Singapore’s national cybersecurity agency has published a list of recommended antivirus solutions for Android and iOS devices as part of a national campaign to raise awareness about scams and other cyber threats.
According to the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), the campaign aims to highlight the “unseen, yet pervasive nature of cyber threats and scams in our daily lives, and the need for everyone to be vigilant against these threats.”
Besides publishing a list of antivirus solutions, the agency also recommends using ScamShield app, an anti-scam tool created by Singaporean agencies.
The CSA promoted cyber hygiene practices like using strong passphrases, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), keeping apps updated, and looking out for phishing scams.
“Since young, we were taught to practise certain good habits – lock our doors, look both ways when we cross the road and don’t leave our valuables unattended. These practices have become instinctive to us. Likewise, in this digital age, we should also develop good cyber hygiene habits in our daily lives. Cybercriminals are getting better, so we need to do our part to protect ourselves from online dangers,” Mr. David Koh, chief executive of the CSA, said.
List of Recommended Antivirus Solutions
Here’s the CSA’s list of antivirus apps for Android and iOS devices:
Android
- Avast Antivirus & Security (Free)
- AVG Antivirus & Security (Free)
- Kaspersky Antivirus & VPN (Paid)
- Lookout Security and Antivirus (Paid)
- McAfee Security: VPN Antivirus (Paid)
- Mobile Security & Antivirus (Trend Micro) (Paid)
- Norton360 Antivirus and Security (Paid)
iOS
- Avast Security & Privacy (Free)
- AVG Mobile Security (Free)
- Kaspersky: VPN & Antivirus (Paid)
- Lookout – Mobile Data Security (Paid)
- McAfee Security: Privacy & VPN (Paid)
- Norton360 Security & VPN (Paid)
- TM Mobile Security (Paid)
“CSA conducted tests on the malware and phishing detection capabilities of these apps in August this year,” the agency said. To test each antivirus, the CSA installed it on a device and infected it with malware variants to see if the app would detect them.
The agency said it couldn’t test how well these antivirus apps can detect malware due to iOS security restrictions.
Some of the antivirus apps in the CSA’s lists are recommended by our security experts. Check out our guides to the best premium antivirus and free antivirus software to see our top picks and discover why we rate them highly.
Fighting Cyber Threats
The CSA just concluded a two-day roadshow as part of its Unseen Enemy campaign, where visitors could learn about cybersecurity in an interactive way. As part of other activities, visitors could play a game called Phishing Wars, where they try to identify phishing messages.
Singaporean agencies are actively fighting against cyber threats. In 2022, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) released a set of cybersecurity measures to strengthen the country’s digital banking systems and protect customers from scams.
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