Updated on: October 8, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best antivirus for Amazon Fire in 2024:
- 🥇 TotalAV . Offers near-perfect malware detection rates, some of the best web protection for Amazon Fire devices, and an excellent virtual private network (VPN).
Amazon Fire tablets need antivirus protection. While FireOS, the system that powers Amazon tablets, is a solid operating system with some good built-in protections, it’s still just a modified version of the Android OS. This means it’s susceptible to the same malware threats and cyber attacks.
Unfortunately, you can still download ransomware, fleeceware, unsafe applications, and more onto your Amazon Fire. You can also fall victim to phishing attacks and browser-based exploit attacks and accidentally transmit Windows and Mac-based malware to desktop machines on your network.
I tested many antivirus apps to find which ones work best on today’s Amazon Fire tablets. Unfortunately, many top brands (like Norton and Bitdefender) don’t support FireOS, but I still found some excellent ones that do.
Through my tests, I found the 3 best apps for Fire tablets in 2024. They’re affordable, easy to use, and full of essential security features, including real-time malware protection, anti-phishing protection, app scanning, privacy monitoring, anti-theft measures, and more. Each works with different generations of Amazon Fire tablets, including the latest models. My top pick is TotalAV, but all the products on my list will do a great job of protecting your Fire tablet.
Quick Summary of the Best Antiviruses for Amazon Fire in 2024
Note: Amazon Fire tablets used to be called Kindle Fires. In 2014, Amazon did some rebranding to make a clearer distinction between its e-readers and tablets. Since then, the e-readers have kept the label “Kindle”, and the tablets have simply become “Fires”. You’ll still sometimes see current-generation Fires referred to as Kindle Fires, even though it’s technically incorrect.
This article covers Amazon Fire tablets made after 2014. Kindle devices (like current-generation Paperwhites and Kindle Fires made before 2014) won’t be able to run any of the antiviruses on this list. The same is true for Fire TV Sticks, Amazon’s TV streaming devices.
🥇 1. TotalAV — Best Overall Antivirus for Amazon Fire
TotalAV offers the best malware protection for Fire devices in 2024. It uses a powerful cloud-based scanning engine and advanced heuristics to protect your tablet from the latest malware threats. TotalAV took around 5 minutes to scan each of my Fire models, and it detected 99% of my malware samples, including trojans, fleeceware, dangerous apps, and ransomware.
TotalAV’s Fire app includes:
- Real-time antivirus protection.
- VPN (virtual private network).
- Device optimization.
- Web protection.
- Secure search.
- Data breach monitoring.
I particularly like TotalAV’s VPN, which provides access to over 70 server locations around the world. I tested it by connecting to servers quite far from my current location and hardly noticed any slowdown compared to my speeds without a VPN. I was also able to stream high-quality videos without buffering. But while TotalAV’s VPN is one of the best antivirus-bundled VPNs on the market, it still isn’t quite as good as standalone VPNs such as ExpressVPN, which has more than 100 server locations around the world.
I also like TotalAV’s web protections, which prevent you from accessing phishing websites. I tried visiting dozens of phishing websites on my Fire, and TotalAV blocked the majority of them.
Installing TotalAV on Amazon Fire is also very easy, even though you can’t download and install it from within the Amazon App Store. Instead, you can install it from your web dashboard, just as you would when installing TotalAV software on a PC or Mac.
TotalAV has 3 plans that can protect FireOS devices. There’s Antivirus Pro ($19.00 / year), which protects 5 devices but lacks VPN protection, Internet Security ($39.00 / year), which protects 6 devices and adds the VPN (TotalAV is the only antivirus app for Fire tablets that comes with a VPN for Amazon Fire!), and Total Security ($49.00 / year), which protects up to 8 devices. I recommend Internet Security, as it provides all of TotalAV’s best features, including the VPN and a safe browser. Total Security adds an ad blocker and password vault, but neither is compatible with Fire tablets, so it’s not a great plan for most Fire users.
Bottom Line:
TotalAV provides excellent anti-malware protection, a secure VPN, and good web protection tools. The scanner detected 99% of the malware samples I added to my Fire and the web protection blocked most of the phishing websites I visited on my Fire tablet. TotalAV also provides a really good VPN that lets you stream high-quality video from a worldwide server network without slowdown. All of TotalAV’s plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
🥈 2. ESET — Best Additional Features for Amazon Fire
ESET Mobile Security provides excellent malware detection, anti-phishing protection, and more. I really like the comprehensive security auditing tool — it looks at device settings and permissions, alerting you to anything suspicious (such as apps that can monitor your chats or access your personally identifiable information).
ESET’s malware scanner uses a cloud-based scanning engine and machine learning to protect your device from malware with both an on-demand scanner and real-time protection. During my testing, it found 98% of my Android and Fire-specific malware samples, including trojans, ransomware, and spyware.
