Since Microsoft introduced the Windows Phone mobile platform in 2010, users have been tormented by questions about how to protect their gadget from viruses and unwanted software. Whatever you say, this problem is gaining momentum every year. Where can I download a good antivirus for my Windows Phone? And is it really necessary?
Developers' opinion
Answering such questions, Microsoft representatives proudly declare that mobile phones with Windows Phone versions 7 and 8 are 100% protected from viruses and do not need antivirus. This is explained by the fact that the internal system on such devices is closed to third-party applications. In particular, downloading software developments and their updates for Windows Phone 8 is allowed only from the Windows Phone Store (previously Marketplace), a verified source of applications from Microsoft.
At the same time, the developers of the mobile platform conduct timely monitoring of all programs downloaded on the Windows Phone Store in order to protect devices from possible damage to the operating system.
Microsoft's opinion seems clear: an antivirus is not needed, period. However, a new question arises: why then did messages about virus attacks on mobile devices based on Windows Phone 8 begin to appear more and more often on computer forums? Or are users simply making mistakes?
Users' opinions
No matter how much Microsoft boasts of its achievements in protecting Windows Phone from viruses, users are increasingly noticing manifestations of active virus activity on their gadgets, albeit not as often as, for example, when working with Android. So, for some happy owners of Windows Phone 8, music files begin to multiply exponentially, for others the video disappears, for others there are problems loading the Internet, and so on ad infinitum.
How can this be, you ask? After all, the developers claim that an antivirus for Windows Phone is not needed! No matter how it is. The problem is that viruses do not sleep and are specially created for such a mobile platform.
However, they can only get to the device after unlocking the phone through an official Microsoft service called ChevronWP Labs. This application allows you to download and install any software from the Internet on Windows Phone 8, bypassing the Windows Phone Store portal. As a result, along with new, but untested software, Trojans and other “suggestions” that are unsuitable for the system’s operation end up on the mobile device. In this case, an antivirus is needed more than ever. But does he exist?
A Look at Antivirus Programs
Considering Microsoft's opinion about Windows Phone, it is easy to understand that there is currently no recognized antivirus for this mobile platform. At one time, the anti-virus utility AVG Mobilation was posted on the marketplace, which supposedly protected phones from virus attacks. However, not even a couple of months passed before it was removed from the store.
Microsoft explained this by saying that such an antivirus is useless in its functions, since it only checked audio files and images for lice. At the same time, it was found that AVG Mobilation collects the user’s personal data and sends it to the official website of the program.
What happens, there are viruses on Windows Phone 8, but there is no antivirus? From Microsoft's point of view, this is true. However, it is worth recognizing that today there are 2 antivirus tools that have not yet earned official status.
One of them is Kaspersky Security, and the second is AVG Security Suite.
It is worth recognizing that the effectiveness of these antiviruses is still being tested in practice. Nevertheless, looking closely at the functionality of AVG Security Suite, one cannot help but notice how accurately this program copies its predecessor. At the same time, Kaspersky Security's set of functions resembles an antivirus created for Android.
What can we say in the end? If you want to protect your device from viruses, install only proven software on your phone! Otherwise, you will have to test the effectiveness of the developed antiviruses on yourself. Decide for yourself which is easier for you!
- The antivirus is completely free in its full functionality. Unlike other programs that offer a trial version for which you have to pay after a month, 360 Total Security is classified as freeware.
- Complete real-time virus protection. For standard protection, it is enough to use our own engines in a cloud service that does not overload the phone’s memory. If you're worried that the basic level isn't enough, connect Avira and Bitdefender for additional data analysis on your smartphone.
- Quickly scan your system for viruses and clean your phone. Daily use of social networks, browsers and applications leaves “junk” files on the phone that slow down the entire system. For those who are short on time, 360 Total Security instantly analyzes programs and cleans your phone of junk and viruses. Have you noticed that your phone is running slower? Use an antivirus to make your gadget look like new again.
