Any Android consumer can set up AVG’s free cellular antivirus, which mixes a considerable assortment of safety features with many, many upsell alternatives. The free version additionally makes use of the underside portion of its window to show commercials. New since my final evaluation, it additionally sometimes runs adverts that take over the display for 10-15 seconds.
You Get Lab-Authorised Android Antivirus for Free
Upon set up, the app naturally desires to run a scan. I discovered that even the Deep Scan runs fairly shortly. As with the Home windows version, this preliminary scan discovered “superior points,” which may solely be resolved by upgrading to the paid version.
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The principle window options the same old huge spherical Scan button on the prime. The 4 panels under are Hack Alerts, Clear Junk, Verify Velocity, and Automated Scan. Beneath these, the free version shows commercials for TikTok, Money App, and others. Scrolling previous the advert reveals many safety solutions, virtually all of which contain upgrading to the paid version or buying extra apps. A menu throughout the underside of the display holds icons for Dwelling, Discover, Messages, and Account.
Three of the 4 testing labs I observe run assessments on Android antivirus apps and two of these included AVG of their most up-to-date studies. With an ideal 18 factors from AV-Take a look at and an ideal 100% from AV-Comparatives, AVG does very properly. It’s solely overshadowed by Avast and Bitdefender, which match its two good scores and add one other 100% from MRG-Effitas.
AVG’s Free Android App Comes With Bonuses
Tapping Hack Alerts invitations you to enter your e-mail handle for evaluation. Earlier than utilizing this function, it’s essential to create an AVG account and reply to a verification e-mail. In testing, it discovered a handful of historic exposures, from 4 to 9 years outdated. Comparable options in competing applications have reported on dozens extra breaches.
(Credit score: AVG/PCMag)
The Clear Junk function cleans up temp recordsdata and such to get well storage. If you happen to faucet Deep Clear to scrub up extra, you put in the separate AVG Cleaner app, which can be ad-supported at its free degree. Some options of the free AVG Cleaner are visibly locked, and the promised Deep Clear isn’t obtainable with out upgrading to a paid model of AVG Cleaner.
Tapping Discover on the backside of the display reveals a menu of all of the app’s options, divided into sections for Machine Safety, On-line Privateness, and Clean Efficiency.
Beneath Machine Safety, Rip-off Safety and App Lock are locked and reserved for paying prospects. On Internet Protect’s web page, there’s a hyperlink to Rip-off Safety and an choice to manually permit or block sure web sites (who’s going to do this?) Scan Heart is extra fascinating. Right here, you may deep-scan your Android, checking for vulnerabilities and malware, or simply scan the recordsdata current. Community Inspector checks the safety of the community you’re utilizing, although it doesn’t examine hooked up units just like the desktop version.
(Credit score: AVG/PCMag)
The On-line Privateness group has a hyperlink to the Hack Alerts function described above and an invite to buy AVG’s VPN. App Insights helps you to view the permissions assigned to every app in your system or an inventory of permissions and the apps with them. Privateness Advisor really is simply an advisor, offering notes about defending your privateness whereas utilizing varied in style apps. Picture Vault shops your most essential images behind a further layer of authentication, although free customers can solely shield 10 pics.
I discussed the Junk Cleaner function above. You too can attain it by deciding on Efficiency Heart within the Clean Efficiency class. In case your web connection feels gradual, you should utilize the Wi-Fi pace take a look at to see simply how unhealthy it’s.
A Premium Improve Provides a Few Bonuses
All the things I’ve described to this point is on the market free of charge. If you happen to use an AVG Web Safety license to activate the Professional version, you get entry to extra options, however nothing overwhelming. For starters, you received’t see any extra commercials within the app, which is a plus. Going Professional removes the 10-picture restrict in Picture Vault, helps you to activate scheduled malware scanning, and permits computerized scanning of every community you join with. The principle window adjustments barely, with Scan Wi-Fi and VPN safety (locked) changing Verify Velocity and Automated Scan within the 4 panels under the massive Scan button.
(Credit score: AVG/PCMag)
As a paying buyer, you may have interaction Rip-off Safety, which guarantees extra safety in opposition to by accident visiting harmful websites. This function requires you to determine AVG as your default browser whereas leaving your precise default browser practical. In testing with a handful of websites blocked by different AVG editions, it proved efficient.
(Credit score: AVG/PCMag)
Like comparable options in Android apps from Bitdefender, Avira, and others, App Lock helps you to shield particular apps behind a secondary spherical of authentication utilizing a PIN, sample, or biometrics. Bitdefender deserves a shoutout right here, as a result of its App Lock is extra-flexible about issues like re-opening an app you simply closed.
That’s about it for the advantages of upgrading to Professional on Android. You continue to don’t get VPN safety with out buying it, and in order for you premium AVG Cleaner options, it’s essential to improve that app individually.