
HOW TO DETECT MALWARE/VIRUS IN SMARTPHONES
Most average users of mobile devices still ask the simple question; Is it possible for a virus to infect a smartphone? The simple answer is YES!
Hackers took advantage of the rise in popularity of smartphones, which have now outsold desktops as personal electronic devices. The current pervasive nature of smartphones, makes it very attractive for hackers as a very reliable channel for compromising valuable assets. Viruses on mobile devices operate in a similar manner as conventional computer viruses; look for vulnerabilities in your operating system and exploit them for the purpose of data mining, financial gain, or network corruption.
The ability to share data across apps is normally restricted, however certain apps have been inspected for possible data mismanagement, increasing the vulnerability of its users.
Common signs and indications of malware/virus on mobile phone
Viruses that restrict your phone’s functions are common, while some are designed to steal your personal information or make illicit transactions. As long as you’re using your phone normally, you may not notice that your phone is infected with a virus until it’s too late.
Wear and tear might cause a phone to operate less than optimally. It’s possible that these symptoms are caused by malware. Troubleshoot by trying to remove the virus from your phone if you are experiencing performance difficulties.
You may have a malware/virus on your phone if you see these symptoms:
Excessive data usage
A virus that runs in the background on a hacked phone, unnoticed, may drastically increase data use.
Fraudulent charges
In-app purchases and SMS charges to premium accounts may be used by certain trojans to push up your phone bill, which hackers may then collect on.
Frequent crashing of apps
Apps may crash frequently if your phone’s software is corrupted. Make sure your storage isn’t full and that you don’t have too many applications active at once before assuming the worst and blaming the app.
Frequent Pop-ups
Adware, a kind of malware that aims to collect data when your browser is closed, maybe the cause of an increase in pop-ups that you’re used to seeing while surfing the web.
Unfamiliar/unknown apps
You should be on the lookout for harmful apps that have been downloaded without your permission. It is possible for Trojan horses to infect legal software and do additional harm.