Most antivirus programs work in two ways: they check files the moment they are inserted into the computer to detect their signatures or examine running programs to detect suspicious behavior. Some also offer additional security features, such as blocking incoming texts from spammers or warning users about suspicious websites. The best Android antivirus apps won't slow down the phone with excessive scanning or battery drain.

Android is the most well-known mobile OS around the globe. Most malware targets Android devices. Therefore, it is essential to install the top antivirus software for Android which can clear off Trojans, viruses, infected SD cards and much more. It's good to know that there's a broad choice of fully free and premium paid options which don't affect the performance or battery life of your device.

Norton is an reputable security company and its Mac antivirus program has been around for a while. It has received top marks from independent testing labs for its antimalware capabilities. It can be used to run a range of checks on your computer such as checking for hijacker-related scripts, to detecting ransomware.

Avira's Android anti-virus app is a great example of a no-cost option that is backed by ads. However, a yearly subscription can be purchased to remove the advertisements. It earned a perfect score in AV Test's tests as well as a 99.9 percent rating from AV Comparatives and comes with a myriad of other features. The most notable is a 'Permissions Management which rates each app's permission needs on a scale of 1 to help you make informed decisions about what you trust with your privacy and identity protection and a variety of anti-theft tools.