Everyone knows you need to install software to protect your desktop or laptop computer. You may not realize that your Android phone is also susceptible to viruses and hackers. In some ways, the information you keep stored on your phone is even more valuable than the files in your computer. Most Android users have extensive contact information as well as apps that contain important personal information. If you ever lost your phone, all that data would be in the hands of someone who may use it in harmful ways. The following apps protect your Android from potential problems.

Lookout Mobile Security

Lookout is one of the most comprehensive Android protection apps available. The free version offers many of the features you need for complete protection, including system scans that identify and remove malware, GPS tracking that will find your phone if it is lost or stolen, and a web-based backup and restore service. For $3 per month, you can add the ability to wipe your phone’s contents or lock your phone remotely. The paid app also gives you information about which of your apps access personal information and which apps are the most likely to cause identity theft problems.

NetQin Anti-Virus

The focus of the free NetQin app is to help you locate your phone if it is lost or stolen. The app can emit a high-pitched alarm that will lead you to a lost phone easily. You can also use NetQin to lock your phone remotely so that no one can use it for illegal purposes. If necessary, you can clear out your phone’s contents from a remote computer so that no one will be able to gain access to your stored information. NetQin is ideal for anyone who tends to misplace his or her cell phone on a regular basis.

WaveSecure Mobile Security

WaveSecure Mobile Security costs $20 per year and provides remote storage for your files as well as the ability to remotely lock down or clean out your system. One of the unique features of this app is that it is equipped with a locking feature that will not allow anyone to uninstall the software without the correct password. WaveSecure stores your backed up data in a format that makes it easy to re-install all of your files onto a new Android device if your original phone should be lost, stolen, or damaged.

AVG Antivirus

This popular computer antivirus software works just as well for an Android device. The app is free, and it will perform regular sweeps of your system files to make sure there is no malware lurking on your phone. You can use the app to scan attachments in text messages as well as e-mail or web-based files. Future upgrades are expected to provide the ability to lock your phone if it is lost or stolen, and there is a file backup system in the works. As of right now, AVG is only able to scan files and keep your system safe from malware attacks.

Norton Mobile Security Beta

Symantec’s Norton Mobile Security is still in beta mode, but it is one of the most powerful free security apps you can download. Norton allows you to wipe your phone and lock it remotely. It also makes it impossible for anyone else to pull out your sim card and use it in another device. Norton also sweeps your phone’s files for malware. You can set it to block certain phone calls or text messages as well. Norton plans to release the standard version of this app at the end of the year, so there is no guarantee that it will remain free forever.

Jessica Bosari is a freelance writer and blogger for Technology-Colleges.info. She is passionate about technology and helping others discover rewarding computer networking careers.