With the prevalence of malware, every smartphone user needs to know how to keep their device protected. With information, documents, photos, and videos, we keep in our phone, it is essential to make sure you don’t lose your data to malware, or device corruption.
Even malware is widespread, people either tend to ignore or have less knowledge about the subject. Let alone know how to tell if your phone has malware or what to do if your phone has malware on it. Usually, by the time you get to know your device is compromised, your contacts, passwords, photos and other important documents are exposed.
In this post, we will let you know how to check your smartphone for malware with detailed steps to how to deal if your phone has a malware.
What Can Malware Do On Your Phone?
Mostly, malware is sent to your phone with the motto to get money. Malware can hide in your phone and steal your information and send it to hackers. It could install adware which could make you download apps or view web pages. With malware on your device, hackers can take control of your smartphones and get your information to abuse it or sell it on the dark web.
Signs That You Need To See If Your Phone Has A Malware Attack
1. Your Device or Apps Acting Funny
If your apps start crashing on you and system doesn’t respond the way it should be, then it could be a sign of malware. Error messages, closing apps, and other strange activities might be the signs to look for. All of this could be due to malicious code interfering the processes running in the background.
If malware has taken control over your system or app, it can access permissions that you have provided to the app. You can notice these signs. Another sign could be a heated phone, battery drainage, difficulties in making calls, messages caused by malware sneaked into your smartphone.
If you are experiencing above-mentioned things, then you must need to know what to do:
- Always make sure you install an app from Google Play Store or App Store.
- Check the app permissions & make sure you haven’t allowed access to the things that you don’t want.
- Uninstall apps you don’t want.
2. Calls & SMS With Unknown Numbers
Getting random calls from international numbers could be a sign of malware sending messages or making calls. This type of malware is usually identified under Android/TrojanSMS family which is spreading rapidly.
Now that you doubt that you have Android/TrojanSMS family kind malware, then follow these steps:
- Keep an eye on unknown numbers in your SMS and call history list.
- Don’t download apps from unofficial sources
3. Difference In Data Usage Pattern
To know if your phone is a malware, check the data usage. In case, you notice an excessive amount of data used on your device, there can be a possibility of malware on your phone. Malicious content or app could be using your data plan to send or receive information to hackers controlling it.
To control the data usage, you either change the Cellular Data Usage settings or you can get an app, Check Data Usage. You can set the data plan and optimize your internet plan usage. The tool can also remove cache and optimize your RAM. The app monitors mobile and Wi-Fi usage and saves money.
4. Sudden Pop-ups
If you are getting pop-ups and notifications out of nowhere, along with unwanted warnings that freezes up on your system, then your phone might have malware. Also, look for unknown bookmarks, website shortcuts, and spam messages.
These pop-ups can slow your device’s RAM and notifications can bring in malware on your phone.
5. Unwanted Apps
Look for illicit and clone apps installed on your smartphone and uninstall them. These apps could carry trojan or could bring more malware onto your phone. Make sure you remove the files related to the app as well.
Now that you have reached a conclusion that your phone has been infected, let’s know what to do if you have malware on phone.
What To Do If Your Smartphone Has Malware?
You can follow these steps to help prevent further loss:
- Switch Off Your Phone And Restart In Safe Mode:
Press and hold the Power button. You will get Power off option on the screen. Hold Power off button and your device will restart in Safe mode. Once your device restarts, you will see Safe mode at the bottom of the screen.
- Uninstall Malicious Or Misbehaving App:
If you spot any apps installed on your phone suspicious, you need to uninstall it by holding & dragging it. This will not undo the damage but will further stop it.
- Check Your Installed Apps To Know They Are Infected:
If your phone has malware, there might be a chance that it could have infected your installed apps. Uninstall or delete all the infected apps.
- Use An Antimalware App
Install an antimalware app such as Systweak Anti-Malware to protect your device from malware. If your device is infected, install the app and scan your device. The app comes with advanced algorithms that can detect & protect from every type of malicious things. It frequently updates a database to make sure your device is always secured.
Note: This app has been discontinued.
How To Protect Your Device From Malware In Future?
To prevent malware to attack your device, you need to use a proactive approach to protect your data and your device:
- Backup your data on a regular basis.
- Update your smartphone’s operating system and apps to the latest versions.
- Download apps from the official app store or play store.
- Put a screen lock or a password which is hard to decrypt.
- Don’t jailbreak or root your device.
- Encrypt your data.
So, in this way, you can know whether your phone has malware on it. If the checklist points towards having malware on your smartphone, then you can follow the steps and keep your device protected.
Did it help you to determine whether your phone has malware, please share your experience in the comments section below.