Android viruses and malware are rare, but they do happen. So, if you’re concerned that your phone may have a virus, then read on because we’ll be explaining how to remove a virus from an Android phone in detail and how you can protect yourself from future attacks.
In this article, you will learn how to remove a virus or a malicious app from Android, how to tell if your Android has a virus and how malware damages your phone if you don't remove it.
Is your phone playing up? It may be because you have downloaded a malicious app.
You can quickly identify and remove any malicious apps with Kaspersky Internet Security for Android. There is a manual method, but this can be tricky and time consuming to do if you don’t know how to do it correctly.
If you want to try, here’s how to remove a malicious app from your Android phone manually:
This stops all third-party apps from running. If your phone stops behaving strangely in safe mode, you can assume the problem was due to a malicious or malfunctioning app.
Choose ‘manage apps’ in settings and look at the apps you have downloaded. If any seem suspicious or you do not recall downloading them, these could be malicious.
Simply select the app you suspect may be malicious and tap ‘uninstall’. If the button is greyed out, revoke device admin access in ‘device admins’ within ‘security’. Then you can uninstall.
People commonly use the terms ‘malware’ and ‘virus’ interchangeably, but viruses are actually a subset of malware. When a computer is infected with a virus, the virus replicates itself within that PC. This basically means that it copies itself and spreads throughout the computer system, causing harm, destroying data, and potentially corrupting the PC itself.
When it comes to Android devices, we have not seen malware which replicates itself on smartphones as we’ve seen on computers.
However, Android malware does exist, and it comes in many different forms. For example, spyware and mobile ransomware are two major types of malware. What’s the difference? Well, spyware steals your personal data from third parties. Whereas, mobile ransomware blocks your devices or encrypts the data, demanding a ransom to decrypt them.
To easily protect yourself and your devices Kaspersky Internet Security for Android can protect your phone from all sorts of Android malware. Plus, it also detects and removes malware if your phone is already infected.
So how does Android malware infect your phone? Here are the three mains ways malware can make it onto your mobile:
There are a number of signs that may indicate your Android phone has been infected by malware. Let’s explore each red flag individually:
Spotted an app on your phone you have no memory of installing? The appearance of unfamiliar apps may be a sign of malware. Uninstall any app you do not recognize.
If apps on your phone crash often and for no clear reason, your phone may have been attacked by malware.
Noticed a strange increase in your data usage? If you are not using your phone any differently, this may be caused by malware.
Some bits of malware may rack up bills by sending messages. An unexpectedly large bill may be a sign of malware.
Pop-ups and ads are a pain at the best of times. If you are seeing pop-ups when your browser is closed, your phone may be infected.
Malware can drain your battery. A phone that keeps dying on you may indicate malware.
Is your phone overheating? Malware activity may also make your phone heat up more than usual.
Now you understand how to spot and remove malware from your Android phone, but how can you prevent your phone from being infected with malware in the first place?
Here are some key ways to keep your phone virus free:
Protect your phone with our Android Internet Security software. There is a free, basic version which offers protection or a premium version with more advanced security features for the ultimate and more secure protection.
Downloading apps from a trusted source means you are less likely to download malware than if you use untrusted sites.
Although rare, malware infected apps may slip through the net on Google Play Store. For this reason, always read about the developer in the description.
Always read app reviews from other users. Be suspicious of rave reviews as they may not be real. Real reviews tend to highlight both pros and cons.
Apps with millions of downloads are less likely to be malware.
Do the permissions the app is requesting seem reasonable for the function of the app? If what is being suspected sounds suspicious, do not download the app, or remove it if you’ve already installed it.
Make sure you mark all spam emails and messages as junk and do not open them. If you accidentally open a spam email, do not click on the links inside.
Updating your operating system regularly means your phone is protected by Android’s latest security updates.
Updating all your apps regularly will help to patch security updates found in the app and android itself.
Avoid online shopping and banking within public networks.
If you must use free Wi-Fi use a VPN connection like Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection. This protects your connection by encrypting your data.
Malware can wreak havoc with your mobile. It can make apps crash and cause your phone to overheat. And, perhaps more alarmingly, Android viruses can cost you money and personal data.
Left unchecked, malware can subscribe phones to scam premium services, sending them messages and racking up huge bills.
Malware can also collect personal data such as banking information and use this to steal your money. It can even send hackers recordings of your private phone calls for the purposes of blackmail.
For these reasons, taking steps to protect your phone against malware is crucial. Follow our phone safety tips to avoid Android malware and download our Internet Security for Android to know you are protected.
Worried your Android phone has a virus? Remove malware today withKaspersky Antivirus for Android.