No, most Android phones don't need antivirus protection in 2026 because Android already ships with multiple layers of security. Android now includes Google Play Protect, app sandboxing, runtime permissions and Verified Boot. That said, malware on Android keeps finding new ways to target users with financial scams, malicious APKs and phishing links.
And these harmful apps may take over the screen, display pop-ups, stream your screen and initiate bank transfers. So is antivirus necessary for Android in your case? Let's first go through Android's built-in protection, where it falls short and who should install antivirus on Android phones.
Android's built-in security is quite strong in 2026
Android already comes with multiple layers of protection and the most important one is Google Play Protect. According to a recent Google Blog report, Google Play Protect now scans over 350 billion apps daily and in 2025 alone, Play Protect found more than 27 million malicious sideloaded apps.
On top of that, every Android app now runs inside its own sandbox. It means that an app can't freely access other apps' data or system resources. The Android OS assigns each app a unique Linux user ID and enforces strict SELinux policies. Android also uses runtime permissions so apps ask your permission before accessing your camera, contacts, or microphone.
On the Play Store side, Google has been pretty aggressive in blocking harmful apps. In 2025, Google blocked more than 1.75 million policy-violating apps from being published and now runs more than 10,000 automated safety checks on every submitted app. Google is also using AI into its app review pipeline to catch malicious patterns faster.
Besides the Play Store, Google has rolled out enhanced fraud protection through Play Protect that automatically blocks the installation of APKs downloaded from the internet. This feature is now available in 185 markets and covers more than 2.8 billion Android devices. Google says it has blocked 266 million installation attempts in 2025 alone.
And to counter the recent surge of call scams, Google has now disabled the ability to turn off Play Protect during phone calls. Scammers call users, build trust and ask users to disable Android's built-in security, so this feature directly blocks that social engineering tactic. Not to mention, Google publishes monthly Android Security Bulletins that patch newly discovered vulnerabilities on Android devices.
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How Android Security Has Evolved Over the Years
When Android debuted in 2008, there was no malware scanner or granular permission control system. In fact, there was no automated vetting on the Play Store. Basically, if you uploaded an app, it went live immediately. And if you installed an app, a full list of permissions were granted and you had to either accept everything or opt to not install the app at all.
It all changed with Android 6 Marshmallow in 2015 which finally brought runtime permissions. Now, apps had to ask for sensitive permissions and users could deny individual permissions. This was a big shift as it gave users control over their data for the first time.
The next big leap came with Android 10 in 2019 which introduced "Project Mainline" (now called Google Play System Updates). Before Mainline, security patches for core Android components used to go through phone manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, etc. This resulted in month long delays while millions of Android devices were exposed to known vulnerabilities.
Finally, Project Mainline changed that by modularizing critical system components so Google could update them directly via the Play Store. It finally bypassed OEMs and delivered security patches and other updates to Android devices directly. As of 2025, Mainline has more than 30 updatable modules for devices running Android 10 or later.
Next, Android 12 introduced "Privacy Dashboard" that shows exactly which apps accessed your camera, microphone and location. Android 13 added photo picker access and prevented apps from accessing your entire media library. And Android 16 has built-in protection for something called "tapjacking", which is a trick where malicious apps use hidden overlay windows to steal your taps. Scammers use this technique for ad fraud and unauthorized transactions.
Finally, just recently, Google announced that it's severely limiting how users can sideload downloaded apps on Android. From August 2026, users will have to go through an "Advanced Flow" system for sideloading apps from unverified developers on Android. Users will have to enable Developer Mode, confirm that no one is pressuring them, restart their device, and then wait for 24 hours before they can proceed. This is done to prevent call-based scams that rely on urgency to install APKs from sketchy sources.
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Can Android Phones Get Viruses?
Technically, Android phones don't get viruses in the traditional sense, but yes, Android phones can get malware and that is what most people mean when they search for Android viruses. A classic virus replicates itself and spreads from file to file, which Android's sandboxing model makes nearly impossible. What actually infects Android phones are trojans, spyware, adware and banking malware that sneak in through sideloaded APKs, sketchy links and fake apps.
So when someone says their phone has a virus, it's almost always one of these malware apps. The difference matters because the fix is different too. You don't need to find infected files like on a PC. Instead, you need to find and remove the malicious app that is causing the issue.
Note: Rooted Android phones are more exposed since root access breaks the sandbox model. If your phone is rooted, an antivirus app makes a lot more sense.
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How to Check If Your Android Phone Has Malware
Before you install anything, first check whether your phone is actually infected. Here are the warning signs I would look for.
- Battery draining quickly even when the phone is idle since malware uses the processor all the time
- Random pop-ups and intrusive ads hijacking your screen outside the browser
- Unknown apps installed on your phone that you don't remember downloading
- Accessibility permissions enabled unexpectedly for apps that don't need them, which is a banking trojan trick
- High data usage as malicious apps send your data to remote servers in the background
- Phone overheating during normal use because of hidden background activity
- Browser redirects where you to spammy pages frequently
If you see these signs, go ahead and follow our detailed guide on how to remove malware from Android. It walks you through Play Protect scans, Safe mode and revoking device admin access step by step.
