I think i downloaded a virus on my android

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Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Security Center Malware How to remove a virus from an Android phone. Jan 14, Join today. Cancel anytime. Start Free Trial. Viruses and other types of malware What can viruses and other malware do to Android phones? Signs your Android phone may have a virus or other malware How to check for viruses and other malware on your Android phone How to remove viruses and other malware from your Android device Tips to help protect your Android device against viruses and other malware Viruses and other types of malware Malware is malicious software that can sneak onto your phone.

What can viruses and other malware do to Android phones? Malware is designed to generate revenue for cybercriminals. Signs your Android phone may have a virus or other malware Phones can be vulnerable to damage externally and internally. Your phone is too slow. Apps take longer to load. The battery drains faster than expected. Think about how often you use your Android device: Messaging, posting selfies, ordering food, trading stocks, gaming, shopping, starting your car, managing the smart devices in your home--there's almost nothing you can't do on mobile.

If you use your Android this often, doesn't it need protection too? Android devices are susceptible to all kinds of malware. Phishing, ransomware, Trojans, spyware, dangerous apps--there's a plethora of threats that can infect Android devices. A computer virus is a program that can replicate itself by piggybacking onto another program, and early hackers used them to spread all kinds of malicious software, or malware, onto computers.

Smartphones are essentially handheld computers, with many of the same weaknesses. We use them to store all kinds of valuable private information, financial data, and other targets that attract cyber thieves. As such, these devices are susceptible to the same kind of malware strands found on PCs. Android is the world's most popular mobile operating system, with over 3 billion active devices.

This makes Android a big target for malware. The problem is compounded by the fact that many users don't protect their devices by installing security software and installing updates when they become available.

Cyberthreats for Android are much like cyberthreats for PCs. They sneak their way onto your device, often in the form of a shady download, then burrow themselves in the system in order to steal information, spy on you, or take control of the device.

Just like you can protect your computer with antivirus software, you can protect your Android with an antivirus app and by other good security habits, as we list at the bottom of this page. Some, for instance, will mob your Android phone with annoying ads.

Other malware is more harmful, representing itself as a trustworthy site or app, deceiving you into revealing passwords or private financial information. Malwarebytes for Android is an antivirus app that protects your device in several ways:. This makes finding out who hacked your phone essentially impossible.

Another simple way to check if your Android phone has been hacked is to regularly check what apps you have installed on your phone. If you spot an app that you definitely did not install, this could be malware or a virus.

You will want to immediately delete any apps that you do not recognise. And if you cannot delete them, you may need to factory reset your phone. Before doing this, however, I would recommend that you run MalwareBytes and see if it can isolate and take out the problem. Nine times out of ten, it can. Do not use APK file downloads, if you can help it, as these are breeding ground for malware and viruses.

Google is constantly monitoring the apps on its Play Store, so it is the safest place to download from. And if your phone has an infected app on it that you downloaded from Google Play, you can usually get instructions from Google on how to best deal with it. Adware pop-ups: Most ads can easily be blocked by using an ad blocker or with a privacy-optimized browser like AVG Secure Browser , which comes with a built-in ad blocker. Excessive app crashing: Many apps crash periodically, but if your apps start crashing regularly for seemingly no reason, your phone could be infected with malware.

Increased data usage: If you notice a sudden spike in data usage, that could be a sign that malware is running background tasks on your device or transmitting information or background data from your phone.

Remove the phone virus to help control your mobile data usage. Unexplained phone bill increases: Some malware strains attack by sending premium-rate SMS messages from your phone, causing your phone bill to skyrocket. Ztorg Trojans were found doing this in , in addition to deleting incoming messages. Your friends receive spam messages: Some malicious software can hijack your messenger service and spam all your contacts with infected links.

If your contacts tell you they received a weird message from your accounts, investigate right away. Fake apps are a common symptom of malware on Android phones, and they should be uninstalled immediately. An anti-malware phone scanner will take care of this in a few quick taps. Faster battery drain: Malware mischief can use up a lot of energy, rapidly depleting your Android or iPhone battery.

If your battery is dying faster than usual, malware might be the cause. But Android devices are vulnerable to other types of malware that can cause even more chaos on your phone.

From malicious adware to spying apps and even Android ransomware , Android threats are widespread. One of the reasons Android phones are susceptible to malware is because Android struggles with updates. Updates are important because they often contain critical security fixes to bugs or other vulnerabilities found in the operating system OS.

Sourcing apps from third-party sources also increases the risk of accidentally installing malware. But while iPhones are less vulnerable to malware than Androids, there are other security threats you should watch out for. Phishing attacks and unsafe Wi-Fi networks are just two of the various threats that can affect your iPhone or iPad. But even without jailbreaking your phone, iPhone users are still vulnerable to other serious security threats — like identity theft. A well-known iPhone hack installed spyware known as Pegasus that can steal tons of personal data and turn your phone into a permanent surveillance device.

Avast Mobile Security for iOS goes way beyond antivirus or malware protection, keeping you safe every time you go online with free, innovative tools specially designed for your iPhone and iPad.

Increase your data usage and rack up unexpected charges by sending spam or premium SMS messages, or subscribing you to unauthorized or premium apps or services.