How to remove a virus from an Android phone?
In the past, the phone was only used for calling and texting. It was simple and did not have access to the network. Its user could rest assured that no viruses would appear. However, when SD cards began to be used in more modern devices and the Internet became widespread, this changed. Nowadays, a phone is just as vulnerable to viruses as a computer. But how to remove a virus from your phone?
Now the phone has little in common with what we had available at the beginning. Today it is more of a mobile computer, where you can check your mail, browse files, watch videos, listen to music, etc. What follows is that the phone is exposed to similar threats as a computer. When you have a virus on your computer, you should reach for antivirus software. Can a virus on the phone also be removed with an antivirus?
How the virus gets into the phone?
The most common cause of malware infection is that in the case of Android phones, the virus is downloaded along with the apps. And these, let's not hide, in every device there are some. For this reason, it is recommended to download applications via Google Play. This is not ideal, as a virus can also appear on the phone this way. However, Google systematically checks applications to eliminate this to the highest possible degree.
Different viruses mean different symptoms
Before we can be sure that the phone's problems are due to a virus, we need to be sure that the device actually has some malware. A virus in a phone having Android can give other symptoms. We can encounter various forms of them. However, the most common are:
1. Spyware that collects sensitive data about us. Unfortunately, it's hard to see that someone has access to the files, because the viruses pretend to be a legitimate application.
2. Ransomware is one extremely harmful type of malware that encrypts and locks files. This is often how ransoms are extorted to unlock them.
3. Worms get into the phone through messages or links. You don't even have to consciously download the application. We may not even know that worms are just duplicating information.
4. Trojans, on the other hand, install themselves along with the application. A characteristic symptom can be that some applications permanently or periodically stop working, or the phone locks up.
How to check if I have a virus on my phone?
This is not always easy, just look at how some software can hide its operation. However, there are a few symptoms that should increase vigilance. An example is the repeated crashing of applications that previously worked flawlessly. The same sudden higher data consumption or frequent ads. A symptom can also be the almost immediate battery drain and an extremely high phone bill. Viruses are often one of the most important causes of phone overheating.
I have a virus and what to do next?
Since the virus is there, you need to get rid of it, but how to remove a virus from an Android phone? We have as many as several solutions at our disposal. It will certainly be helpful to restore factory settings. However, you have to take into account that all data will be deleted, so it is better to make backups. You can also do otherwise. Simply switch the phone to safe or emergency mode. Third-party software won't work then, so the malware will also stop running. Then you need to verify what applications are installed on the phone. Although it is impossible to verify which app is malicious, just look at which is unknown or foreign. If, on the other hand, the app cannot be uninstalled, it may be a signal that the virus has administrator privileges.
If you are dealing with extremely stubborn and malicious software, then you should reach for a professional solution, which is to install an antivirus program.
Install an antivirus
Since the phone has more in common with a computer than the old phone, as with a computer, it is worth thinking about an antivirus. The most common is to reach for free apps, but they are not always fully effective and will not always be able to protect our device from all threats. In many cases, it is worth considering whether to go for more effective paid antivirus software.