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Does Google Play Protect Replace Antivirus?
For most users, yes, Google Play Protect is enough and it effectively replaces a third-party antivirus. But there is a real gap in some areas. According to AV-TEST, Google's Play Protect on Android scored 5.5 out of 6 in security protection, whereas nearly all antivirus providers got 6 out of 6. So is Play Protect better than antivirus or the other way around? Here is how the two actually compare.
On the other hand, third-party antivirus apps rely on their massive cloud-based database of known malware signatures. Antivirus providers like Kaspersky, Norton, Bitdefender, etc. maintain their own curated threat databases with samples collected from millions of endpoints worldwide. They also check code behaviour patterns, going beyond signatures, to find different variants of the malware that has not been logged yet.
Google Play Protect is more of a gatekeeper for the Play Store. It scans apps before and after installation, checks for known malware signatures and flags risky apps. It also performs code-level analysis to catch harmful apps. Basically, it's very good at catching known threats, but might fail to catch zero-day or highly targeted attacks.
In addition, antivirus apps are now increasingly relying on behaviour-based detection. They use AI/ML models to monitor how apps behave after installation. For example, if an app suddenly starts requesting Accessibility Services access, reading your notifications or drawing over other apps, the antivirus flags it. This is how remote-access trojans (RAT) like Albiriox and Crocodilus are caught. They behave normally initially but activate malicious behaviour later.
Antivirus apps also do cloud-based analysis where an unknown APK is uploaded to cloud servers to run it in a sandboxed environment. It's allowed to run to monitor and catch its malicious behaviour. And this is how zero-day threats are detected within minutes.
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Google Play Protect vs Antivirus Apps
| Feature | Google Play Protect | Third-party antivirus apps |
|---|---|---|
| AV-TEST protection score | 5.5 out of 6 | 6 out of 6 (most providers) |
| Known malware detection | Excellent | Excellent |
| Zero-day and targeted attacks | Slightly limited | Strong protection |
| Behaviour-based detection | Basic | Advanced AI/ML monitoring |
| Sideloaded APK scanning | Yes | Yes |
| Extra features (VPN, anti-theft, web protection) | No | Yes, on most paid plans |
| Performance impact | None, built into Android | Minor background overhead |
| Price | Free, pre-installed | Free tier with ads or paid plans |
Antivirus Software on Android: Who Actually Needs It?
Now, the answer to "do I need antivirus for Android" depends entirely on how you use your phone. If you install apps from the Play Store, keep your OS updated, and avoid sketchy APKs and links, Android's built-in security protections are more than enough for everyday use.
That said, if you frequently sideload apps on your Android phone, you can get an antivirus. Google in its recent study found that sideloaded apps carry malware at 50x the rate of Play Store apps. I would suggest users to upload the APK file on VirusTotal before installing it on your Android phone. It checks the APK against several antivirus definitions and quickly tells you whether the APK is malicious or not.
Besides that, you can get an antivirus app if you use mobile banking or UPI apps regularly. Kaspersky reported that banking trojans are the fastest growing malware category on Android, especially in India. Finally, if your phone no longer receives security patches, a third-party antivirus can help catch harmful apps.
How to Protect Your Android Phone Without Antivirus
Good habits protect your Android phone better than any antivirus app. Here are the steps I would recommend.
- Keep Android updated and install the monthly security patch as soon as it arrives
- Update Google Play System from Settings > Security & privacy, since these updates patch core components directly
- Enable Play Protect and make sure the "Improve harmful app detection" toggle is turned on in the Play Store
- Install only trusted apps from the Play Store and skip modded or cracked APKs
- Don't download and install APKs from WhatsApp, Telegram or from links received in messages
- Review app permissions regularly and revoke anything an app doesn't need, especially Accessibility Services
- Use passkeys where possible instead of passwords
Apart from that, your browser is the primary medium for most phishing attacks, so pick one of the best Android browsers with built-in tracking and phishing protection. And don't tap on links or install APKs received via SMS or WhatsApp that show urgency with messages like "your electricity will be cut off" or "your KYC has expired".
Should You Get an Antivirus for Your Android Phone?
For most Android users, Google Play Protect and Android's built-in security are sufficient in 2026. Installing apps only from the Play Store, keeping your device updated and avoiding suspicious links will protect you better than installing an antivirus alone. And that's why I don't run an antivirus on my Galaxy S23 either. However, if you regularly sideload APKs or use an unsupported device, an antivirus app can provide that extra peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can Android phones get viruses?
Not those self-replicating viruses, but Android phones do get malware like trojans, spyware and adware. These mostly arrive through sideloaded APKs and phishing links rather than infected files.
Q. Is Google Play Protect enough?
For most users, yes. Play Protect scans over 350 billion apps daily and blocks harmful APKs automatically. It only falls short against zero-day and highly targeted attacks.
Q. Should I install antivirus on my Samsung phone?
Not by default. Samsung phones ship with Play Protect and Samsung Knox, which adds hardware-level protection. Only consider an antivirus if you regularly sideload APKs or your phone no longer receives security updates.
