Do I Need an Antivirus for Xiaomi? Is it Secure Enough?

Among the sea of brands available in the market, Xiaomi has emerged as a popular choice for its feature-packed and affordable devices.

However, with the rise of cyber threats, it’s natural to question whether our beloved Xiaomi phones are secure enough. Do we need an antivirus for Xiaomi devices? That’s the question we aim to answer in this article.

Xiaomi has implemented several security features that make it relatively secure and less susceptible to attacks. However, no system is entirely foolproof, and there is always a risk of malware and viruses infiltrating your device. Therefore, to answer the question “Do I need an antivirus for Xiaomi“, I recommend that you install a reliable antivirus on your Xiaomi device to provide an extra layer of protection against potential threats. While it may seem like an unnecessary expense, investing in a reputable antivirus software can save you from the headache of dealing with data breaches and malicious attacks in the future.

To help you understand this better, I’ll cover all there is to know about Xiaomi’s built-in security system and explain whether it’s secure enough or not. 

Do I Need an Antivirus for Xiaomi? Is it Secure Enough?

How Secure is Xiaomi’s Built-in Antivirus?

Like all Android devices, Xiaomi phones and tablets can get infected with viruses, but most of the time they get infected with new malware. 

Many of the known virus and malware attacks on Xiaomi devices have been attributed to downloading illegal or modified apps from third party websites. 

Xiaomi, POCO and Redmi devices that are running on MIUI 8 or above will come with a built-in antivirus software called Security Scan that keeps the device protected from basic types of attacks. 

The issue however, is that even though these devices use either AVL, Tencent or Avast antivirus engines, they will not keep the device completely safe from new viruses or malware.

To ensure that all your data and information is kept safe, you might need to consider investing in a premium antivirus software such as McAfee, Norton, or Kaspersky.

When Do You Need an Antivirus on a Xiaomi Phone?

Xiaomi phones can get infected by installing malware or illegal apps onto the device. Hackers tend to infect apps by inserting a malicious code or virus into it and then seeding that infected app online.

These apps (that are not found on Google Play Store) are considered dangerous and there’s no guarantee that the app doesn’t contain any malicious code. So to be on the safer side, it’s always good to refrain from downloading apps that are not verified on the Play Store.

There’s also a chance that by downloading torrents or opening phishing emails, you can potentially infect your Xiaomi phone with a virus or malware 

Here are a couple of times you will need to have an antivirus installed on your Xiaomi phone.

• Rooting your device – Rooting a Xiaomi might seem fun and you may want to experiment with different themes or to install custom firmware. But rooting a Xiaomi phone can lead to future attacks as it reduces the level of security on the device.

• Disabling the built-in antivirus – Disabling the built-in antivirus is a bad idea as it provides you with the basic level of security you’d need on a daily basis. If you do disable the built-in antivirus then there’s nothing protecting your personal data from getting leaked.

• Opening suspicious emails – If you use your Xiaomi device for work and have opened an email that’s not from the organization or from an unfamiliar address then there are chances that the email might contain a dangerous attachment and it could infect your device.

• Downloading torrents – Another way you can get a virus on your Xiaomi phone, or any Android device for that matter is by downloading or seeding torrents. Again, hackers will infect the video file or throw in an additional file that contains the virus and opening it will infect your device.

What Antivirus Should I Install on my Xiaomi Device?

The Google Play Store is flooded with many free antivirus software that are compatible with Xiaomi devices, but these antivirus’s make the phone slow and can be buggy at times. 

So i’m covering these three antivirus software that I think will keep all your data protected.

McAfee Mobile Security

McAfee mobile security is one of the most premium antivirus software around with over 50 million downloads so far. 

The application is loaded with an antivirus software, a VPN proxy as well as an anti-theft feature to keep your Xiaomi phone safe and secure. 

It also has additional features that can help boost your performance such as battery booster, storage cleaner, and memory management among others.

The app is free to download on the Play Store, but if you want to unlock its premium features you will have to purchase a subscription plan.

Subscribers also get access to family and home plans that allow you to use the software on different devices in the family.

Norton 360 for Mobiles

Norton 360 is an award winning security software that helps protect your Xiaomi smartphone from ransomware, malware and spyware. 

The antivirus registry is also updated on a daily basis so your device stays protected against new viruses and malware

Norton 360 even provides security to those surfing the dark web as well as it’s capable of running regular automatic scans on your Xiaomi to ensure everything is running smoothly.

Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus

Kaspersky mobile antivirus is one of the top rated antivirus applications on the Google Play Store and is highly recommended for its up to date and easy to use interface.

The app is available for free, but you will need to purchase a plan in order to access premium features. 

Kaspersky mobile antivirus is known for its ability to protect your devices against viruses, spyware and malware and even provides real-time protection for your Xiaomi. 

The app also features web filters, an anti-phishing feature and a find my phone feature in case you end up losing the device.

Tips on How to Secure your Xiaomi Phone

There are a couple of things you should consider when using your Xiaomi phone to ensure your information and data is kept safe.

• Remove bloatware from the phone if you want to minimize the possibility of getting attacked. Bloatware carries advertisements that can lead to dangerous web pages and can end up infecting or slowing down your phone.

• Go through the permissions of the apps you’re installing on your Xiaomi smartphone. Make sure that the app doesn’t require permissions to your contacts, phone log, keystrokes and more as they can prove dangerous and it could also be a possible data collection attempt.

• While browsing web pages, do not click on links you’re unfamiliar with. Make sure the website you’re visiting is secure with a HTTPS connection/SSL certificate. Refrain from browsing on the dark web or downloading torrents/pirated content onto your phone.

• If you’re using your Xiaomi phone to access your emails, refrain from opening emails from senders you do not know. There might be an attachment that will contain a virus or malware and can potentially infect your phone.

• Make sure to always use a good antivirus application on your Xiaomi phone and perform regular system scans. This will make sure that your phone is not infected with any virus or malware and if you are it will permanently remove the virus from your device.

• Xiaomi regularly releases software updates to fix bugs and security vulnerabilities. Make sure you install the latest updates to keep your device secure.

• Use a strong password or PIN: Use a strong password or PIN to lock your device. Avoid using easily guessable passwords, such as “1234” or “password.”

• Xiaomi offers two-factor authentication, which provides an extra layer of security for your account. Turn on this feature to prevent unauthorized access.

• A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet traffic, making it difficult for anyone to intercept or view your online activity. Xiaomi devices have built-in support for VPNs, so it’s easy to use one to secure your device.

• Only download apps from trusted sources, such as the Google Play Store or the Xiaomi App Store. Check the app permissions before installing, and avoid apps that ask for unnecessary permissions.

Takeaway

While there’s no hard and fast rule that an antivirus is a must on a Xiaomi device, installing one on your smartphone depends on what the phone is being used for and how. 

Keeping this factor in mind, you need to decide on whether or not the built-in antivirus is good enough or if you have to invest in a premium antivirus to protect your data.

If the antivirus software mentioned above are expensive and you want something a little bit cheaper, and does the same job, try Avast antivirus or AVG antivirus by typing out their names in the search bar on the Play Store.

Also Read:

• How to Overclock a Xiaomi Phone | Does Overclocking Really Make a Difference?
• How to check Xiaomi warranty and serial number | Best Xiaomi Warranty Check Guide
• What is MIUI Biometric and How Does it Work