Your Android Is Hacked By Malware? How To Fix It

If you are worried about a trojan virus, malware, spam, or simply the latest “stagefright” type exploit, there are some things you need to do. In this post,  we’ll discuss a few ways to say goodbye to malicious content as well as help you get ready for the future.

In 2019, smartphones get more vulnerable and they are now the first target for bad people. Many of you usually store tons of personal and sensitive data on your phone and here are a few signs you can know something is probably going wrong.

If you think your Android device was hacked, this post can help you. These are steps you should do, and things to consider.

How to Know If Your Android Is Hacked

Hacks and viruses on Android platform change every time. They are never the same, even when there are a few dead giveaways. Sometimes a pop-up is simply a pop-up, attempting to trick you into clicking on a link that WILL include a virus. Either way, you can check a few signs below that are something isn’t right.

  • Malicious Fake Pop-ups
  • Random Pop-ups and Ads
  • Your Device Gets Slow
  • Apps Keep Crashing
  • Unwanted App Installation and More
  • Fast Battery Drain
  • Random Charges on Your Bill

Pop-ups are usually the first sign of a virus. They will make noises, or set off the vibration motor in your phone, and the Back button will not work when pressing it. If you are in this case, just tap on the Home and then close all currently running apps on your device. Remember  NOT to try clicking on anything inside the browser.

At the same time, pop-ups are insisting you on clicking an ad or buying something. All you need is to ignore all of them, and never let a popup know your credit card info.

Although random pop-ups are usually first signs, it’s not the only thing you look for.

If your Android device is running slow, then there is a chance a virus might have to do something behind the scenes you can’t see, making your device slow down. The common problem is that malware will send text messages to premium numbers, making hackers money at your expense. All you can do then is heading to Settings > Connections > Data Usage and check for apps if they are using an excessive amount of your data.

If you see an app using way more data than normal, then something might be going wrong. While malware is typically difficult to find, leave traces on your device. Whether it’s a new app you didn’t install or unwanted apps that are using more battery than they should be. All of them will use up your data, battery power. The best way to check if your phone has a virus is by checking your phone’s battery usage. To do so:

Head to  Settings > Battery > Battery Usage and check the list for anything unusual.

If you see anything extraordinary in your battery usage, you might have a virus. Here you see “Miscellaneous” that is using more than 70% of the battery. That’s a malicious app which is trying to hide the identity. Even a real app could also be the culprit.

Basically, if your Android phone has a virus, you’ll see popups randomly charge, new apps, or experience excessive battery drain.

What To Do If Your Phone Is Hacked

If your Android is hacked, it’s time to fix it. Whether you need to run anti-virus app, uninstall bad apps, or erase your device completely. The simplest way to get rid of viruses and malware on your device is by using a reputable anti-virus app. There are currently dozens of trusted anti-virus apps on Google Play Store, and all of them claim that they’re the best.

If there are apps you didn’t install on your phone, draining your battery or monthly data plan fast, you should then consider uninstalling them. All you need is going to Settings > Apps > App Manager (or All Apps) and scroll down through the list.

Find any app you suspect and tap on it. After that, just hit the Uninstall icon.

Note:

There are a number of system apps or things that were previously pre-installed out of box, so you should be careful with the app you intend to remove. If you’re not sure, leave a comment below or search Google for it first.

After running some Antivirus apps and even uninstalling apps, but you’re still encountering problems, the last resort you can do is performing a factory data reset. The process will erase everything on your phone’s internal storage and make you start over like the first day you unbox it. This is usually the best solution, but we know no one likes setting up a new device as it will take a lot of time.

 

It’s recommended to back up photos, videos, or documents on your phone first, then you erase your device. Navigate to Settings > Backup & Reset > Reset > Factory Data Reset. Once again, the process will erase EVERYTHING, so you only do this if everything else fails.

Also see: Best Android Smartphones Under $100

Solutions to Protect Your Android from Viruses

If your Android device is free of viruses or malware, then you’re all set. But you should also know how to protect your phone from malware. Knowing what you should do or shouldn’t do is such important. Below are a few tips to keep your Android device phone safe.

  • Only use the trusted stores like Google Play Store or Amazon Appstore
  • Watch what and where you tap on
  • Disable “Allow from Unknown Sources” in Settings > Security section
  • Always keep your phone up to date with the latest software installed.
  • Protect your device with a password, fingerprint, Face unlock or PIN code.

Generally, you just use a little caution and some common sense. Remember not to tap on weird things or download suspicious files, and especially be careful. The internet is also a wild-virtual world and it’s better to keep you safe.

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