Android Antivirus: What You Actually Need
Android malware is real, but it is overwhelmingly delivered through apps installed from outside the Play Store, sideloaded APKs and malicious ads — not through the OS itself.
Google Play Protect scans apps on-device by default, so an antivirus app is an additional layer rather than a first line of defence.
Products covered on this page
When an Android security app is worth it
If you sideload apps, use third-party app stores, hand the phone to children, or want anti-theft and Wi-Fi checks in one place. Free tiers from Avast, AVG, Bitdefender and Malwarebytes all cover app scanning and web filtering.
Antivirus is not a phone cleaner
Apps marketed as cleaners, boosters and battery savers are not security software. AVG Cleaner, for example, manages storage — it does not protect against malware. Treat the two categories separately.
How to scan Android for malware
Open the Play Store, tap your profile, choose Play Protect and run a scan. Then review Settings → Apps for anything you do not recognise, and check which apps hold Accessibility or Device Admin permissions — malware relies on both.
Frequently asked questions
- Do Android phones need antivirus?
- Not if you install only from the Play Store and keep the OS updated. A security app adds value mainly for sideloading, families and anti-theft features.
- Is there a good free antivirus for Android?
- Avast, AVG, Bitdefender and Malwarebytes all offer free Android tiers with app scanning and web protection.
- How do I remove malware from Android for free?
- Boot into safe mode, remove Device Admin rights from the suspect app, uninstall it, then run a Play Protect scan and a free security app scan.