Study shows that two thirds of Android antivirus are fake

A study by AV-Comparatives, which analyzes the effectiveness of antivirus solutions for multiple platforms, shows that up to two-thirds of antivirus for Android is fake: either completely inefficient, or simply detecting nothing.

The organization analyzed 250 antivirus found on Google Play, and placed each against 2,000 Android malware samples detected last year. That is, threats that should already be included in their manufacturers' databases.

And the results were worrying: Only 80 apps actually detected more than 30% of the threats presented, the minimum for a product to be considered effective. These include all apps from leading security manufacturers such as Kaspersky, F-Secure, Avira, McAfee, Symantec, AVG, Avast, Panda, etc.

Another 138 apps detected less than 30% of the threats, or else had an absurdly high false positive and false negative rate. Many use a primitive method of detection: they only analyze the name of the package that contains the App. If it is not blacklisted, it is considered safe.

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Many Android "viruses" try to scare the user (above) into installing malware / Imgur / AndroidPIT

That is, just a bookmark app present a fake identity and would be beaten by these antivirus. Others take the reverse approach: they consider all apps to be malicious except for those whitelisted. In this case some apps, by the developer's negligence, have detected themselves as threats.

Another 32 apps reviewed during the study were already removed from Google Play. Many of them seemed to have been made on an assembly line, with identical interfaces and the sole purpose of displaying advertisements, charging monthly fees or even enriching the curriculum of their developers.

So here's the tip: When looking for an antivirus for Android, stick with products from major manufacturers that have a tradition in this industry.

And you use antivirus on your Android smartphone? Or do you find it unnecessary? Leave your opinion in the comments below.

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