Google keeps an eye on all apps on the Play Store. It analyzes the code of an application before publishing it on the Play Store. If the search engine giant finds anything suspicious, it will automatically remove the app from the Play Store and warn the developer. In severe cases, it will ban the developer/application. Although the Google Play Store app has a built-in malicious code checker, you should use a security app if you install apps from a third-party store or a browser other than Chrome.
One antivirus app that has always been in the news for good reasons is AVG. I’ve been familiar with AVG and its products since the year 2006. AVG has made tremendous progress as a security company. Its applications for desktop and mobile devices have over 300+ million users.
AVG Antivirus for Android review
The free version of the AVG Android antivirus application has ads and several in-app purchases. You’ll see an option to upgrade AVG to the premium version when you run it for the first time on your Android device.
First-time users will see a message to run the first scan. The message is displayed on the phone’s notification panel. This notification doesn’t disappear when you swipe left. This means that AVG forces users to scan their devices.
What does the scanner do?
Before scanning your device, AVG Antivirus will prompt you to enable file access permission. AVG will not scan some applications and files if you don’t allow this permission. The scanner will analyze the code of executable files the user has installed/downloaded.
Interface
AVG displays a menu bar icon and its main tools on the home interface. The menu bar items marked as Pro are premium features that you can use only after upgrading the app.
Features
Here’s the list of tools AVG Antivirus 2019 provides to the users:
SMS Shield: This feature ensures that the messages containing malicious URLs are discarded automatically.
Virus definitions: AVG database contains details of the latest viruses, malware, etc. To ensure that your AVG installation uses the latest database, you must regularly update the virus definitions.
Web shield: Chrome displays a warning when a user tries to open malicious or phishing URLs. If you’re not using Google Chrome, make sure you turn on the web shield function of AVG Antivirus 2019.
WiFi Scanner: This tool of AVG requires location access permission to work. It checks the WiFi password and whether the router/hotspot is using a security protocol or not.
VPN: AVG VPN plans start at 460 INR/month (Around 6 USD). The annual plan costs about $17. AVG provides a whopping 76% discount to the users who opt for the yearly plan.
Also read: Best VPN apps for Android
Photo Vault: AVG can prevent personal pictures from appearing in the phone gallery. To use this feature, you must set up a pin and select the images you want to hide in the Vault section of the application.
Call Blocker: Annoyed by marketing calls? Open the Call Blocker utility and select the phone numbers you want AVG to block. Users can configure this app to block calls from all hidden and unknown numbers. They can also choose numbers from the phone’s call log.
Firewall: If your phone is rooted and you want to use the AVG Firewall, give AVG Antivirus root access permission. The “Firewall” feature works only on rooted phones.
Power Saver: AVG can be configured to:
- Display a warning message when the phone battery is running low on power.
- Enable the power saver when the battery charge is 10% or lower.
The power saver module has its own settings interface where you’ll find options to give AVG permission to control the status of various phone features.
RAM Booster: If apps on your phone are not responding or are slow to respond, run the booster tool of AVG.
Junk Cleaner: Apart from finding malicious applications, AVG can also remove unwanted files from the storage memory.
Anti-theft: Anti-Theft is a premium feature. Its 14 days trial version gets activated when users tap the set-up Anti Theft option. It displays your phone’s location on a Google Map and allows you to wipe complete data from a remote location. This feature of AVG Antivirus can turn your phone into a siren. It also lets users capture the thief’s photo from the AVG website.
Speed test: AVG can display your WiFi connection’s upload and download speeds.
Settings
This interface of AVG Antivirus allows users to control notifications, see the activity log, manage pin and pattern, see the total data apps have used, etc.
Screenshots
Pros
- Cheap annual plan.
- Plenty of features.
- Good support.
Cons
- Plenty of ads (Free version)
How did the app perform on my device?
My phone has an octa-core processor and 3GB RAM. AVG took a few seconds to find and scan 60+ applications. I didn’t use its RAM booster function because I don’t have the habit of keeping the apps running in the background. The vault feature is helpful, and so is the WiFi scanner. I have no complaints about the virus scanner because AVG has consistently ranked in the top 5 list of AV Test’s most potent security applications.
Final thoughts
AVG Antivirus 2019 Premium edition is a powerful security app, but its free version has limited features. If you’re looking for a feature-rich security app, you can try AVG Antivirus Premium Edition’s trial version for 14 days. If you’re searching for a free antivirus app, I would advise you to try Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus.
