AVG Antivirus & Security for Android is a security application for Android phones and tablets. It checks apps and files for malware, examines device and Wi-Fi risks, and filters dangerous web activity. Its other tools review app privacy, monitor exposed accounts, restrict access to apps and photos, and remove selected storage leftovers.
Free, Premium and Ultimate
| Function | Free | Premium | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual malware scans and Web Guard | Included | Included | Included |
| Wi-Fi inspection and manual junk cleaning | Included | Included | Included |
| Scheduled scans | Not included | Choose days and times | Choose days and times |
| SMS Guard, Call Guard and Link Guard | Not included | Included | Included |
| App Lock | Not included | Included | Included |
| Hack Alerts monitoring | One email address | Five email addresses | Five email addresses |
| Photo Vault capacity | Ten photos | Unlimited photos | Unlimited photos |
| Third-party ads | Shown | Removed | Removed |
| Integrated VPN Secure Connection | Not included | Not included | Included |
An ad-free-only offer removes advertising without unlocking Premium functions. Android subscriptions do not automatically license separate AVG applications, and available offers can vary by region.
Malware scans and removal in AVG Antivirus for Android
Smart Scan examines installed applications and checks for security risks caused by changes to default device settings. Newly installed apps are also checked automatically when they first run. Users can choose whether scanning includes system apps and SD-card contents, while paid scheduled scans run on selected days and times.
AVG checks the selected app and file targets and device-security settings. Results identify detected threats and offer application uninstallation or file deletion for the affected item. The user chooses the removal action or reports a suspected false positive from the results.
Threat definitions update automatically, with a manual update check and an option to restrict updates to Wi-Fi. Malware embedded in a system app or holding elevated permissions may resist removal. Android's restrictions also prevent protection against exploits in the kernel, network stack and other fundamental system components.
The ransomware recovery option attempts to remove ransomware that has taken control of the device.
Web Guard and Scam Guardian Pro
These guards examine different routes into the phone and have separate permissions and controls:
- Web Guard checks internet activity in real time, blocks malicious URLs and warns about suspicious websites. It needs Android Accessibility access for the AVG service and continued background operation. Its screen shows the number of analyzed links and detected threats.
- SMS Guard checks messages in the default messaging app for risky links or scam content and can alert the user to a risky message. It requires permission to access incoming SMS and enabled alerts. Optional contact access helps identify messages from unknown numbers.
- Call Guard identifies incoming callers as trusted contacts, businesses or potentially risky sources. It can block suspicious and scam calls when automatic blocking is enabled. This depends on call-identification permissions and selecting AVG as the default caller-ID and spam application.
- Link Guard examines links opened outside a browser, such as those in emails or messages. Android designates AVG as the default browser so it can intercept the link, then AVG opens the checked link in the third-party browser selected by the user. A dangerous link produces a warning before that browser opens it.
Network Inspector and Wi-Fi Speed Test
Network Inspector examines the currently connected Wi-Fi network and returns detected vulnerabilities with recommendations. With precise location and ongoing location access, it can continue monitoring and alert the user to new issues. The user acts on the findings to address the network configuration.
Wi-Fi Speed Test measures upload and download rates. It also checks for router, encryption, Wi-Fi and connection problems and supplies suggested responses alongside its results.
App Insights and Privacy Advisor
App Insights analyzes applications installed from Google Play and groups the results into three categories:
- Data Harvesting: Apps that collect or share data.
- Newly Installed: Apps recently installed on the device.
- Safe: Apps without known security or privacy concerns.
Selecting an app reveals its malware status, permissions, data-collection practices and privacy policy. The data-collection information lets the user assess an app's privacy behavior separately from its malware status.
Privacy Advisor guides users to account privacy settings. Changes are made through those account controls by the user.
App Lock and Photo Vault
App Lock adds an access check to selected applications. Opening a protected app requests a PIN, pattern or supported fingerprint; users choose immediate, timed or screen-off relocking. The feature depends on Android access permissions and has compatibility exceptions: Google Wallet cannot be locked, and some banking apps with splash-screen launches may return to the home screen after unlocking.
Photo Vault accepts selected gallery pictures or a new photo taken through the tool. It encrypts the pictures locally and hides them from the normal gallery, with access protected by a PIN, pattern or supported fingerprint. Selected pictures can be exported back to their original location.
Vault deletion permanently removes both the vaulted picture and its original copy. Uninstalling AVG makes vaulted photos inaccessible; restoration depends on reinstalling on the same device with the same account and PIN. Photo Vault is local storage without cloud backup, so exporting pictures before uninstalling keeps them available outside AVG Antivirus for Android.
Hack Alerts
Hack Alerts checks an entered email address for accounts found in breach information. Continuous monitoring requires AVG sign-in and verification of the address. Results identify compromised accounts, and monitoring supplies alerts about detected exposure.
Affected accounts remain listed as unresolved until the user changes the relevant password and marks the issue resolved. Account recovery and password changes remain the user's actions.
Junk Cleaner
Junk Cleaner scans for leftover APK files, residual files and visible cache, then lets the user select categories and confirm deletion. Items classed as unneeded are selected for removal, while files that need review start unchecked because they may still have personal value. Removing the chosen files releases the storage they occupied.
VPN Secure Connection
Ultimate's integrated VPN creates an encrypted tunnel from the device to an AVG server, and internet destinations see that server's IP address. Users can accept the default fastest server or choose a location. Automatic connection can activate the VPN on unsecured Wi-Fi, with designated private networks excluded from that behavior.
The optional Kill Switch blocks internet access if the tunnel disconnects, until the protected connection returns. The integrated VPN does not provide the separate VPN application's split tunneling or protocol selection. A separate AVG Secure VPN subscription does not activate the VPN inside this Android security app.
