How to Tell if your Smartphone has a Virus or Malware?

Mobile phones are gradually becoming today’s mobile office making it expedient to understand how to see if your phone has a virus. Phones contain vital personal information and official details too precious to allow a virus attack to ruin.

Phone virus attacks could be deadly leading to the loss of critical work or personal information. Two-thirds of internet connectivity today is phone-based. Available reports on mobile device internet usage indicate a 185% increase in virus attacks via mobile devices.

Hackers specialized in the creation of Apps, and other malware that can infect phones with a virus is on the increase.

I have been a victim of malicious software and other phone virus attacks I must tell you it almost ruined me. So, here is an interesting article on how to see if your phone has a virus and urgent steps to remedy the problem.

How a virus-infected phone puts you at risk

Vital personal information could be accessed by someone else.
Due to the ‘Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)’ practice, company files and documents are prone to or susceptible cyber-crimes without advanced cybersecurity.
Cybercriminals are known to execute financial crimes after gaining access to people’s personal or company’s bank account.
Cyber fraudsters can install unwanted Apps on people’s mobile devices using a virus or malicious App.
Installed apps by virus attackers create background activities that can drain your battery faster.
It becomes easier for an external party to keep a tab of your activity and maybe chats and conversations.

How to see if your phone has a virus

Unwanted Apps downloads

There are so many legitimate reasons for which app manufacturers give free apps. But when you discover apps in your phone not downloaded by you, it sometimes is a Trojan horse. Trojan horses always look legitimate.

It is safer to uninstall an App on your phone not downloaded or installed by you. Once you click on the app, it can start replicating itself to other parts of your mobile device for better access.

Uncoordinated emailing activities

Another evidence of phishing or malware activity on your mobile device is when your phone starts sending messages on your behalf. Phishing, malware, ransomware and Trojan horses can infiltrate your emails and SMS sending messages on your behalf.

If you want t best ransomware protection and solution, then, we recommend a Ransomware Defender.

Unfamiliar Activities

If when you open a particular app, and you discover your phone starts having issues then it is likely the particular app is virus infected. When you click on that particular app, does it redirect you to another page or tries opening a website without your permission? If that happens, it is possibly a virus action. Your best bet is to uninstall that app.

Data consumption

Virus creators merge viruses into apps and then it installs in your phones. It becomes more tricky to notice them early enough. The virus spreads to other background functions in your phones and starts eating up your internet data very fast.

So, is your data running out pretty fast even when not in use? Then you might just be another victim of a phone virus.

Unsolicited Ads and Pop-ups

A lot of websites make use of pop-ups to give special offers and advertising messages. In some cases, the ads or pop-ups attach themselves to your push notification bar. When you swipe to unlock your phones, the Ad message then pops-up suddenly.

Are you experiencing an influx of ads, notifications, and pop-ups with special offers? Then check for virus activities. Also, avoid clicking those links, they are most likely viruses and will make your device go crazy the more.

App Interruptions

Do you experience sudden shutdown or closure of a commonly used app while in use? Well, that could just be another sign of virus or malware infection. Sometimes a virus takes over some of the basic functions of your phone. So in the course of operations, the virus can interfere with other app functions causing them to crash or shut down abruptly.

Faster battery consumption

Your phone runs a lot of activities at the same time. The entire phone mechanism both software and hardware depend on the battery to keep working. The more functions you have running at the same time, the more battery consumption it will require. If a hidden malicious code or virus caused your phone to run several applications at the same time, it would drain your battery faster.

Malfunctioning Screen Pad

As most mobile devices today use screen-pads, it becomes more crucial to guard against virus attacks due to it working by screen-touch. Virus attacks can result in the malfunctioning of your phone’s operating systems and other apps.

Once the virus affects the O.S, it is impossible to click on an icon, dial out or compose SMS for sending due to sensitivity to interference.

Quick and easy steps to eliminate the virus from your mobile device

First, change your phone status to safe mode. To do that, hold the power button for long and then click safe mode once it appears. If you can’t locate it, ask Google for help on how to put your model of phone to safe mode.
Next, go to phone settings and click on Apps or Application Manager.
Once you see any suspicious app click uninstall to remove the app.
If the app refuses to uninstall or is dull in color, then the app has administrator status. Close apps.
Go to Phone Settings > then Security > then Device Administrator and look for the malicious app.
Once you spot the malicious app, then uncheck the button or box by the side of the app.
Next click Deactivate.
Go back to the apps menu and uninstall the app. It’s done, complete!
Restart your device to leave safe mode now.

Tips to safeguard your phone from virus attack

After removing the virus or malicious app from your mobile device, it is best to back up your files.

Make sure to install an Android Anti-virus like McAfee to avoid future occurrences. Also, have a look at the Ransomware Defender and Android device protection solutions by ShieldApps.
For your own security, always be observant of mailing activities on your mobile device to guard against auto-sent e-mails.
Do not click any link from an unsolicited e-mail requesting passwords, Pin and other security details to avoid being scammed.
Also, ensure to update your phone software regularly to reduce third party access to phone operations. Most phone applications usually have more reliable updates that can save you from virus actions.
Deal with phone virus issues with all urgency as it will not go away just like that!
Besides virus activity, it is best to close all applications and functions not in-use in your phone to save battery.
Never grant any app administrator status on your mobile device, it becomes more challenging to eliminate later.

Conclusion

A malicious virus in phones has become more popular now than ever. You should be more watchful and guard against cyber fraud. Several options exist to protect your mobile devices and vital information from cybercriminals. But as you keep trying, hackers and virus developers are always working hard to subvert your effort, be alert!