I like the Security Audit tool, as it’s more customizable than most. It checks app permissions to make sure you aren’t sharing more information or control than necessary with third-party applications. You can use it to get a simple list of your apps that record videos, read messages, and make purchases. There’s also a Device Monitoring page that alerts you to apps that come from unknown sources or have debug mode enabled (which is potentially dangerous).
ESET Mobile Security offers some great extra features, too, such as:
- Anti-theft tools.
- Phishing protection.
- Payment protection.
- Network inspection tool.
Unfortunately, Fire devices don’t come with GPS capabilities, so anti-theft measures cannot work fully. Despite this, I was still able to see screenshots showing my device’s activity and send a message to it, such as “If found, please call me on: +1XXXXXX”.
The Network Inspector worked well, too, and I could see a list of all devices connected to my Wi-Fi network and whether or not they had any vulnerabilities. Honestly, my only complaint about ESET is that it doesn’t provide data breach protection like TotalAV does. ESET does provide a separate VPN app for Android, but I couldn’t find it on the Amazon App Store, so it’s unlikely that Fire users will be able to use it.
ESET offers both free and premium plans. The free plan only offers ESET’s on-demand virus scanner, while the ESET Mobile Security plan includes every feature listed above for as little as $12.99 / year. I think it’s worth choosing the paid plan for the network inspection tool alone — it’s a great way to keep your Amazon Fire safe from exploit attacks.
Bottom Line:
ESET offers reliable malware protection, security auditing tools, anti-theft tools, and a secure payment protection feature. While the anti-theft tools don’t fully work on Fire, ESET’s still a great option for users looking to protect themselves from exploit attacks, and it’s only $12.99 / year. ESET offers a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to test its premium product.
🥉 3. Dr.Web Anti-Virus — Best Budget Option for FireOS
Dr.Web Anti-Virus provides good malware protection and security auditing. The malware scanner took 15 minutes to complete (much longer than ESET or TotalAV), but it detected 94% of the malware samples I downloaded onto my Fire tablet.
Dr.Web Anti-Virus has:
- On-demand malware scanner.
- URL filter.
- Anti-theft tools.
- Secure firewall.
- Security audit tool.
The secure firewall allowed me to control which apps could access the internet. I blocked internet access to some bloatware apps that come preinstalled on Fire devices and noticed a slight performance improvement on my tablet, which was pretty cool
The scanner is good at finding and dealing with questionable files. It’s also customizable — you can choose whether to scan your whole device or specific folders or files. It can even scan files as you transfer them onto your Fire from your laptop or other device.
There’s also a security audit tool that alerts you if any of your apps have higher permissions that allow them to bypass Dr.Web’s filters. It can detect hidden applications with administrative permissions and vulnerable settings, too, but it’s not as feature-rich as ESET’s security auditing tool.
However, lots of Dr.Web features don’t work on Fire devices. The anti-theft tools, for example, let you monitor your tablet remotely but can’t be used to track its location (although, to be fair, that’s not Dr.Web’s fault: Amazon Fire tablets simply don’t come with GPS tracking). It’s also disappointing that you can’t manage your protections from a web-based dashboard (TotalAV lets you do this easily).
My favorite thing about Dr.Web is that you can buy it as a one-time purchase — there’s no subscription required. The full version of Dr.Web gets you the firewall, security auditing tool, and more. It costs $13.65 / year for 1 year or $42.22 as a one-time purchase. You can choose to protect 1 or 5 devices. There’s a 14-day free trial of Dr.Web’s Android version that you can use to test it before committing to the paid plan.
Bottom Line:
Dr.Web Anti-Virus has a pretty good malware scanner, firewall, and security audit tool, but it doesn’t include a web-based dashboard or extras like a VPN. Still, it’s a pretty great low-cost option, and I love that it’s available as a lifetime purchase. Unfortunately, Dr.Web only offers a 48-hour money-back policy, and it doesn’t guarantee users a refund. That said, there’s a 14-day free trial of Dr.Web’s mobile version.
Quick Comparison Table
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
To determine the best antivirus software for Fire Tablets in 2024, I implemented our tried and tested methodology — assessing each product’s malware detection capabilities, user interface, web security features, and overall value. Here’s a detailed look at the criteria used to evaluate and rank the antivirus solutions for optimal protection and usability on Fire OS devices.
- I tested malware detection technologies. I evaluated the effectiveness of different antivirus software in detecting a wide range of malware threats, including trojans, rootkits, worms, ransomware, keyloggers, and zero-day attacks. I specifically looked at solutions that use advanced technologies like cloud-based scanning, heuristic analysis, and machine learning. For instance, TotalAV’s cloud-based engine and heuristic analysis were tested, along with ESET’s combination of cloud scanning and machine learning capabilities.
