I install a lot of Android apps on my Android phone, both on and off Google Play. Sometimes I install apps that Google Play Protect considers harmful I need a second opinion. I have 70 on VirusTotal.

VirusTotal is one of the most famous online antiviruses that stands out for providing you with results. Scan a file with 70 antiviruses. VirusTotal has been owned by Google for over a decade but has no official app for Android. In its absence, the community-created VirusTotal Móvil is the closest thing and is just as important.

70 antiviruses are better than one

I’m not a big fan of using classic antivirus on my mobile phone because they contain more extras that don’t interest me and at the end of the day, Android phones already come with Play Protection, Google’s antivirus software. However, sometimes Play Protection can be very strict and there comes a point where I have to install very questionable applications on the system. For science.

For example, when I recently tried to reinstall AA AIO Tweaker to force changes to Android Auto, Play Protection stopped me, stating that “the app is potentially harmful.” Potentially yes, but I still want to install it. Best to know how harmful an app is second, third and fourth opinion.

This is exactly what I get with the VirusTotal Móvil app Analyzes all apps I install It tells me at a glance whether they are clean, whether on the mobile phone, the user or the system. In most cases it will, as it’s rare for Google Play Protect to miss anything, given that both products are owned by Google.

After the initial analysis, you can see the results of each application in VirusTotal Móvil. Which antivirus program were they scanned with and whether they were clean?. You’ll also be shown a list of permissions required by each app, highlighting the problematic ones in a different color. Although AA AIO Tweaker prevents Play Protect from being installed, it is clean and no antivirus will detect it as malware.

VirusTotal Mobile Does not provide real-time protectionbut is limited to analyzing applications, APK files or web links (of APK files) that we install.

Analysis of exactly APK files is quite useful when we have it. There are doubts whether we should install this dubious APK or not. More than 70 antiviruses with the app will give you their verdict, and if more than half agree it’s malicious, there’s usually a good reason.

The good thing about not having real-time protection isleaves you alone when we don’t need it. If you have doubts about the security of your applications, you open them for a quick scan, that’s all. Otherwise, he waits patiently for the next opportunity. It is a free application without ads or integrated purchases.

• Download VirusTotal Móvil for free from Google Play

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