Now that you’ve protected your personal computer with antivirus software, it’s time to zap those mobile electronic bugs before they invade your smartphone. Here’s a list of the top ten 2012 mobile antivirus software products.
Tony Anscombe, who has the auspicious title of “Ambassador of Free Products” at AVG, says Android phones, in particular, need attention.
Mobile phone buyers continue changing from PC’s to mobile devices, according to Tony.
Meanwhile, sophisticated hackers, who create malicious bots that invade phones, are making $11,000 per day. They go where the fishing is better, like Windows PCs and Android phones.
Over ten years ago, AVG opened its doors and now has over 110M customers worldwide. Two years ago, management, observing the growth in Android, purchased Droid Security (now AVG Mobiliation), a mobile antivirus software firm in Israel. The purchase turned out prophetic as Android smartphones and tablets are growing faster than Apple’s iPhone or iPad, increasing the need for antivirus software.
AVG’s Free Mobile Antivirus Software
AVG’s free mobile product is more than an antivirus tool, however. There’s an App Killer letting you easily free up memory, an App Locker allowing you to password protect apps you want to be kept under control, Data Backup (contacts, messages, call logs and system settings) a trial App Backup, possibly useful if you’ve purchased apps and want a quick restore, Wipe Personal Data (remotely), as well as a File Scanner.
Many of the programs are in beta and one called Spam and Scam is only available on the premium software version. One useful feature is entering your name which periodically appears on the front screen when unlocked. Registration for all the services is easily done by entering your Gmail or another email account.
Many mobile anti-virus software features are available from Lookout in San Francisco. (See the John Hering post and podcast on MobileBeyond.)
Tony Anscombe – Mobile Anti-Virus King
Tony Anscombe joined AVG in August 2009, bringing over 20 years of IT experience. In the past 12 years, Tony has worked in the security industry. Before joining AVG Tony handled the consumer product division of German-based Avira, an Antivirus company, responsible for paid and free antivirus products.
He helps bring mobile users products and service to market that protect your phone from malware and data loss. He also coordinates AV product testers who improve AVG’s product quality and security.
AVG Technology
AVG is a global security software maker with 110 million consumers and small businesses in 170 countries, eliminating the increasing incidence of Web threats, such as viruses, spam, cyber-scams, and hackers.
With two decades of experience combating cyber crime and one of the most advanced laboratories for detecting, stopping and combating Web-borne threats, its free, downloadable software protects mobile users from viruses and malware. Now with its mobile antivirus software, AVG extends its mobile phone protection worldwide.
In the podcast interview, Tony openly talks about the future of mobile security and AVG’s philosophy that everyone should have anti-virus software (thus, the free AVG version).
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