Avast Mobile Security /Avast Cleanup/Avast Battery Saver

[netta72]

Hi this is my first post here. New to all this. My question is does my phone really need all of this? Avast Mobile Security /Avast Cleanup/Avast Battery Saver
I tend to add a bunch of stuff on my phone like this. What I am wondering is what I really need to keep my phone running smoothly? Looking for advice. Thanks.
Oh it's a Samsung Galaxy S5

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! I'd say no. In terms of security, for the most part, it's still quite difficult to get an actual virus on your phone, because malware requires you to manually accept the installation (which is why they try to fool you into thinking you're installing something legitimate). Use common sense:

1. Avoid shady websites that deal with things like porn, gambling, and "free" (aka pirated) apps/music/movies.


2. Never ever tap on a link that appears in a popup while browsing, especially if they're warning you that your phone is infected -- they're just trying to scare you into installing some bogus "antivirus" app that is probably malicious itself.


3. Only install apps from well-established app sources like Google Play Store or Amazon Appstore. Read a bunch of app reviews before installing an app to look for any complaints about adware or suspected malware.


4. Turn on Google's "Verify Apps" function. This allows Google to periodically scan your phone's apps to look for malware. It's usually in your Google Settings app, under Security (although it might also be in the main System Settings, in Settings>Security).


5. Turn off "Unknown Sources" in Settings>Security. This prevents any app that wasn't obtained from Google Play Store from being installed (which could include malicious apps that are inadvertently downloaded).

The Cleanup and Battery Saver apps might have some useful functions, but these kinds of apps often do other things that are actually detrimental to your phone's performance and battery life. With cleaner apps, you also run the risk of the app automatically "cleaning up" some files that you might actually have wanted to keep. So my recommendation is to get rid of them. If they came preinstalled on the phone, then you can't uninstall them, though. You could instead try Disabling them by going to the App Manager, selecting the app, and looking for a Disable button. This prevents the app from opening or updating.

If it doesn't let you disable the app, then you could also try Package Disabler Pro.