Gadget Guardian

Gadget Guardian by Lookout Mobile Security is a security and antivirus suite for Android devices.

Gadget Guardian is a security app developed by Lookout Mobile Security for Android devices. The app is freeware but developed with particular service providers in mind, such as Boost Mobile, Sprint Forward and Virgin Mobile. The app will work with most Android devices and have access to the antivirus, for instance, but some aspects of the app will be restricted to the aforementioned services.

Antivirus protection is among the focal points of Gadget Guardian. Automatic and manual upgrades are available without registration, and it provides ongoing, over-the-air defense against adware, malware, spyware and viruses. It will warn you in advance of accessing risky websites. When you install an app, it will inspect the files and monitor the installation. You can also request it analyze your entire device, and it will check apps, files and other items for potential risks.

Gadget Guardian also has a locate and scream feature, and this is one of those features that is only available to users who are customers of the aforementioned service providers and are willing to register their device through the Gadget Guardian website. Those that do will be able to locate their device through the web service and even cause it to “scream.” That loud, persistent noise can make the device easier to locate and perhaps cause a would-be thief to reconsider.

Signal flare is similar to locate, but it is initiated by the device itself when Gadget Guardian detects a low battery. This is a neat feature that ensures you never find yourself with a dead battery because you were preoccupied with something else. There are a number of ways that the phone can alert you, such as vibration and screaming, but it can also send emails as well as text messages.

Perhaps one of the more superfluous features Gadget Guardian offers is the ability to back up your contacts. Most Android devices have a dedicated app for this, and many app developers feel inclined to throw this in as an added feature. While you can back up locally without an account, backing up to the Web requires an account facilitated through the previously mentioned service providers.

This program also features remote locking so no one else can use your phone. You can post a custom screen, such as with your contact information. You can also wipe all data remotely, which is nice when a phone is stolen but also before you turn your phone in for a newer model.

Gadget Guardian is a useful app suite that provides real tools that people will actually use, and it does it for free. Is it better than the other tool suites available? There are others that have different tools and even a larger selection, but Gadget Guardian does compare well in this regard. Perhaps the biggest issue is performance. It is not as optimized as we would like, and some similar apps do manage that a lot better.

Pros

• Freeware
• Security and antivirus tools

Cons

• Unoptimized performance