14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has recently announced the very first preview build of its antivirus app for Android devices, a few months after the company confirmed that it’s bringing the security product to mobile devices.
Microsoft Defender ATP for Android comes with several built-in protection modules.
First and foremost, it’s the web protection section that includes an anti-phishing engine. The antivirus checks websites sent via SMS, WhatsApp, email, browsers, or other apps and if there’s a chance they are used for phishing, they’re instantly blocked.
Of course, a notification is also sent to the user, who is provided with options to allow the connection, report it safe, or dismiss the warning.
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is used to block unsafe network connections that some malicious apps are trying to create after infecting an Android device.
Signature-based malware scanning
What’s more, Microsoft Defender ATP for Android comes with malware scanning, using virus signatures and cloud protection to block potentially-dangerous files. When installing apps, scans are automatically performed, and even if a safe app is downloaded, Microsoft Defender issues a notification to let users know the app is clean.
Microsoft Defender ATP comes to Android with support for Microsoft Endpoint Manager, which allows security teams to better manage a compromised device and prevent access to sensitive data.
“A compromised device would be blocked from accessing Outlook email. When Microsoft Defender ATP for Android finds that a device has malicious apps installed, it will classify the device as “high risk” and will flag it in the Microsoft Defender Security Center. Microsoft Intune uses the device’s risk level in conjunction with pre-defined compliance polices to activate Conditional Access rules that block access to corporate assets from the high risk device,” Microsoft explains.
Microsoft Defender for Android (preview) is currently available in the Microsoft Defender Security Center for IT admins, and the company promises more options would be added later this year.