Roundup: Android Smartphone Security Apps

This roundup includes reviews of Lookout Mobile Security, Norton Mobile Security Beta, WaveSecure Mobile Security, AVG Antivirus and NetQin Anti-virus.

"You back up data on your computer in case it crashes, and you might install LoJack on your car to help recover it in case someone steals it--so why shouldn't you protect your Android phone? Most people carry a lot of sensitive data on their phones. If someone steals your handset or if you happen to lose it, all that personal information is suddenly not so personal anymore. Your phone is an investment, so you should safeguard your contacts, photos, texts, videos, and music.

Even if you never lose your phone, certain downloadable apps can easily access and distribute your information. Not all the apps you find are 100 percent honest about what they do. Recently an SMS Trojan horse posing as a media player began infecting Android phones on Russian networks. Once the victim installed the malicious app, it began sending text messages to premium numbers, leaving the user with a huge phone bill. And in October, yet another spyware app reared its ugly head, forwarding all of the victim's text messages to a designated phone number without their knowledge."