It is rare that a computer user does not have an anti-virus program installed. The safety of using the system often depends on its presence. Malicious programs appear almost every day, so it is very important to protect yourself from their influence. A tablet is the same computer, only in a more compact form. And an increasing number of mobile device owners store confidential information in its memory. It can be financial information, business correspondence, or simply copies of important documents that are always at hand. Naturally, attackers also do not sit idly by and try in every possible way to take over your data. Therefore, a very logical question arises - is it necessary?

Some experts argue that it is indispensable, and in support of this they cite a huge number of downloads of various antiviruses in application stores. Others say that if you use the device carefully, installing an antivirus is an extra and useless step. Which of them is right? Do I need to install an antivirus on a tablet? Does the operating system you use play a role? We will provide answers to these questions in today's material. Let's consider whether there is a real need to use anti-virus software on tablets based on Android, iOS and Windows.

Android

Built-in system security measures

Despite the fact that more and more news has recently appeared in the media regarding the huge number of Android vulnerabilities, the operating system has a fairly powerful built-in security system. Here are its capabilities even without installing an antivirus:

• Automatic verification of applications downloaded from the Play Market. The service has a fairly powerful virus scan module, which checks absolutely all published software. A special simulator is used in order to make sure that the software does not harm a single device. Any deviations from the norm are fixed and are the reason for refusal to publish the product.
• Remote uninstallation of an infected product. For example, you installed a program or game, but later, as a result of a check, it was found that it has malicious code. This product will be removed from the app store and, even without your intervention, it will be uninstalled from the tablet.
• Checking applications installed from third-party sources. It is enough to confirm the corresponding request during installation. True, devices starting with Android 4.2 have such an opportunity. But it is unlikely that there are so many tablets with an older version of Android that they spoil the statistics.
• Automatic blocking of background sending of SMS messages to short numbers. This is a very useful feature, given that most of the various malware works on the principle of sending SMS to paid numbers. The cost per message can be very high. Therefore, if any installed program tries to send a message to the number of such a service without your knowledge, you will see a notification from the security system.
• Each application has a whole system of permissions to access various device features. True, in most cases you will not be able to manage a single permission, but only agree with all or refuse them completely. In any case, you will be able to see that if the application requires access to features that are not native to it, you will be able to cancel the installation. By the way, dangerous permissions to paid functions are marked in orange or red. Some firmware, such as MIUI used in Xiaomi devices, as well as Android versions starting from 6.0, allow you to control each resolution individually. Agree, this is a huge trump card in the fight for safe use.

How can a virus enter the system

If you use only the official Google Play Market to install applications, you have little to fear, since the applications are protected by Google. However, read user comments when installing a new app. If the page contains screenshots of dubious quality, the number of downloads is insignificant, and user comments are mostly negative, it is best to abstain and look for better alternatives.

If from time to time you download installation files from third-party resources, then in this case there is a risk of infection with malicious files. According to leading researchers, in most cases, such software is equipped with an identity theft module. In addition, attackers skillfully disguise their creations as well-known software. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not download games and applications from anywhere. Best of all, if you still need to, trust trusted resources, for example, w3bsit3-dns.com or F-Secure.

A typical example of a virus hit - an unverified program requests access to SMS and calls

In addition, it is quite easy to get infected by going to a site with malicious scripts. Since the system is very popular, there are also a lot of viruses for it. The principle of the Android system is that one application partially uses the components of another. This is often used by attackers.

How third-party antiviruses work

The principle of operation of anti-virus software on an Android mobile device is the same as on a computer. The application runs in the background, receives anti-virus database updates, scans installed programs and games, and filters Internet traffic. Therefore, when you visit a suspicious resource or install a program or game with a virus module, you will receive a notification, and the installation will be blocked. In addition, many antiviruses contain a whole package of additional features, including cleaning up system junk and speeding up work, which at times can have a positive effect on device performance.

