| Did you know?
● According to a whitepaper, Android devices were responsible for 47.15% of the observed malware infections, Windows/ PCs for 35.82%, IoT for 16.17% & iPhones for less than 1%. ● Over time, Banking malware threats on Android have increased by 80%. ● Android devices are 50X more vulnerable to malware infections than iOS. ● Some cybercriminals are paying a monthly fee of $5,000 to rent apps that steal credentials and other personal data. ● As of Q1 of 2022, popular security solutions blocked 6,463,414 mobile malware, adware, and riskware attacks. |
I never took phone viruses seriously, until I started experiencing strange behavior on my Android device. Recently I received a new smartphone as a gift from my parents. I quickly set it up and started downloading my favorite applications. However, after a couple of days, I noticed my phone was behaving oddly.
The device’s battery was draining much faster than usual.
My phone was getting hot even when I wasn’t even using it.
I even noticed some apps were crashing abruptly and displaying strange messages.
I started observing pop-up ads everywhere I was navigating.
I knew something was wrong, but I wasn’t sure what to do. That’s when I started researching phones infected with viruses and how to know if your phone has viruses.
Firstly, I learned about various signs and symptoms that indicate that your phone might be infected with a virus and other vulnerabilities. This includes:
How To Tell If Your Phone Has Viruses | Signs & Symptoms
Few signs that may indicate that your Android device has a virus:
- A virus may cause your smartphone’s battery to drain faster than normal. This happens because threats running in the background constantly use phone.
- Your device starts running slower than ever before. Having a virus or malware can impact your phone’s performance as it consumes a lot of your phone’s memory or processing power.
- Pop-up ads appear everywhere on your phone’s screen. You may see some unwanted messages while using any and every application on your smartphone.
- You may witness unusual behavior and actions on your phone, such as sending text messages or making calls on its own.
- Having a virus on your device can lead to unexplainable data usage. This happens because a security loophole can use your phone’s data plan to send information to a third party.
- If your phone is overheating or feels hotter than usual(until and unless you’re enjoying a high-end gaming session) it could be a sign of a virus.
- In case some applications are crashing or behaving abruptly, it could be due to an Android virus.
- If you observe any new apps you don’t remember installing on your device, it could be a sign of a virus lurking on your phone.
- Unknown charges are added to your phone bill. Several malicious applications can make money by using your device to send text messages or phone calls.
- Your contacts may receive strange messages. Cyber attackers may use your device to send spam texts and your contact list may get targeted.
In a nutshell, if you suspect any of the signs or a blend of symptoms mentioned above, it might be because your phone is infected with a virus. If that’s the case, it needs to be fixed as soon as possible!
How Do Phones Get Viruses?
Some of the most common ways through which smartphones get viruses to include:
- Tapping on links or downloading attachments from unofficial and unverified sources.
- Click on unknown advertisements that may take you to an unsecured web page or download malicious apps.
- Browsing suspicious websites often shows security warnings.
- Downloading applications from unofficial sources, rather than Google Play Store.
- Connecting your device to an unsecured network through Public WiFi.
How To Remove Viruses On Android Devices | Tips To Improve Malware Protection
Honestly, I tried everything I could think of to fix these common issues, including restarting the device and deleting certain applications. However, nothing seemed to work! After searching for hours, I came to know about the following solutions that can help to remove viruses on my phone.
- Firstly, you need to switch your smartphone to Airplane Mode. This will prevent malicious apps from sending and receiving data.
- Secondly, check the list of recently installed apps. If you find any unknown applications residing on your device, delete them immediately.
- Consider activating the Google Play Protect feature on your Google Play Store. The functionality will monitor all the installed apps on your device for unusual behavior, so that you may know which app may have a presence of a malware infection or virus.
- Keep your device up-to-date. Make sure you always agree to all the operating system updates that appear. In case you’re not able to update your device, this is what you need to do.
- Best practice suggests that no matter what type of device you have, you should consider installing a third-party smartphone cleaner and antivirus application. Smart Phone Cleaner is our recommended choice. It is available for both Android and iPhone devices.
The app carries out a comprehensive scan on your handset and clears the browsing history, caches, temp files, malicious files, viruses & other threats that may hamper your device’s performance and functionality.
To know more about this application, check out the official play store page!
- Watch what you click. Malware infections often start with a tap on your phone. Several security experts recommend users be careful with every link they click and avoid being a victim of a phishing attack.
- Delete sensitive texts and other private information to protect them from going into the wrong hands. If you’re struggling to delete some files from your device, try these fixes!
- Create complex passwords for all your accounts. You can also consider protecting your credentials and other data using a password manager application like TweakPass. It uses robust encryption algorithms so that you only have access to your information.
- Don’t give apps all the permissions it asks for. Minimizing an application’s access to your information keeps you safer.
- Avoid rooting your device. When your smartphone is rooted, you’re vulnerable to potential loopholes that may open the doorway to dangers.
- The last resort is to reset your Android phone to its factory settings. This will completely erase all the content and settings and will eliminate all the potential risks that may infect your phone with viruses and other threats. Hence, make sure you proceed at your own risk!
You might want to read:
Why Is It Essential To Remove Virus From Your Device?
Several reasons pushed me to remove viruses on my phone.
- To keep my personal information like login credentials, financial details, and other confidential data protected, that can otherwise be shared with third parties.
- To prevent further damage. Viruses can corrupt files and even cause the entire operating system to crash.
- To restore the device’s performance. Traces of virus are often responsible for draining the battery and hampering overall functionality.
- To stop unauthorized access. Malware or virus attacks may allow hackers to control your smartphone remotely.
- To avoid the spread of viruses to other devices, which can be easily circulated via email, messaging apps, or Bluetooth.
In summary, removing a virus from your device is essential to protect your personal information, prevent further damage, restore original performance, stop unauthorized access, and avoid spreading the virus.
Take phone viruses seriously, because they can definitely cause your harm and won’t go away on their own. Hence, it’s essential to maintain Android security in the wild world of cybercrime.
MUST READ:
Best Security Apps For Android- Free Antivirus For Android
How to Make Android Phone Faster
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