The number of Android smartphones infected with malware doubled in the first half of 2016. The number of viruses and malware targeting Google’s operating system is increasing. Here are our tips for protecting yourself, detecting their presence, and getting rid of them.
Is your smartphone infected with a virus?
If the number of smartphones infected with a virus doubles in the first six months of the year, it would remain equivalent to 0.49% of the world’s park. If that’s your case then you are part of a minority. That doesn’t mean it only happens to other people. Yes, cases of infection are rare but they do happen. Most malware is silent, but there are certain signs that are usually not misleading. If you observe one or more of the following symptoms you may be infected with a virus:
- A excessive mobile data consumption because most of the time, malware uses your internet connection without your knowledge. Remember to monitor your data usage regularly
- existenceapps you have never installed. These do not always appear on the desktop. On the other hand, by regularly visiting the menu Settings > Device > Apps You can identify and remove it from your phone.
- Unwanted ads Most of the time pop-ups appear on your screen while browsing the web.
- A ransom demand to unlock your device? Don’t panic, sometimes you are infected with ransomware, as in PC. The principle is simple, you are asked for money to unlock your device. A simple reboot is usually sufficient to fix the problem, if this is not the case you will need to use an antivirus.
- A higher battery consumption than usual? It could be the work of a virus or it could be the work of a harmless application. Check it anyway
- Additional charge to your bill ? Some malware doesn’t mind sending SMS from your phone to premium rate numbers. If you see anything on your bill and you’re pretty sure it’s not you, you’re probably infected.
How do we protect ourselves from viruses?
If no system is truly bug-free, there are still several strategies to protect your Android smartphone from viruses. None are 100% guaranteed, but when all of these strategies come together, you might think you’re doing what’s necessary to protect yourself.
Install the latest updates available for your smartphone
Unless you have a Nexus that is less than three years old, we agree that it’s not always easy to get the latest security patches to date, Google’s operating system remains very fragmented. Some manufacturers like Samsung, LG or BlackBerry monthly security updatesLike Google, but if your smartphone is already a certain age and outdated, you can’t do much except replace it with a new one with the latest version of Android.
Install anti-virus
The usefulness of antiviruses on smartphones has often been discussed. Since cases of infection are rare, some users consider these apps useless. However, if you install an antivirus, you will immediately know if your smartphone is infected and you can remove the offending software more easily. Explore our selection of the best antiviruses for Android.
Avoid downloading apps from outside the Play Store
While it’s true that sometimes some malware manages to bypass the Google Play Store’s security barriers, the American giant has always been quick to remove them. Therefore, within a certain limit, we can consider that its platform remains reliable. On the other hand, if you are in the habit of regularly downloading APK files to the internet without knowing the source, you run the risk of seeing your smartphone become infected.
Be careful where you click!
Many websites display pop-ups while browsing, which is quite annoying. Typically, these windows display a message alerting you that your phone is infected with a virus and asking you to download an app to remove it. As you can imagine, by downloading the app in question you are actually putting yourself at risk of infection. If this happens to you, don’t even think about it, just close the window in question directly.
Avoid public Wi-Fi networks
Public Wi-Fi networks are an ideal breeding ground for infections. You’re not told to avoid them entirely, but when you’re connected to a public WiFi network, be extra vigilant, don’t approve any connection requests to your device, close any suspicious pop-ups that may appear, and avoid sharing sensitive information. for example by logging into your banking app.
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