McAfee Antivirus and Security app for Android and iOS is now free

McAfee, the Intel-owned IT security company, has announced that its McAfee Antivirus & Security app (known as McAfee Security app on iOS) will be free on Android and iOS platforms.

The McAfee Antivirus & Security app is now available for free on the Google Play store for Android and iTunes App Store for iOS.

The company claims that the move is targeted at making the security of mobiles and tablets powered by Android and iOS an integral part of the consumer experience.

McAfee quoted a recent mobile security trend report claiming that roughly 82 percent of apps track users' personal details, while around 80 percent of apps collected location details.

The McAfee Security app offers privacy features such as multi-user app profiles, app lock, app protection, call blocker and SMS filter.

Some of the anti-theft features offered by the app include CaptureCam, which can quietly click image of the person holding a user's lost device and emails the image to the user along with the device location; S.O.S that automatically saves the last location of the device before it runs out of battery; device lock, which prevents misuse of the device by remotely locking it; remotely wipe data, which cleans the personal data to factory default settings; backup and restore data, which can save contacts and messages on demand, or on a schedule; locate and track can help find a device if it is lost or stolen; uninstall protection, which protects the McAfee Security app from being deleted.

Commenting on the announcement, Jagdish Mahapatra, Managing Director, India and SAARC, McAfee said, "With India placed on the tip of mobile device explosion, there is an overwhelming need of adoption of security and privacy protection in our digital lives. With free access to our award-winning mobile security product, Indian consumers will be empowered to access all the benefits of this connected world and enjoy a safe mobile life."