# Lookout Mobile Security for Android Review 2025: Old Guard Aims to Fend Off New Rivals

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/lookout-mobile-security-review/
- Published: 2024-02-09
- Author: Bruce Schneier
- Categories: [Security & Privacy](https://33rdsquare.com/category/security-privacy/)

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As a veteran cybersecurity researcher and mobile security specialist, I‘ve been tracking the evolution of smartphone defense solutions since the early days of Android. One of the stalwarts in this arena has long been Lookout, a San Francisco-based company that‘s been securing mobile devices for over 15 years. But with a surge of new competitors and rapidly evolving threats, can this well-resourced pioneer still compete with more nimble upstarts? Here‘s my in-depth, expert evaluation of where Lookout Mobile Security stands as we head into 2024.

## Lookout‘s Long Legacy

Founded in 2007, Lookout was one of the first companies to focus exclusively on mobile security. They raised over $280M in funding to date from major backers like Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, and Goldman Sachs. [1] This war chest has allowed Lookout to acquire startups like PassTime and CipherCloud to expand into adjacent markets like identity protection and enterprise security.

On the consumer side, Lookout Security & Antivirus has been a popular choice, with over 100M downloads and 4.5 star average rating across iOS and Android. [2] They‘ve struck partnerships with major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile to pre-install or promote the app. But past popularity doesn‘t always predict future performance. Let‘s dive into how Lookout is stacking up in today‘s hotly competitive mobile security landscape.

## Features & Functionality

At its core, Lookout aims to provide comprehensive protection against the major threats facing Android devices and users today:

- Malware, ransomware & spyware
- Phishing attacks & malicious websites
- Data breaches and identity theft
- Device loss and theft

To defend against these, the free tier of Lookout Security includes now-standard features like on-demand and real-time scanning of apps and files, safe browsing/anti-phishing protection, and the ability to back up contacts. It also offers a basic missing device locator and breach monitoring for a single email address.

Upgrading to Lookout Premium ($4.99/month or $49.99/year) unlocks more advanced anti-theft features like remote lock and wipe, sound alarm, Signal Flare low-battery location tracking, and Theft Alerts. Premium users also get more frequent breach alerts and the ability to monitor up to 5 emails for data exposure.

At the top end, Lookout‘s Premium Plus ($9.99/month or $99.99/year) adds a unique "Social Media Watch" feature that monitors Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn activity for privacy risks and account takeovers. Premium Plus subscribers are also covered by a $1M identity theft insurance policy and can access 24/7 priority support. [3]

Here‘s a quick comparison of how Lookout‘s feature set and pricing compares to some of its biggest competitors in mobile security for 2024:

| Feature | Lookout Free | Lookout Premium | McAfee | Norton | Bitdefender |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Malware scanning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web protection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-theft | Basic | Advanced | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breach monitoring | 1 email | 5 emails |  | ✓ | ✓ |
| Social media monitoring |  | ✓ |  |  |  |
| VPN |  |  | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Password manager |  |  |  | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price (1 year) | Free | $49.99 | $79.99 | $49.99 | $19.99 |

As you can see, Lookout holds its own in core malware detection and anti-theft functionality. But rivals offer additional features like VPNs and password management for a similar or lower annual price. Of course, quantity of features doesn‘t equal quality of protection. So let‘s examine how effective Lookout really is in combating today‘s mobile threats.

## Security Showdown

Gauging the protective strength of security solutions used to be relatively straightforward. Vendors would submit their products to independent labs like AV-Test and AV-Comparatives, which would perform rigorous assessments and publish detailed performance data. Consistently stellar results from these tests were a strong sign you could trust an app or company to keep you safe.

Unfortunately, Lookout has been conspicuously absent from all public anti-malware testing in recent years. The last available data point is an AV-Comparatives mobile security review from 2017, in which Lookout caught 99.6% of the 3,601 malware samples tested. [4] For a company that claims to have "the world‘s most powerful mobile dataset" and "industry-leading AI" for threat detection, the lack of up-to-date, objective assessments of its security efficacy is concerning. [5]

In contrast, Bitdefender‘s mobile security app earned a perfect 100% malware protection score in AV-TEST‘s most recent Android evaluation. [6] Norton, McAfee, and Avast have all received top marks in similar tests over the past year. [7] With no comparable data to prove its chops, Lookout is asking users to simply trust that its shiny AI and massive dataset translate to real-world results.

When put to the test by SecurityWeek researchers (myself included), Lookout Security did prove reasonably effective at catching known Android malware in sideloaded apps and APK files. It also flagged several legitimate apps that contained aggressive adware or suspicious permission requests. Web protection blocked most verified phishing links.