- Speed up loading. It’s not just outdated files, uncleaned cache and junk that slow down your phone. Most of the RAM is occupied by programs running in the background. and it will monitor open background applications. 360 Total Security will close all unused programs, freeing up memory for faster work.
Finding an antivirus designed for Windows Phone is not so easy: there is not a single similar application in the Windows Store. Do you even need an antivirus for the mobile version of Windows?
Owners of gadgets running Android OS are familiar with security programs firsthand, because the Google Play service is literally filled to capacity with them. However, in the case of Windows Phone, everything is different: there are no antiviruses for this operating system, because they are actually not needed. Unlike Android, the Windows Phone operating system (and its next version, Windows Mobile) was developed by Microsoft with an eye toward closedness: that is, the OS source code is protected from access by both the user and the programs being executed. Therefore, the virus will not be able to harm the system.
In addition, applications for this operating system can only be downloaded from the Windows Store, where they are verified before publication, so that the user, even if he wants, will not be able to install the program from an unverified source. In addition, the market share of Windows smartphones is very small, and therefore this segment is simply of little interest to hackers and virus writers.
However, there is still one loophole for malicious programs. There is a way to unlock a Windows Phone device called Chevron WP Labs, through which you can install applications from non-Windows Store on your smartphone. By using this method, the user can theoretically expose his device to a virus attack with all the attendant consequences. The conclusion suggests itself: there is no need to unlock your gadget, especially since it does not bring anything useful to the average person.
Viruses nowadays, unfortunately, have become a threat not only to desktop operating systems, but also to mobile devices. Malicious programs damage data, send SMS messages to paid numbers, steal logins and passwords for various services and PIN codes for bank cards. Therefore, if you still want to get maximum confidence in the security of your smartphone and install a reliable and free antivirus for Windows Phone, then you should pay attention to the following application:
Developer: Kaspersky Laboratory
Price: unknown
Internet browser for Windows Phone 8, 8.1 and Windows 10 Mobile. It allows smartphone users to access the Internet safely and securely, protect themselves from phishing websites, and protect themselves from inappropriate content.
Distribution model: Free
Also in the near future, an antivirus from AVAST Software is expected to be released for Windows 10 Mobile: according to company representatives, it will help protect users from theft of personal data and the imposition of advertising. However, specific release dates for the application are not reported, nor is there any real justification for installing it on devices with a mobile version of Windows.
Microsoft introduced its OS for mobile phones six years ago. Since then, users began to be interested in the question of how to protect a smartphone from virus programs and which antivirus tool for Windows Phone is better to use. Today, there are several types of utilities that can be used to protect equipment from attacks by intruders. Let's take a closer look at which tool is the most useful and whether it is possible to do without such software.
Basic protection is provided by standard software
According to Microsoft employees, the software they created is completely protected from hacker attacks, so there is no point in using any antivirus software. This was achieved by eliminating the possibility of using the phone with third-party applications. In other words, the user will be able to install any program only through the Windows Phone Store and no other way, which means that malicious utilities will not be able to take over important controls over the gadget.
Developers evaluate in real time the security of applications that can be obtained from the official online market. This solution makes it possible to prevent viruses from entering the OS.
Our mind casts doubt on any information, and the statement by Microsoft management was no exception. Security breaches have become a topic of conversation more often lately; reports of hacker attacks on Windows Phone 8 mobile phones appear on the World Wide Web over and over again.
User's view
Trying to play it safe, regardless of the developer’s assurances. Moreover, several utilities are already available on the global network for protecting devices that run under the Microsoft OS; let’s take a closer look at them.
AVG
A couple of years ago, AVG decided to create an antivirus specifically for Windows Phone. Here are the main characteristics of the development:
- protection against unsafe downloads;
- option to block spyware and viruses;
- notifications about receiving mail with viruses;
- reliable storage of information, high-level encryption of passwords;
- protection against fraudsters and spam.
The basic version of the utility is offered free of charge; if you want to utilize all the features, purchase the full range of services from AVG.