Is everything not as good as it seems at first glance? If you have a fairly powerful tablet, you will hardly feel the impact of antivirus on performance. If the RAM is 1 gigabyte or less, you will definitely see that the performance of the device will noticeably deteriorate. In this case, if you decide to stop using the antivirus, take a more careful and thorough approach to the issue of safety of use.

Verdict

Do I need an antivirus on my Android tablet? If you use applications only from the official Play Store and do not visit unverified sites, you will not need an antivirus, especially if your tablet is not very powerful. Firstly, you will save memory resources, and secondly, the battery will last significantly longer. in the case when you install applications not from the official store and often use dubious web resources.

iOS

Are there viruses on iOS

Apple devices running on the iOS operating system are a tasty morsel for the creators of virus software. iPads and iPhones are not cheap devices, and in many countries only wealthy people can afford them. The goal of the attackers is to infect the device and force them to perform paid actions by sending an SMS to a short number or steal the stored financial data. But do iOS viruses really exist?

Apple claims that their product is absolutely protected from the effects of viruses. Even if you specifically look for information about the real harm of viruses, it turns out that there are not so many references to them, and most of them existed during the old versions of the operating system. Now the shortcomings have been corrected. In addition, almost any virus is designed for the fact that a jailbreak has been received on an iOS device.

What is the reason that for so many years you can find only single mentions of viruses for iOS? This situation is mainly due to the closed nature of the operating system. On the one hand, this may seem like a significant limitation of the user's capabilities, but, on the other hand, it becomes an insurmountable barrier for virus programs. First, you won't be able to install any software downloaded outside of the Apple App Store. Secondly, Apple monitors the contents of the App Store very strictly, so the possibility of malicious development getting there is practically excluded. Thirdly, the system is designed in such a way that each application works autonomously and does not affect the operation of other components in any way.

What protection do third-party antiviruses provide?

The short answer is no. Even if you come across information about a new virus for the iPad on a completely reputable resource, with a high degree of probability you can be sure that this is a common information stuffing. Years of practice prove that if you follow the simplest security measures, it is almost impossible to infect an iPad. By and large, all viruses were created in the laboratory. Naturally, developers of antivirus systems lose a substantial chunk of their profits, because often, if a person can afford to spend several hundred dollars on a tablet, he will not spend a couple of hundred rubles on trifles, refusing to install an antivirus if such a need really exists.

What do the so-called antivirus applications that you can download from the App Store do? In the usual sense, there are no antiviruses as such, because none of the products presented in the application store has a built-in antivirus database. You will be offered the ability to secure your passwords, hide important files and some other features, but not virus protection in the usual sense.

Verdict

The conclusion suggests itself - antiviruses for iOS do not exist in the usual sense, so you do not need to install them. and sleep well.

Windows 10

How secure is a tablet on Windows

Why did we opt for Windows 10? In the past few years, an increasing number of tablets and convertible laptops have begun to appear running on this version of the operating system. Microsoft developers have worked very hard on the convenience of touch screens. By and large, buying a tablet on Windows 10, you get an almost full-fledged laptop with a detachable external keyboard. You can continue to use your usual programs, and the performance of even budget models is at a quite decent level.

But in addition to the advantages, Windows 10 also adopted the disadvantages of previous versions. The main disadvantage is the huge number of viruses developed for this operating system. Moreover, blaming developers for a poorly thought-out system does not really turn around, since Windows is the most popular OS in the world. It is installed on about 90% of computers and laptops worldwide. Naturally, the more users, the greater the interest of hackers and other intruders in the development of virus programs. Plus, the features of work and not the best security make it more vulnerable.

A new feature of Windows 10 is a built-in app store like the Apple App Store. But the implementation of the idea is lame, and it is difficult to call it full-fledged. The fact is that from the Windows Store you can download and install programs designed specifically for Windows 10 in a special format for use on the touch screen. The usual computer versions of programs are not there. Therefore, you have to download software from various resources on the Internet. As a result, it is very easy to catch a virus, since few users can accurately determine the official website of the program.