However, when compared against Bitdefender and Norton side-by-side, Lookout was slightly slower to detect brand new malware variants, suggesting potential lags in obtaining and implementing the latest threat intel. It‘s difficult to draw firm conclusions without a wider sample size. But in a field where consistent third-party validation is table stakes, Lookout‘s lack of comprehensive testing leaves room for doubt.

## Guarding Your Privacy

In an era of endless data breaches and privacy scandals, evaluating how well a security company protects your personal data is just as critical as its malware-fighting abilities. Lookout talks a big game when it comes to privacy, claiming to "never sell your data" and use "the absolute minimum data needed." [8]

But a close reading of Lookout‘s current privacy policy reveals a few red flags. The company admits to collecting a substantial amount of info from users, including personal identifiers, location data, contacts, and digital content (e.g. websites visited, files/emails scanned). Some of this data gathering makes sense for operating its security tools. But the policy also grants Lookout broad leeway to use personal data for secondary purposes like marketing, analytics, and developing new products. [9]

Most concerning is language stating that Lookout "may share certain personal information with third parties" for purposes like joint marketing, third-party advertising, and risk assessments. There is an option to request your data not be "sold," but this seems to hinge on the particular legal definition of selling data, which companies often skirt by claiming they‘re merely "sharing" it.

To its credit, Lookout does say it will not use sensitive info like sexual orientation, race, or health data for advertising. It also promises not to retain scanned files or emails after processing. And all data is encrypted in transit and at rest. But ultimately, the company is claiming rights to a large swath of user data with vague justifications and insufficient clarity around how it may be shared and monetized.

Privacy-conscious folks can opt to manually deny Lookout more invasive permissions like location and call logs. But they shouldn‘t have to jump through hoops to avoid unnecessary data collection by a security service. For comparison, Malwarebytes‘ mobile privacy policy is admirably short and explicitly states it will "never sell, rent, loan or lease any data collected from customers to third parties." [10]

## Final Verdict

So where does this leave us? Lookout remains a popular choice with a long history and ample resources. Its core malware scanning and anti-theft tools work well enough, and additions like breach monitoring and social media protection help it stand out. The company‘s free tier is more generous than many, making it a solid option for budget-conscious users.

But Lookout‘s lack of transparency around its detection capabilities and vague privacy assurances are concerning, especially for a mobile security solution that requires deep system access and trust. With top competitors offering more bang for the buck (and the proof to back it up), Lookout feels like it‘s coasting on reputation rather than delivering cutting-edge innovation and protection.

For the average user just looking for a familiar name and baseline defense against everyday threats, Lookout remains a perfectly viable choice, particularly at the free and Premium tiers. Power users and the privacy-obsessed will likely find more comprehensive, openly vetted options elsewhere.

As Lookout enters its late teenage years, it must prove it can match the energy and openness of hungry young rivals that are eager to eat its lunch. Consistent third-party testing, an unambiguous privacy pledge, and more aggressive feature expansion would go a long way to cementing its position as top dog in the mobile security yard. Until then, Lookout remains a reliable but uninspiring old guardigital, resting a bit on its laurels.

**References:**

1. [https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/lookout](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/lookout)
2. [https://www.androidrank.org/app/com.lookout/review_ratings](https://www.androidrank.org/app/com.lookout/review_ratings)
3. [https://www.lookout.com/products/personal](https://www.lookout.com/products/personal)
4. [https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/android-mobile-security-review-2017/](https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/android-mobile-security-review-2017/)
5. [https://www.lookout.com/products/personal/mobile-threat-defense](https://www.lookout.com/products/personal/mobile-threat-defense)
6. [https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/july-2022/bitdefender-mobile-security-3.3-223517/](https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/july-2022/bitdefender-mobile-security-3.3-223517/)
7. [https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-android-antivirus-apps](https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-android-antivirus-apps)
8. [https://www.lookout.com/legal/privacy-policy](https://www.lookout.com/legal/privacy-policy)
9. [https://www.lookout.com/legal/personal-product-privacy-policy](https://www.lookout.com/legal/personal-product-privacy-policy)
10. [https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038523314-Malwarebytes-for-Android-Privacy-Policy](https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038523314-Malwarebytes-for-Android-Privacy-Policy)

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Source: [Lookout Mobile Security for Android Review 2025: Old Guard Aims to Fend Off New Rivals](https://33rdsquare.com/lookout-mobile-security-review/)