How to know if your phone or tablet has a virus: How to check phone for virus
These days, smartphones and tablets are just as vulnerable as normal computers, and malware is often used to subvert your private accounts. This post will tell you if your phone or tablet has a virus. Kim Komando
Long before ransomware and large-scale hacks became everyday problems, viruses were creeping on our desktops and infecting our screens. Somewhere in the world, there is a cynical coder with an ax to grind or bills to pay who can not wait to ruin your day.
Android virus, How to check phone for virus |
Laziness now could wreak havoc on your smartphone or tablet, plus all the networks it's connected to. The longer you have the malware, the more you will try to manipulate your applications and data as well as steal from you.
Be proactive.There are simple steps to make sure your smartphone is safe from hackers.
The most dangerous situation is when the device is infected, and you do not even realise it. Malware is not advertised. It works as secretly as possible so that you overlook the damage it is causing.
A commonly held belief is that Apple phones and tablets never get malware. But the devices are not impervious to infections and scammers.
Symptoms of an infected device
• Data Usage: The first sign that your phone has a virus is the rapid exhaustion of your data. That's because the virus is trying to run a lot of background tasks and communicate with the Internet. If you do not have an unlimited data plan, this could also cost you money. You may have to buy additional data to keep up with all that wasted processing. Essentially, you're paying for the malware to ruin your device and wreak havoc on it.
• Crashing apps: There you are, playing Angry Birds on your phone, and suddenly it crashes. That's weird. It never used to happen. After the game is blocked a few more times, you start to suspect poultry, play dirty. Most viruses disrupt their normal operations, and it is common for their favourite applications to fail without explanation. Be sure to update all your applications to avoid viral interference.
• Pop-ups: Many websites have pop-up ads. But if you start seeing pop-ups all the time, especially for products or services that look suspicious, you may want to check for a virus. Whatever you do, do not click the links. Virus-based pop-ups are almost always designed to make your device look even sicker.
• Unexplained uploads: Ads and apps that crash are annoying. Mysterious billing will hit you where it hurts, your bank account. It is particularly common among Android users, who find unusual posts in the "SMS" category. Your gadgets are infected with malware and send messages to premium rate numbers.
• Unwanted applications: True to its name, Trojan download applications may seem legitimate. They are designed in the same style as real applications to avoid detection. If you see an application that looks familiar, but you do not remember downloading it, check if it's authentic. If it seems suspicious, erase it.
• Drain the battery: all these digital manoeuvres require a lot of energy. Not only does your phone use more data, but the battery runs out faster too. Like real viruses, malware can leave the body of your device completely depleted.
The symptoms of Apple and Android devices are quite similar, but the treatments can be very different for each. These include removing questionable applications in the configuration. Read more detailed instructions on getting rid of a virus on Android or iPhone or Ipad.
Take the virus threat seriously, because it definitely means it hurts you, and they will not go out on your own. How else can you maintain your security in the wild world of cybercrime?