Updated on: April 25, 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. FireOS, the system that powers Amazon tablets, is a solid operating system with some good built-in protections — but 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. I was sad to find a lot of products, even from top brands like Norton, didn’t work — but I found some 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 antivirus for Amazon Fire in 2024:
- 🥇 1. TotalAV — Best overall antivirus for Kindle Fire 2024 (comes with top-notch anti-phishing features).
- 🥈 2. ESET — Good protections with lots of extra features, including a useful anti-theft tool.
- 🥉 3. Dr.Web Anti-Virus — Best budget option for Fire thanks to the lifetime subscription option.
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 Kindle 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 40 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 160 server locations around the world.
I also like TotalAV’s web protections that stop you from accessing phishing websites. I tried visiting hundreds of phishing websites on my Fire, and TotalAV blocked more dangerous sites than the default protections on Amazon Silk.
TotalAV has 3 plans that can protect FireOS devices. There’s Antivirus Pro ($19.00 / year), which protects 3 devices but lacks VPN protection, Internet Security ($39.00 / year) which protects 5 devices and adds the VPN, and Total Security ($49.00 / year), which protects up to 6 devices. I recommend Internet Security, as it provides all of TotalAV’s best features including the VPN and anti-phishing protection. 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 more phishing websites than Amazon Silk’s default protections. 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 Kindle 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 video, 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 for anti-theft measures to work fully. Despite this, I was still able to see screenshots showing my device’s activity and send a message to my device such as “If found, please call me on: +1XXXXXXXX”.
The network inspector worked well, too, and I was able to 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 a VPN or data breach protection like TotalAV does.
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 $11.17 / 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 $11.17 / year. While ESET doesn’t offer any free trials, it does come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
🥉 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 what apps could use 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’s even able to 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. 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 ull version of Dr.Web gets you the firewall, security auditing tool, and more. It costs $36.02 / year for 1 year or $42.49 as a one-time purchase. You can choose to protect 1 or 5 devices.
Bottom Line:
Dr.Web Anti-Virus has a pretty good malware scanner, firewall, and security audit tool, but the rest of its features are rather disappointing. For example, it doesn’t include a web-based dashboard. 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.
Quick Comparison Table
How to Choose the Best Antivirus for Fire Tablets in 2024:
- Think about malware detection. Pick scanners that employ cloud-based scanning, heuristic analysis, or artificial intelligence. They have the ability to reliably identify malware such as trojans, rootkits, worms, ransomware, keyloggers, and even zero-day assaults. TotalAV, for example, has a cloud-based engine and heuristic analysis, while ESET merges cloud-based scanning with machine learning.
- Find an app with a user-friendly apps. Opt for an antivirus with a straightforward UI, swift load times, and great customization. From my experience, TotalAV stands out as you can access most of its features with a single tap.
- Prioritize internet security. Fire OS’s Silk web browser is pretty secure, but dangerous websites are still a huge problem for Fire users. All of my top choices offer more web protection than Amazon Silk’s default protections. TotalAV includes a trustworthy secure search feature, ESET offers anti-phishing protection, and Dr.Web has a URL filter.
- Make sure it’s a good 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.
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 therefore 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 of knowing 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, and doing so will allow you to access the best antiviruses for Android. However, 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 like TotalAV 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, download and install an antivirus app from the Amazon App Store. 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 installed your chosen antivirus, look for the option that lets you initiate a full scan of your tablet. If you run this scan, your antivirus will scan for and quarantine any malicious files on your Fire tablet. You can go through the files one by one, removing any malware or whitelisting any false positives.
