The number of free Android apps that seem to be infected with some or the other malware has increased to 50+.

The names of these apps would give out their malicious nature, but many a times innocent looking games or apps like chess or quick notes would also be infected with malware.

The danger here is that users won’t think twice before they download and install them on their Android.

Below are 5 tips that would allow you to protect your Android and keep it malware free:

1. Best thing is to research the vendor or publisher who is providing the application. Try to find out more information about them and check the other applications or games under their belt. If the name seems unfamiliar and at times shady, it is best to probably stay away from such apps.

2. Reviews would definitely be another way of checking out the authenticity of the application. The reviews in the Android Market might not always serve the purpose, and so users are advised to check the online reviews before they download and install new apps on their Android.

3. While installation, Android displays the list of permissions that the application needs to be granted before the installation can proceed. If the application is a game, then it shouldn’t definitely be asking permissions for contacts of instant messages. The permissions should give an indication about the application. If too many permissions are needed which aren’t relevant, the user should definitely skip the installation.

4. Another best bet would be to stay away from directly installing the package files i.e. APKs onto the Android. Coming across APKs is often called sideloading. Normally such package files would contain malware that have been introduced by malicious hackers and left loose on the internet for users to install.

5. Finally, an antivirus (for example free AVG antivirus) or a malware scanner for the phone is not a bad option. This concept is still new, but many vendors have shown promising results and with malware on the phones on a rise, it is better to pick up a good malware protection solution before it is too late.