Signals that warn when a mobile phone has a virus

The end of malware (a computer program that runs without the owner’s knowledge or authorization) is becoming increasingly complex, Which means that no computer in your home, be it Android, iPhone, PC or Mac, is immune to the virus. In fact, it’s possible that one or more of your devices are already infected with it.

But let’s focus on mobile. And yes, having a mobile phone with a virus has a long list of problems because cybercriminals can take control of access to your camera, microphone, personal data and more.

According to 2021 statistics from the Identity Theft Center (ITRC), the number of reported data breaches has skyrocketed by 17% compared to last year. In addition, as reported by McAfee, cybercriminals are rushing to take advantage of the increase in connectivity caused by the pandemic since 2020, which has translated into an increase in the number of hacked mobile phones.

But there is no need to panic, because if there is no specialized mobile cyber security application that detects the attack, there are several warnings that indicate a dangerous situation.

All these signals must be taken with caution because they do not always guarantee that the device is in danger, but that they could be another problem.

Likewise, it may happen that the virus remains undetected and does not represent a significant change in performance.

Given this scenario, it is important to heed all these warnings and take protective measures to resolve the issue.

How do you know that a cell phone has a virus?
There are many ways for a mobile device to have malware, either because a user installed a malicious app, accessed a dangerous website, or downloaded a file with a virus.

When an attack occurs, it is very likely that the cell phone will begin to act out of the ordinary, which is reflected in the following signs:

1. Unknown applications. If the phone starts showing platforms that have never been downloaded or receiving notifications from unknown services, it’s because another app has permissions to perform this process. Which means that the user has lost some control over the mobile phone because it is infected.

2. Security issues. Typically, mobile phones are linked to third-party platform accounts, so it is possible to receive email or social media messages indicating security vulnerabilities and possible hacking.

3. Higher battery and data consumption. Malicious applications often run in the background so that the person does not realize that they have been attacked. Because of this, the mobile phone is additionally burdened and consumes more battery. The same happens with mobile data, as many malware work with an internet connection to download more content.

4. The mobile phone is getting slower. Just as a human virus can affect the entire body, a digital virus can affect all areas of a cell phone’s operation. For example, it can cause websites to load more slowly, apps to crash, or the battery to stop charging. Overall performance is still slow no matter how many times the device is rebooted or how many large files are deleted.

5. You found unauthorized charges. If you see unauthorized charges on your credit card or bank statements, dig further. It could be a malicious app making purchases on your behalf or a malicious program that has hijacked your personal information to make fraudulent purchases.

How to remove viruses?
If you find that your cell phone or your family’s cell phone has been attacked, there are certain ways to remove all viruses:

1. Install antivirus software for your mobile phone to help you identify viruses, clean your mobile phone and protect it.

2. Delete apps you didn’t download yourself, delete dangerous text messages, delete browsing history and cache.

3. In some situations, the presence of malware may warrant erasing and resetting your device (Apple or Android). Before you do, however, do your research and make sure you’ve backed up important photos and documents to the cloud.

4. After cleaning the mobile phone, be sure to change the passwords.

Tips for cell phone protection
It is always necessary to be aware of updates. In addition to installing an antivirus or antimalware program for your cell phone, something that will undoubtedly help you detect and remove any viruses, be sure to update your device’s security features.

Another detail is to always create strong and unique passwords. Every device in the family should have a strong password along with a unique username. This means that you immediately change the factory settings and periodically change passwords.

It is important to avoid clicking on all links. Instead of selecting the “always on” permission for each app, change the setting to require it to give you permission every time. Also, if an app asks for access to your contacts or to connect to other apps in your digital ecosystem, don’t give it permission. Every time you allow an app to connect to different branches of your “digital tree,” you’re giving up personal information and opening yourself up to new risks.