Thanks to constant improvements to Play Protect, the Google ecosystem can be increasingly safe, but this does not mean that the chances of downloading an infected app are zero. Safety and antivirus apps are also great, but what if your device is infected already? If your Android device is suddenly slow, uses too much data or displays corrupted data, you could have downloaded an app infected with malware— or ransomware that is much more obvious.
Suspicious apps — frequently promising free work software, cheat codes, new games, porn or money — are an increasingly common way of getting viruses on your mobile devices, where they damage and steal data. If you still have access to your Android device, your first step should be to get rid of the infected app before it infects or damages other devices. This is how to locate and remove Android malware and a few security download options that will help protect you in the future.
STEP 1
Shut down until you find out the details
Once you are sure that your phone is being attacked by malware, hold down the power button and turn off the phone. It may not stop the malware from damaging, but it can prevent the problem from getting worse and it can stop ongoing malware attempts to access nearby networks. You can also think and search by shutting down.
Do you know the particular infected app that malware has brought to your device? Do you know what other software types you may have downloaded without your permission? If not, move to another computer and look up your symptoms (and any new apps you have tried) to tackle the problem. If the app cannot be found at the root of the problem, you cannot delete it. If nothing happens in your research, you might want to turn your phone back on and skip to step five.
Anti – malware applications can help you determine what causes your problems and can even remove the infected software. This also requires you to give your phone access to the Internet again, which involves a certain risk.
Step 2
Switch to safe / emergency mode while working
When you switch back on your device to isolate the problem app, switch to safe mode first. This helps reduce the damage that the infected app can do.
You can switch to safe mode for most Android devices by holding the power button for a few seconds when your device is on, then tap and hold off the Power option. This should provide some power options, including the Reboot option in safe mode. Choose this mode and wait until your phone starts again before you go on. If you cannot find a safe mode, instead activate the airplane mode to cut off your device from any network. This option can usually be found in the top of your notifications. Reboot to safe mode on Android Simon Hill / Digital Trends
Note: If you can’t find out what causes your malware problem, this isn’t the time to tinker even after downloading a security app. Ask a professional if you need to wipe your phone. This is a good strategy if your phone is taken over and blocked by increasingly common ransomware.
STEP 3
Go to Settings and find your Android device’s Visit Settings app.
Settings usually has a gear – shaped icon, but it depends on your themes and arrangement: find it if you have trouble finding the right spot.
Scroll through the Settings until you see the apps section and enter. Look for a list of all your current apps— you may have to select App Manager to find the complete list.
Scroll once there until you find the infected app at the heart of your issues. Choose the app and this should lead to Uninstall or Close Force options (often you can’t uninstall core apps, just disable them, but these apps are unlikely to be the problem).
STEP 4
Remove the infected app and anything else suspicious
Simply choose Uninstall and remove the app in question from your Android device. It’s also a good idea to review your app list and uninstall other suspicious downloads— you may be surprised at some of the strange things your device will automatically download if you haven’t looked at this list before.
How to uninstall the Android app on a Samsung Simon Hill / Digital Trends
Note: You can’t uninstall the app in some cases, and the option itself won’t be there — you’ll see Disable instead. Some of the cleverest malware / ransomware visits your administrator settings and protects you to prevent this. It’s often easy to fix, fortunately. Return to the original Settings menu and scroll to the Lock Screen and Security section (or similar). Look for a section in the Security menu that reads “Phone (Device) Administrators.” You may need to first visit “Other security settings,” depending on how your security menu is set. You should be able to delete Android malware in phone administrators.
STEP 5
Download some malware protection
It is worth protecting a vulnerable Android device. You can download a number of security apps to help protect your phone, scan viruses, and remove junk files and any potentially infected software. When you manually delete the troubled app, download a security program to help you deal with future problems. There are many choices in this area: try software such as 360 Security, Avast Security or AVG Antivirus from the Google Play Store or take a look at our other recommendations for Android security.
Although it sounds obvious, it is also a good idea to constantly update your Android device. Forgetting to update is one of the most important factors that Android phones can attack.