In addition, there are various free software libraries where you can download the software instead of searching the official page. Not all of them are safe, so you can easily pick up some kind of muck. A very popular option is to build in a bunch of additional software that clogs the system and gets into it when you install a free program. Such a fee for being free. Be very careful!

Since in our latitudes it is not customary to pay for software, the most popular way to use a licensed program is to download a hacked version. If you download from unreliable resources, it is also very easy to catch some kind of infection on your tablet.

Are there enough security utilities in Windows 10

Despite the many risks, using Windows 10 is quite safe, as several security tools are built into the system. There are many discussions regarding their safety and whether it is necessary to install a third-party product. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

• Windows Defender. Built-in antivirus, formerly known as Microsoft Security Essentials. Tests have always shown a rather low efficiency of this solution. Nevertheless, Microsoft has slightly improved the product by adding cloud protection to it and slightly improving the algorithm for detecting virus threats. The anti-virus works invisibly to the user, does not load the system and does not bother with pop-up windows and ads of a more advanced version. The developers claim that their goal is to identify real threats, and not optimize for passing tests. You can be sure that if you do not use dangerous software and visit only reliable resources, its protection will be quite enough.
• Firewall. Takes care of your security by protecting against network attacks and controlling the network traffic of each application. Again, if you are careful, it will be enough.
• System, blocking the launch of suspicious programs. It has several levels of protection settings and works regardless of the antivirus used. Will allow in most cases to avoid unauthorized launch of malicious programs.
• Google Safe Browsing. Security system built into the most popular browsers. Its main purpose is to block access to infected sites and resources from a weak security system.

Which means of protection to choose

If, nevertheless, you decide for yourself that the built-in capabilities of Windows are not enough for you, opt for the scheme: a good free antivirus + a good free firewall. We can recommend as an antivirus 360 Total Security, and the firewall - Comodo Firewall. Both of them have proven themselves from the best side, providing a reliable level of protection absolutely free. An additional benefit of 360 Total Security is support for several antivirus engines, including Avira AntiVir and Bitdefender AntiVir.

From time to time, you can additionally scan your tablet using free antivirus scanners, such as Doctor Web CureIt or Kaspersky Security Scan. This will allow timely detection of hidden malicious files that have penetrated your system.

Verdict

Do I need to install an antivirus on my tablet if it runs on Windows 10? Summing up, we can say that anti-virus protection is simply necessary for such a device. Luckily, it's already built in, but if that's not enough for you, there's a good free third-party solution.

How to protect your tablet from malicious influence

If you use even the most advanced antivirus without following basic security measures, even the most expensive product will not protect you from all threats. Regardless of which operating system you use on your tablet, you should remember the following:

1. Do not install applications from unreliable sources, consider all security warnings during installation;
2. If you use Android or iOS, do not rush to get superuser rights and hack the system. Do this only when absolutely necessary, as a jailbroken device is more at risk;
3. If you go to some site and see a pop-up window notifying you of the need to update some component of your system, leave it immediately, as this is a 100% scam, and if you follow the link, be sure to infect your device;
4. Never visit sites with strange addresses, and do not follow suspicious links on social networks and emails;
5. If you are not sure whether to install some program or download it from some resource, first read all the reviews.

Conclusion

We hope we have helped you decide whether you need to install an antivirus on your tablet. In the comments, please tell us what security measures you use to protect your device.

Antiviruses for android are not necessary, especially when applications are installed only from the Play Market. If the device has programs downloaded from third-party sources, as a rule, this happens very often, then protection is essential.

There are paid and free antiviruses or their versions with less functionality, while it should be noted that the latter provide quite good protection.

How to install an antivirus on a tablet or other device - just like other applications. To do this, you need to find it in the Play Market and download it.

One of the best free antiviruses that does not require registration is Avast. It has basic capabilities for detecting and removing malicious applications and a wide range of additional tools, which include checking the security of connected wifi networks, blocking numbers and password protection for applications.
In addition, there is a built-in firewall and protection against dangerous or suspicious Internet resources.

