- See also: The right steps to protect yourself from viruses on Android
In the current context where wars are also digitized, it is relatively normal to feel a little wary of your smartphone or tablet, which often contains much of your vital user information.
But Android is not necessarily a virus-prone system. But the lack insecurity or one small mistake can lead to the worst of disasters. Also, today, we offer you a tutorial so that you can destroy viruses if you have them on your system.
Step 1: Start on a good foundation
Of course, there is no point in running, it is necessary to arrive at the right time. Before looking for viruses on your phone, let’s check if your phone is naturally well protected against viruses.
You should know that most (if not all) Android viruses are installed via malicious apps that try to deceive your vigilance to infiltrate your phones. You should know this, especially on the Internet where there are ads on some sites that make you believe your phone has an infection.
Trust the Play Store
We obviously don’t click them under penalty of never hurting! And in general, if you do not know exactly what you are doing, it is better to install apps from the Google Play Store, which only checks the software available in the store daily.
To make sure you’re never cheated, go to: Settings > Security and make sure “Unknown Sources” is disabled. Without it, only the Play Store will be allowed to install apps on your device, thus protecting you from malicious apps.
Check app permissions carefully.
But don’t go too fast if you’re determined to install apps from a source other than the Play Store. Check all the permissions this app asks for and only accept when you think with your soul and conscience that it will not harm you.
For example, a video playback app will naturally request access to your storage and SD cards… But if it starts requesting access to your calls, texts or contacts, there is a problem.
Step 2: Enter Safe Mode
Regulars of Windows operating system will be familiar with this famous mode. This allows the device to boot without launching any of the applications installed on the phone, making it possible to decide whether one of them is causing errors in the respective device.
Imagine Android having exactly the same functionality, except it’s not overemphasized by the manufacturers. But it will be central to being able to judge whether a virus has truly infiltrated your system and be able to clean it up.
To access it, all you have to do is press and hold the stop button on your phone. When it gives you the “Close” option, keep supported first this will suggest restarting the phone in safe mode.
- Watch: 500 million Android devices threatened by new malware
Step 3: identify the virus
When you are finally in safe mode, you will be able to access your app list without taking any action to view a malicious app on your phone.
so come in Settings > Application and start browsing all the apps you see installed on your phone. Attention, it is not recommended to disable everything, for example, simply disabling the “Download” application can cause intolerable system errors.
Step 4: Remove the virus
But it allows you to see clearly what’s going on in the background of your phone. If you’re in doubt about even one of these apps, do a Google search to find out about its usefulness.
And if you determine that it is indeed a virus, tap on it and remove it from the newly opened menu. But if this possibility remains grayed out / inaccessible to you, skip to step 5.
- Also read: Stagefright is back and threatens 36% of Android users
Step 5: terminate admin rights
If you have detected a virus but failed to follow step 4, it is because viruses replace an administrator process and by doing so protect itself from removal.
Fortunately, you can deal with this simply by going to: Settings > Security > Device administrators. There you will see which apps can actually control your phone. Usually, “Android Device Manager” is there naturally.
However, if you see the same application there as before, simply disable this control in the same panel to be able to uninstall it as you wish before. You can now restart your phone and continue with your normal use.
if nothing works
Of course, if the virus you’ve caught is more vicious than that and knows how to hide among system files in full transparency without showing the slightest sign of its existence, you’ll have to be a little more. .. severe.
Of course, you can start by installing one of our best antiviruses for Android and hope to effectively clean your phone from such a threat.
However, if you really have no alternative anymore… You will have to clean all this with bleach and return your phone to its factory version. Of course, this process will wipe all data on your phone, but it’s better than being infected forever.
To do this, you will need to go Settings > Backup & Reset > Factory data reset. Also be careful if you have an SD card: it’s better to transfer your files to a computer and format them just in case.
