Nowadays, people store everything important on their smartphones. So, their devices become extremely vulnerable, and they can’t afford to be attacked by malware or viruses.
If you also have important data saved in your smartphone, you must know the signs your mobile will show if it has a virus.
How To Know If Your Mobile Phone Has a Virus And What to Do About it?
Following are the most common signs you will see if your mobile has got a virus.
1. You see a spike in data usage
The main purpose of viruses is to harvest data from your phone and send it to the hacker’s server. And for that, it needs mobile data to operate. Hence, if you are seeing an unreasonable increase in your data consumption, it may be a sign that the malware is working in the background.
2. You are receiving random pop-ups too much
Receiving pop-up ads and spammy notifications once in a while is normal. But, if you are getting it after every other minute, it shows that your mobile has been hit by adware.
These ads are created just for spying rather than advertising. Some adware can act as scareware, displaying alarming messages that claim your device is infected with malware or has other issues.
3. Your device is heating up for no reason
Many malware run in the background to pick up data, mine cryptocurrencies, or show you ads. This excessive processing causes the device to overheat, even if you have not used it for longer hours.
4. Mobile is becoming slow and glitchy
Getting a glitch while using any communication app or playing online games is one thing. But if your device is getting slow or hanging for no reason, you should not ignore it.
Malicious programs corrupt essential files or settings, causing apps to crash or behave erratically. Therefore, you might see your phone lagging or some apps not working randomly.
5. You are getting scammy messages and emails
Getting so many emails and messages from unknown sources is fishy. So, you should always avoid giving any sensitive information like personal data, banking details, or account passwords to such scams. They can also trick you by asking you to click malicious links.
Cybercriminals often use spoofing techniques to disguise their identities. Hence, you must check the source of messages before replying to them or downloading any of their attachments.
How To Protect Your Mobile Device From Viruses?
Use these techniques to protect your smartphone from any malware attack.
1. Use reliable and verified antivirus
Mobile antivirus software is the first thing you must install if you see any of the above signs on your smartphone. Update and run scans regularly to ensure your device remains protected against the latest malware threats.
2. Upgrade your OS
Keep apps and operating systems updated because companies launch high-grade security patches that protect against viruses.
3. Avoid using public Wi-Fi
This one is a no-brainer but worth mentioning. Do not insert passwords, PINs, or sensitive information on public Wi-Fi. It is the most common space where people get viruses in their smart devices. Instead, use password-protected networks or a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to safeguard your data.
4. Secure your data in SSDs
If the data is super sensitive and you can’t afford to be stolen, always store it in SSDs. These are solid-state drives with built-in encryption capabilities. When you store data in these devices, it is automatically encrypted, so any unauthorized person can’t access it.
5. Remove unwanted apps
If you have not used an app for a long time, it is better to remove it, as it can potentially introduce security issues. When you delete apps, you reduce the entry points for viruses and hence improve data protection. Moreover, it will optimize the device’s speed and performance and allow security tools to function more efficiently.
Conclusion
Malware or mobile viruses can be seriously damaging to your sensitive data and information. Knowing the signs will help you avoid any mishap. Update your mobile device, and watch out for any spam ads or fishy emails to stop the virus immediately.