- I examined internet security features. Given the vulnerabilities while browsing on Fire OS’s Silk browser, I tested the effectiveness of each antivirus’s web protection tools. This included evaluating secure search features, anti-phishing protections, and URL filters. Solutions such as TotalAV’s secure search, ESET’s anti-phishing, and Dr.Web’s URL filter were scrutinized to ensure they offer superior protection compared to Amazon Silk’s default security settings.
- I assessed value for money. When searching for an antivirus solution, it’s essential to seek out a good range of features on a monthly or annual plan. It’s a bonus if the antivirus comes with a free trial or a money-back guarantee, so you can take it for a spin without any strings attached. Lifetime subscriptions, like the one Dr.Web offers, also got bonus points from me.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- Bitdefender. Bitdefender is a great Android antivirus that has a 100% malware detection rate, provides excellent web protection, and offers a wide range of useful features like system optimization tools, parental controls, and a VPN. That said, it doesn’t offer an app that works with Amazon Fire.
- Malwarebytes. Malwarebytes is another antivirus tool that’s been removed from the Amazon App Store and is no longer supported. You might be able to find a download of it online, but it won’t be updated regularly and won’t keep you safe from the latest security threats.
- Norton. Norton is one of my favorite Android antiviruses. It includes a ton of good protections, such as excellent malware scanning, an app advisor, password manager, and really good Wi-Fi security. However, Norton doesn’t have a Fire app at this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get viruses on Fire devices?
There are many malware files that can affect Fire tablets, including ransomware, adware, and fleeceware. While you’re not likely to accidentally download any viruses or malware from the official Amazon App Store, Fires do allow you to install applications from unknown sources — meaning shady developers can create malicious apps that target Fire OS-based devices.
There’s also a possibility of accidentally downloading malware on your Fire that can attack more vulnerable operating systems like Windows and Mac. That’s why it’s super important you download and install a Fire-compatible antivirus program, such as TotalAV.
How to tell if your Fire has a virus?
Is your Fire running slowly, displaying pop-up ads, or crashing frequently? Then chances are you have malware installed on your device. You should also look out for applications you don’t recognize that have mysteriously appeared on your home screen, as well as unusual toolbars or favorites in your browser.
However, the best way to know whether or not your Fire has a virus is to run a system scan on your tablet using a comprehensive and reliable antivirus suite such as TotalAV.
How to remove the FBI virus from Fire devices?
You need to scan your tablet using one of our top antivirus apps for Amazon Fire if you’re receiving constant pop-ups with fake FBI warnings. Doing this will find whatever application or malicious file on your tablet is causing the warnings and remove it.
If the virus scan fails, you can try factory resetting your device. However, doing this will remove all of your files and apps — so only use this method as a last resort. Before attempting a factory reset, try to back up any important files on your Amazon Fire.
Once your tablet is restored, you should install an antivirus app like TotalAV, so your tablet doesn’t get reinfected.
Can I run Google Play antivirus apps on my Fire?
Yes, you can run Google Play apps on Fire, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Many of the top Android antiviruses (including Norton) have made it clear they don’t support FireOS.
In my testing, I experienced frequent crashes, slower performance, and unreliable malware scanning results when sideloading Android antivirus apps. Your best option is to pick an antivirus with native Fire support.
Do you need an antivirus for Amazon Fire tablets?
I recommend getting an antivirus to protect your Fire tablet. The biggest reason is to protect yourself from phishing attempts. Though there are far fewer viruses out there aimed at Fire devices, this doesn’t mean they’re 100% safe. Given that FireOS is very similar to Android, malware aimed at smartphones can still infect Fires.
There’s a lot more to staying safe online than simply avoiding viruses. I’d argue that the bigger threat these days is phishing. Any device that can access the internet is susceptible to phishing attempts, a type of attack that can steal your accounts and personal information. The antiviruses on this list are affordable and come with effective protection against phishing attempts and viruses alike.
How to run virus scans on Fire tablets?
Running a virus scan on Fire tablets is easy. First, pick a Fire tablet-compatible antivirus and purchase a plan. I recommend TotalAV, which has a number of excellent security features, including near-perfect malware detection rates, a secure VPN, and really good web protections. However, ESET is a good choice too.
Once you’ve purchased a subscription, run the installation wizard on your tablet to set it up. In some cases, you’ll have to reach out to customer support to get a version of the antivirus that can run on Amazon Fire (usually in the form of an .APK file). Either way, once the installation is over, look for the option that lets you initiate a full scan of your tablet. During this scan, your antivirus will search for and quarantine any malicious files on your Fire tablet.