Kaspersky
Kaspersky Corporation also decided to create its own version of security software for Windows Phone. The tool can be obtained free of charge on the company's website.
Possibilities:
- protecting corporate information on personal devices;
- Anti-Theft function;
- protection against phishing links and spam;
- block of unauthorized firmware;
- convenient device management.
Results
The question of which antivirus for Windows Phone is better can still be considered rhetorical. It is believed that this OS is the most secure in the modern world. Installation files are initially launched in a sandbox and cannot interfere with the operation of system components. If you want to organize additional protection, there are solutions from AVG and Kaspersky. It is best not to try to install third-party utilities to bypass the official Market; this will be enough to ensure reliable operation.
Antivirus for Windows 10 Mobile and Windows Background - is there such a thing and is it even needed on Microsoft phones, Nokia Lumia and other Windows phones?
These and other security-related questions have plagued many users of Microsoft's mobile OS since the release of Windows Phone. The developers' answer to all this is the system does not need additional protection, since it has a closed system code, and those that are downloaded from the Windows Store are thoroughly scanned for viruses.
You won't find any official or unofficial mobile antivirus for Windows Phone 8, 8.1 and . There is one security solution, but more on it below.
So, if you are the owner of a Windows smartphone and once again type into the search bar the phrase “How to download an antivirus program for a mobile phone Nokia Lumia Microsoft Lumia, etc. for free, without registration,” then I hasten to disappoint you - you won't find anything like it, but you can only get a couple of Trojans on your computer.
Viruses from PC
But what about viruses that can be transferred to the phone along with files from the computer? 
you ask. Closed system code and a ban on installing third-party, unlicensed applications are the reasons why you don’t need to install an antivirus on your Windows phone.
In addition, when connecting the phone to a PC, it is identified as a removable storage device. And even if some kind of computer infection got on it, it won’t be able to do anything in the mobile OS, since the executable files in the systems are different.
Well, if you have unlocked your smartphone and install third-party games and applications not from the Marketplace, then the responsibility for the penetration of Trojans from “illegal software” lies entirely with you. Therefore, by the way, the main rule of the site is no third-party, pirated, or hacked applications. All software is only from the Windows Store.
What solutions are there to protect Windows 10 Mobile from viruses?
Once upon a time, AVG Mobilation antivirus was distributed on the Marketplace. But it was difficult to call it a full-fledged antivirus, since it only scanned images and audio files. That is why this application lasted only a couple of months in the store, after which it was removed. In addition, Microsoft stated that this program collected and sent user personal data to AVG servers.
Many users often ask the question: how is it that there is an operating system, so there must be viruses for it and an antivirus? Be that as it may, Microsoft has officially announced - devices onWindowsPhone andWindows 10Mobile (Nokia Lumia, Microsoft Lumia and others) do not need additional protection.
Secure browser for Winphones
However, there is one solution in the Windows Store - secure internet browser Kaspersky Safe Browser for safe browsing on the Internet.
While online, the application's web filter blocks malicious and phishing websites that are designed to steal user personal data, for example, passwords to electronic wallets, payment systems, and bank cards.
The bottom line is that before loading a website, Kaspersky Safe Browser checks it on the antivirus servers and then either blocks or allows further loading of the page. In the settings, you can also set web filters for various categories of sites, so this browser can be the optimal solution for your child’s smartphone.
How to download, install and configure
Installation actually couldn’t be simpler - download, launch the application, accept the terms and conditions and the browser is ready to work.
In the settings you can select a search engine and clear your browsing history. Otherwise, Kaspersky Safe Browser is no different from a regular mobile browser.
In fact, viruses can only penetrate a Microsoft mobile system via the Internet, so you can install Dual Sim, 640, 520, 535, 550, 650, 435 Dual Sim, 525, 730, 430, 930, 800, 720 on your Lumiya 630, 520, 535, 550, 650, 435 , 920, 820, 925, 540, 1020, 900, 610 or another Winphone, this browser is for safe surfing.
If you have anything to add, write below in the comments.
