I use Avast on my Android devices as protection against viruses and malwares. While there is an ongoing debate about the necessity of such apps, I can say that we saw some freaking news recently about apps doing illegal things in the background. I'd rather be on the safe side than be sorry. Avast mobile Security and Antivirus protects 230 million people globally. I don't know if this number covers Android devices only, Avast being available for PCs also.
Another great feature Avast offers is anti-theft which lets users control their Android devices remotely via a browser, locate a phone on a map, basic features like locking the device, activate siren, or wipe memory to protect data. And my favorite feature is the notification sent when the SIM card is changed. I recovered a phone this way and the thief spent some time in jail.
Avast also contains in-app purchases that adds unlimited app locking, Ad detector, Password check, Geo-fencing, Remote SMS, Remote Data recovery, Remote identification, backup features. These additional features can be bought for $1.99 monthly or $14.99 yearly.
Avast has been updated to version 4.0 with the following changes:
- Login easily with Google+.
- Added new Wi-Fi Finder explorer feature.
- Significantly reduced battery usage.
- More fixes and optimizations
A lot have been written about Android being the target of malware or other sorts of attack targeting the platform and its users. The result was the increasing availability of security apps each of them claiming to provide the most secure protection against all sorts of cyber attack. While I've never personally been victim of such attacks, touch wood, I decided to be on the safe side and downloaded avast! Mobile Security on my Galaxy Nexus to serve as a barrage just in case I become a target. But there's more to avast! Mobile Security.
The app also provides an anti-thief module. In the event your phone gets stolen and the SIM card is replaced, a SMS is automatically sent to a pre-set number without the thief even knowing. A feature that has helped in the past on my Windows Mobile 2003SE phone. The thief landed in jail for a year. So if you haven't got avast! Mobile Security yet, I strongly recommend you download it from Google Play Store. It is free, so there's really no excuse for you not to get it. The apps also works as a firewall and antivirus.
What's in this version:
• Fixed "Invalid context during scan" issue
• Simplified Anti-Theft installation
• New "Low-battery notification" feature in Anti-Theft component.
• Network Meter now has a "Billing day" option
• Fixed various issues in Firewall and Call/SMS filter
• Web Shield now supports Boat Browser app and Boat Browser Mini app
• Added a Turkish language pack
• Minor user interface (UI) changes
• Other tweaks and bugfixes
