Android security apps endurance test reveals top performers
AV-TEST's new six-month endurance test has evaluated 11 Android security apps for their effectiveness against malware. Eight applications achieved perfect scores in the assessment.
Security firm AV-TEST released the results of its latest endurance test on July 14, 2026, assessing eleven security applications designed for Android devices over a six-month period. The study aimed to determine how effectively these apps protect users from evolving online threats, including malware, phishing attempts, and other malicious software.
The test measured the applications' ability to identify and block nearly 17,500 distinct malware samples while ensuring no false positives were triggered for over 10,000 legitimate apps. Concluding the assessment, eight of the evaluated security apps performed flawlessly, demonstrating a high level of reliability.
Participants in the test included security solutions from vendors such as Avast, AVG, Avira, Bitdefender, F-Secure, Google (Play Protect), Kaspersky, McAfee, Norton, Sophos, and TotalAV. Notably, Avast, AVG, Avira, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and Norton successfully blocked all malicious applications. McAfee made a single error during the real-time test, and Sophos fell slightly short of a perfect score in both test segments.
The findings underscore the importance of dedicated security applications for Android users, as even Google's built-in Play Protect does not offer comprehensive protection. Threats can infiltrate the Google Play Store or arrive via app updates, making a specialized security app a crucial defense layer.