14 DAY TRIAL // A new set of antivirus tests conducted by AV-TEST show that Android users should not rely on Google Play Protect as their exclusive mobile security product.
The research included a total of 19 security packages for Android that were evaluated for protection, usability, and features. Each application could score a maximum of 6 points for protection, another 6 points for usability, and 1 point for features.
The maximum of 13 points was obtained by AhnLab V3 Mobile Security, Avast Mobile Security, AVG Antivirus Free, ESET Endpoint Security, Kaspersky Lab Internet Security for Android, Sophos Mobile Security, Symantec Norton Mobile Security, and Trend Micro Mobile Security.
Each of these apps received 6 points for protection, 6 points for usability, and 1 point for features, scoring nearly flawless performance.
Apps from Bitdefender, F-Secure, G Data, McAfee, and SK Telecom received a final score of 12.5 points.
Google Play Protect, disappointing performance
The lowest score this time was obtained by none other than Google Play Protect, the built-in protection that’s available in the Google Play store.
The research shows that Play Protect achieved only 3 points for usability, scoring zero points for both protection and features.
In the detection of the latest Android malware in real-time, Google Play Protect blocked only 62 percent of the malicious files, whereas the industry average currently sits at 97.8 percent. The detection of the latest Android malware discovered in the last 4 weeks was a little bit higher at 69.2 percent, but still far behind the 98.2 percent industry average score.
Play Protect also issued no less than 189 false warnings during the installation and usage of legitimate apps from Google Play Store.
You can check out the full scores of the 19 applications included in the security research in the graphs attached to the article.
