Smartphones aren’t free from malware attacks. Here’s how to protect your phone

Now you can install security software on your mobile phone. We tested five at our lab, both for iOS and Android models. We tested for ease of use, exposed them to malware from various sources and looked carefully at their features and claims.

Most are free, but you may have to pay for extra features.

APPLE iPHONE

Trend Micro Smart Surfing is free from the App Store. Like most iPhone apps, it’s easy to install. Its main function is to prevent phishing attacks by blocking access to websites that claim to be genuine and ask for personal information. It works well and you can modify protection levels.

Also free, Webroot SecureWeb Browser’s main security element is also an anti-phishing feature. It didn’t prevent us entering one phishing website, but stopped us entering others.  With both apps, you have to browse the web from within the app for it to work. Neither will block you from entering a suspicious website if you’re using standard Safari.

ANDROID

Kaspersky Mobile Security 9 (costs Rs. 599 at retail stores but can be downloaded from the Android market as well) has a wide range of features. You can block calls and texts and remotely wipe data if your phone’s stolen. But it didn’t find all the malware we had loaded and it was hard to find which malware it had cleaned.

Norton Mobile Security is free for the Lite version. Like Kaspersky, it failed to detect all malware. If your phone is stolen, you can remotely block the phone with a text message. For Rs. 599 a year, the full version enables you to lock the phone, preventing a thief from replacing the SIM card. It also lets you block calls and texts.

Trend Micro Mobile Security claims to scan your phone’s apps. It’s free, but for Rs. 842 a year adds anti-phishing, parental controls and lost mobile security features.

Webroot Secure Anywhere Mobile is the best free software we tested, with anti-phishing, remote phone lock, locate device, scream, call and text-blocking, and anti-malware. Add remote-wipe and SIM-card lock for £12.99 (Rs. 1,062) a year.

SMARTPHONE MALWARE

Viruses and other web nasties aren’t confined to your desktop or laptop; any device that can access the internet is at risk, like a smartphone that runs apps. The majority run safely, but some apps may contain malware.

Apple, maker of the iPhone, vets apps before they’re available at its App Store. It’s why the iPhone is more secure than Android phones, as  Android apps aren’t checked as comprehensively. But malicious apps are rare.