-16 incl. photo of unsuccessful unlocker;
Anti Theft & Find My Phone (3.9@7,379) Ǥ 20 2 LastUpdate: 2016-08-27
Phone Locator (3.9@6,229) Ǥ 9 5 LastUpdate: 2017-03-27
Anti Theft Mobile Tracker (3.9@2,007) Ǥ 18 2
AllSecure: Anti Theft & Backup (3.9@284) Ǥ 31 1 LastUpdate: 2014-05-02
Cerberus anti theft (3.9@14) Ǥ 46 2 Kurzvorstellung 12/2014
WardWiz Android Essentials (3.8@596) Ǥ 24 2 Anti-Theft, movement alert, device locator …
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@17,086) Ǥ 45 3 LastUpdate: 2019-07-26 comprehensive care-free package: AntiVirus, WebThreats, AntiTheft
SmSimApp Anti Theft (3.6@714) 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@62,250) Ǥ 22 3
Antitheft Droid WEB - Security (3.3@8,247) Ǥ 26 6

Theft-Alert: Make noise when device is moved

2021-07-17

Don’t Touch My Phone (4.7@8,681) 5 3
Anti Theft Alarm (4.6@71,757) Ǥ 10 12 LastUpdate: 2017-12-08
Alarm Anti Theft Screen Lock (4.5@35,512) Ǥ 14 2 LastUpdate: 2016-08-07
Don’t touch my phone™ - Who touched my phone? (4.4@180,012) Ǥ 15 10 touches your data, oops…
Anti-theft alarm (4.4@109,600) Ǥ 22 5
Anti Theft Alarm -Motion Alarm (4.4@46,719) Ǥ 21 3 LastUpdate: 2019-02-24
Anti Theft Phone Alarm - Free Phone Security (4.4@29,113) 17 1
Anti-Theft Alarm (4.4@115) 4 LastUpdate: 2016-09-12
Anti-Theft Alarm (4.3@1,959) 6 1 LastUpdate: 2017-08-10
Anti Theft Alarm (4.3@788) 30 3
Anti Theft Alarm (4.3@59) 7 4 LastUpdate: 2017-01-16
Automatic Anti Theft Alarm (4.2@644) Ǥ 6 1 LastUpdate: 2016-09-24
CrookCatcher - Anti Theft (4.2@172) Ǥ 24 4 XDA 4/2014; Intro 6/2014
alarMob - Anti-theft alarm (4.1@1,629) Ǥ 13 6 LastUpdate: 2019-04-02
Emsisoft Mobile Security (4@1,915) Ǥ 28 6
Intruder Selfie™ (3.9@26,263) Ǥ 9 2 LastUpdate: 2018-01-21
globio Alarm System (3.9@7,000) 17 3 / globio + Donation (3.6@1,822; ~EUR 1.00) Ǥ 20 2 LastUpdate: 2019-03-09
Anti-theft alarm (3.9@775) Ǥ 5 1 LastUpdate: 2016-09-20

Find my device

2021-07-16

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@959,830) Ǥ 14 1
Find My Phone Whistle - gadget finder by whistling (4.3@336,193) Ǥ 15 14
Whistle to Find Phone: Find Phone by Whistle 2 (4.3@11,524) Ǥ 16 3
Find iPhone, Android Devices, xfi Locator Lite (4.3@699) Ǥ 9 11
Find my phone by whistle PRO (4.2@55,355) 11 4 / Find my phone clap PRO - clap to find your Phone (4@16,755) Ǥ 12 4 / Find my phone by Voice - Voice to find your phone (3.5@1,721) Ǥ 12 3
Find My Phone: Find Lost Phone (4.2@44,797) Ǥ 15 3
Phone Tracker - Anti Theft (4.2@534) Ǥ 24 2 LastUpdate: 2017-12-16
Find My Phone (4.1@306,299) Ǥ 27 17
Wheres My Droid (4.1@112,133) Ǥ 30 9
Find My Phone Lite (4@852) 14 16 LastUpdate: 2016-09-18
Lost Android (3.9@75,438) Ǥ 29 1 Vorstellung 5/2014
Whistle Phone Finder PRO (3.8@19,866) 6 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
Clap to Find (3.5@44,761) Ǥ 16 3
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

2021-07-17

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
Third Eye - Find Who Tries to access your mobile (4.3@48,505) Ǥ 16 8
Who Touched My Phone (4.2@14,975) 9 2 logs every unlock with a photo
Intruder Selfie Alert (4.1@95) Ǥ 13 3 LastUpdate: 2019-04-14
PilferShush Jammer (4@223) 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@12,089) Ǥ 10 2 wrong password photo capture
SnoopSnitch (3.8@3,748) 16 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Intro 1/2015 | 4/2015; Vorstellung 2015 | 4/2018; 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)
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
- 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 - 10/2017)
- 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)
- Security-Apps: Welche Android-Security-Apps arbeiten sauber und effizient? (10/2014)
- 9 Best Android Security apps 2014 (2/2014)
- Android-Virenscanner greifen private Daten ab (2/2014)
- So sichert man Smartphone und Tablet (2/2014)
Malware
- Populärer Gratis-Virenscanner verkauft Surf-Daten seiner User (1/2020)
- How effective is the antivirus app on your smartphone? (4/2019)
- Viren auf dem Handy? (6/2015 - 6/2019)
- Malware-Angriffe auf Smartphones – die unterschätzte Gefahr (8/2018; 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 (6/2015-8/2018)
- McAfee VirusScan Enterprise gefährdet Linux-Systeme (12/2016)
  in other words: don´t use such stuff where it´s not even needed
- So wirkungsvoll schützen Anitivirus-Apps (8/2016)
- Wenn sich Apps zum Angriff verbünden (7/2016)
- Antivirus software is snake oil! (6/2016)
- 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 - 3/2019)
- Malware is an exaggerated issue (4/2015)
- Android Malware-Gefahr stark übertrieben: Google veröffentlicht Android-Sicherheitsbericht für 2014 (4/2015)
- Die zehn auffälligsten Android-Schädlinge 2014 (2/2015)
  Conclusion: having your provider block premium services renders most of them futile
- 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 + The 4 best Android anti-virus apps (5/2014)
- Google Play Services Update – Google bekämpft Malware (2/2014)
- 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? (7/2018)
- Smartphone verloren oder geklaut: So findet man es wieder (10/2017 - 7/2018)
- How to find a lost or stolen Android phone (7/2017)
- Handy weg: So findet man es wieder (6/2017 - 7/2018)
- Checkliste: Handy geklaut oder verloren? So sorgen Sie vor (5/2017)
- Smartphone-Diebstahl: So schützt ihr Smartphone und Daten am besten (3/2015)
- What are the best free apps for tracking and recovering an android device? (3/2014)
- Wo ist mein Smartphone? Verlorene oder geklaute Handys orten (3/2013 - 3/2019)
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
VirusTotal: more than just malware inside

2021-07-23

IzzyOnDroid