Bitdefender Mobile Security (for Android)

For traditional antivirus companies scrambling to offer Android device protection, it may be tempting to simply port your desktop security UI to a mobile device. Don't fall for it. Our desktops can handle a certain amount of resource consumption, but battery and CPU drains are unbearably magnified on mobile devices. Despite being a traditional antivirus company, Bitdefender has designed a very lightweight, user-friendly app that gives our Editors' Choice pick, Lookout for Android ($29.99/year direct, 4.5 stars), a run for its money.

Feature-wise, Bitdefender Mobile Security 1.1 doesn't offer anything unique. The free version includes cloud-based malware scanning, app auditing, and geo-location. Premium ($9.95/year, direct) adds a firewall and more anti-theft features (remote wipe, lock, alarm). You can try all features for free for 14 days. Lookout and McAfee Mobile Security ($29.99/year direct, 4 stars) offer the same features plus data backup, while F-Secure Mobile Security ?($39.99/year direct, 3.5 stars) and Trend Micro Mobile Security bundle parental controls.

Quick Setup
Last month we reviewed Bitdefender Sphere ($99.95 direct for three licenses, 4 stars)), a traditional desktop suite that includes protection for your Android devices, like McAfee All Access ($99.95 direct for? licenses, 4.5 stars) and Kaspersky ONE Universal Security ($79.95 direct for three licenses, 3.5 stars). But you certainly don't need to shell out $100 to protect your mobile devices with Bitdefender. You can download it free or upgrade to the low-cost premium version ($9.95/year, direct) from Google Play (formerly known as Android Market).

After installing, simply create an account to access your Web-based admin portal https://my.bitdefender.com. You can fly through this process by signing in through your Google or Facebook accounts. It took me several attempts sign up with my Google account, not realizing I had to click on the Google logo first before entering my email and password. From there, Bitdefender prompted me to perform a quick malware scan on my device and SD card. If it turns up malware, Bitdefender alerts you and show you how to get rid of it.

Lost Phone Security
Like Lookout, McAfee, and F-Secure, Bitdefender offers the usual basket of anti-theft tools to protect your data in the event of loss or theft: remote locate, wipe, lock, and alarm. These are all very easy to manage through your online portal.

From the online dashboard I clicked 'Locate,' and, within seconds, Bitdefender pinpointed my device on a Google Map. Granted, it erroneously located my device at the Chinese restaurant across the street, but geo-location has its limits. Bitdefender locates the phone via GPS; and, if that fails, Wi-Fi; and, if both are turned off, via cell-tower triangulation.

When I clicked 'Lock' on the online dashboard, my device automatically locked, even though I was in the middle of playing a game. When I clicked 'Send Alert,' I could actually personalize a message to send to whoever was holding my device, as well as an alarm. I was disappointed to see that whoever was holding the phone could shut off the alarm. Lookout and McAfee have screamers too, but only the true owner can turn theirs off.

Bitdefender doesn't alert you if your SIM card's been removed, which is often the first thing a thief is likely to do. F-Secure, McAfee, and Kaspersky Mobile Security ($29.95/year, direct}} do track SIM card removals.

Furthermore there's no backup offered here, unlike in Lookout and McAfee, which offers unlimited cloud storage of contacts, call logs, photos, and contacts. However there are several free Android apps for this, like Titanium Backup and MyBackup. ?

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