To find threats and set up additional functions, you need to:

• flip the page with the desired function and press the button at the bottom of the screen;

• go to tools, and then to the desired menu;

• before activating the application lock, you will need to come up with a code tied to your account;

• select the ones you want with the switch.

Dr Web antivirus has two versions - full or light. The first is paid, but it is provided free of charge for a trial period of 2 weeks and has the same set of features as Avast. Dr Web light is only an antivirus with the possibility of full and selective scanning, but very high quality - it works after downloading a malicious file.

There is also a quarantine in which you can put files if in doubt, while saving battery and memory.

This antivirus is the best solution for Android tablets and smartphones.

To run the check you need:

• click "Scanner";

• select the appropriate item for full or selective scanning;

• in the latter case, the file system will appear, where you need to tick the folder or file;

• click the "Check" button below.

Kaspersky antivirus has the least free features - anti-theft and call filter.

Scanning is started by clicking on the magnifying glass in the lower left corner.

To enable call filtering, you need to:

• click on the item of the same name;

• select in the window "Banned contacts";

• add a number with the button at the top of the screen.

When buying a tablet, we dream that the new device will serve as far as possible, delighting with the opportunity at any time, even far from civilization, to communicate with friends on social networks, view mail, watch movies and work. Every tablet owner must make a decision: is it necessary to protect the tablet from viruses or is it an extra precaution, because the Android operating system is proclaimed the most reliable. In addition, without the knowledge of the owner, no malware can be installed on the tablet, so why overload the system with an antivirus?

Before deciding whether your tablet needs an antivirus, analyze how you use your device. For example, when you download new programs, do you pay attention to how safe they are? Unverified programs can harm the operating system, so it is better to download from reliable sources or still protect the tablet with an antivirus. If there is a possibility that other people, especially children, use your tablet, then you should take care of installing an antivirus. This program will not allow viruses to penetrate and interfere with the operation of your tablet. Also, the antivirus provides powerful protection against spam, which is important.

What is the best way to install an antivirus on a tablet? The easiest way for devices that run on the Android platform is to use the Android Market app that comes with every tablet. In this application, it is elementary to find an antivirus program, click on the "Install" button. The download will start immediately, and the program will automatically install itself on the tablet.

If you remember that all games and programs for Android tablets have the “.ask” extension, you can download an antivirus with this extension to your computer and copy it to your tablet using USB. The file manager will help you find the downloaded program and, by launching it, automatically install it on the tablet. You can also download the Install APK program to your computer, select the file with the antivirus and install it on the tablet using USB.

All these methods are quite easy to implement in practice, you can also purchase anti-virus programs specially designed for the tablet and install them on the device, the most famous of them are Kaspersky Mobile Security, Avast! Free Mobile Security, Dr. Web anti-virus.

By taking care of protecting your tablet from malware, we extend its life. Your confidential data, important information will not be lost if a reliable antivirus is on guard.

Both for the operating system of a laptop and a personal computer, and for a tablet system, you will need special programs - antiviruses - to protect against viruses. After the advent of a modern tablet device that is assembled based on the Android system, the question arose whether it is necessary to install antivirus programs on these devices. The Android OS is based on the very popular Linux system, for which there are much fewer viruses than for Windows.

However, as can be seen from the data provided by various analytical companies, cases of infection of smartphones and tablets are recorded almost every day. As the demand for Android devices increases, the interests of scammers also increase in direct proportion. This article is about installing antivirus programs on a tablet (for example, on devices such as Lenovo, ASUS, and others), and it will also describe some antiviruses. In this article, we wanted to tell you how to install antivirus on android and how to choose the most reliable.

Ways to install antiviruses on a tablet or phone

The easiest way is to download antiviruses from the built-in application of the Android system called the Play Market. Find the program you need (the list of antiviruses will be published below in the article), click on the "Install" button, and the selected program will automatically install itself on your tablet.

Manual installation of a file with an .apk extension. There is nothing complicated in this method either, first you need to download the installation file from the Internet to your computer or tablet (if you downloaded the file to your computer, then you can easily copy it via a USB cable to your tablet), then you need to open the file file on the tablet manager and find the antivirus installation file. Run it and wait for the antivirus installation process to complete.

The most difficult method is to install an antivirus program through a computer. You must have a special InstallAPK program on your computer. Download the program installer file to your computer, connect your tablet to it and run the InstallAPK program on the computer. In it, you need to select the installer and click on it with the mouse. The installation will automatically start.

All of the listed installation methods are simple for ordinary users and should not raise any questions. Basically, Android users use only the first two installation methods.

Which antivirus to install

Most manufacturers of anti-virus programs have taken care of creating special mobile versions of their product. There are both free and paid versions of this software. Now consider some antivirus applications:

Kaspersky Mobile Security is a fairly powerful program that is suitable for most mobile devices. It has a built-in "anti-theft" option that allows you to erase the information about the owner of the phone remotely in case your device is stolen. The application does not require a lot of memory space. The free version limits the functionality of the program, for example, the call blocking function will not be available to you.

DrWeb is one of the worthy competitors of Kaspersky. It has almost the same functionality as the first antivirus.

AVG Mobilation is a good free antivirus for phones and tablets.

Avast is a free and multifunctional antivirus.

ESET Mobile Security is a paid antivirus that has a 30-day trial version.

Outcome

All antiviruses that have been listed are shareware programs (except Avast and AVG Mobilation) with limited functionality. If you want to install a free antivirus on your device, then select any of the listed programs, and after the end of the trial period, simply change the antivirus after deleting the old one.

A lot of viruses immediately appeared on the network that can not only damage the system, but simply steal your personal data or money. You can protect yourself from intruders by installing an antivirus. A popular question among users is how to install an antivirus on an Android smartphone or tablet. You can use the "Play Market", download the file and install it manually or using a PC.

Google Play assortment: what can be downloaded

The official app store provides several options for antivirus protection from large companies. This is specialized software that has a virus database, while scanning the phone, comparing each file with the available data. If a match is found, then the file is infected. It is moved to quarantine or deleted.

You can download antivirus for free on your phone in the Play Market. The most popular include Kaspersky Antivirus & Security, Dr. Web, Eset, AVG and Norton Security. The advantage of all these options is that they are completely free.

Kaspersky supports many device models, while it has decent performance. There is a standard scan, protection of your SMS and contacts, as well as the Anti-Theft function, thanks to which you can simply lock the device, turn on the siren and even take a picture from the front camera.

Kaspersky's competitor is the well-known Dr. Web. The antivirus has proven itself well on personal computers, and the version for mobile devices is in no way inferior to its older brother. The application has an extremely clear and simple interface, several levels of scanning. It does not actually affect the operation of the device.

Eset antivirus on the phone received a lot of positive feedback. The functionality includes scanning the device, checking downloaded applications, protecting the SIM card and much more. It is worth noting the round-the-clock work of the technical support team. Specialists are ready to help you at any time of the day.

AVG Antivirus and Norton Security are similar. They are easy to manage, have minimal, but at the same time sufficient functionality, and do not "load" the processor and RAM of the device. You can download all these antiviruses absolutely free.

To install an antivirus on Android, you need:

Be careful, as some of the proposed functionality can be purchased separately. The installed antivirus will regularly scan the device for viruses.

Install manually

Despite the fact that these antiviruses are free, in order to activate some features, you need to pay for it. But there are “cracked” versions of these antiviruses on the net, which already include paid features. But you will have to download them yourself. Android apps are in apk file format. You can install such files using a standard installer. First you need to allow installation from so-called third-party sources.

Let's look at how to install an antivirus on an Android smartphone. You need to follow a series of steps:

1. Find the antivirus installation file on the Internet, and then download it to the SD card.
2. Allow the installation of third-party applications. To do this, in the "Settings" section, find the "Security" item. Check the box next to "Unknown Sources".
3. In the menu, find the item "Unknown sources", and then check the box next to it. This will allow you to install third party applications.
4. Find the installer on the memory card, and then simply click on it.