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In this guide to how to get rid of viruses on your phone, I’ll explore exactly how to identify and remove malware from your device. After all, if you believe your phone is infected with malware, it’s important to act fast, as it could present an open door for hackers to access your whole digital life.
I’ll explore the most common symptoms indicating you have malware on your phone and explain how to remove a virus from your phone manually or with the best antivirus software. I’ll also cover everything you need to know about phone viruses and the danger they pose.
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Best Antivirus for Removing Viruses from a Phone
- TotalAV – Best Antivirus for Removing Viruses from Phones Overall
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Can You Get a Virus on Your Phone?
Phones are vulnerable to malware, ransomware, spyware, and keyloggers. Without an antivirus, cybercriminals can potentially track you, disable your device, hack your accounts, and even steal your identity.
A common misconception is that iPhones can’t get mobile viruses. While iPhones are generally better protected than other hardware, you can still get malware on your iOS device.
The risk significantly increases if you jailbreak your phone, as this removes restrictions imposed by the manufacturer and allows the installation of unauthorized apps.
So, can Android phones get malware? And can iPhones get viruses? The answer is, fundamentally, yes.
Why Use an Antivirus on Your Phone?
Many antiviruses also offer real-time protection, detecting unusual behavior and preventing new malware from infecting your device. This can protect you from phishing attempts, network attacks, and keyloggers, and many can even alert you if your personal information has been compromised in a data breach.
Based on my experience of testing and reviewing security products, I recommend TotalAV as the best antivirus for phones. It offers superb real-time protection against cyber threats, automatically blocks malicious websites, and allows you to browse the web anonymously.
For more recommendations, see our guides to the best antiviruses for iPhone, the best Android antivirus solutions, and the best antivirus solutions, according to Reddit.
How to Check if Your Phone Has a Virus
There are two ways to get rid of a virus on your phone – by removing it manually or using antivirus software. Overall, your best option is to install antivirus software like TotalAV, run a virus scan, and then remove any infected files or programs.
While there are some telltale signs your phone might be infected, some malware, especially keyloggers and spyware, can be subtle. Mobile security software can be very useful in these cases for identifying and removing malicious apps, files, and extensions.
How to Check for Viruses on Android
Running a virus scan on Android is a relatively simple process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to exactly what you need to do.
Download a Trusted Antivirus
Go to TotalAV, sign up for an account, and download the antivirus app from the Google Play Store. Once installed, log in, and turn on the software.
Run Antivirus Scan
Next, run a system scan with TotalAV Mobile Security. Simply tap on Security Scan and choose whether you’d like to perform a quick scan or a full scan. I recommend a full scan, especially if you’re worried your device might be infected with malware. This will take a few minutes.
How to Check iPhone for Viruses
The process for running a scan is also fairly simple on iOS. Here are the steps you need to take.
Get the Antivirus App in the App Stores
Go to TotalAV, set up a subscription, and then go to the Apple App Store. Once there, download the antivirus app and install it on your phone.
Run Antivirus Scan
From the left side menu, tap on System Security and choose whether you want to run a Quick Scan or a System Scan. I recommend running a full system scan, which will check your device in full and address any threats.
How to Get Rid of Viruses on Your Phone
Alongside using Android and iPhone security software, there are also a number of practical steps you can take to remove malware. In this section of my guide, I’ll show you how to check if your phone has a virus and explain what you need to do to remove a virus from iOS and Android devices.
How to Get Viruses Off iPhone
Most iPhone malware aims to gain access to your personal information by manipulating your browser. Here’s how to get rid of a virus on an iPhone manually:
Clear All Browsing Data
Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Safari. Next, go to Clear History and Website Data. If you’re using a different browser, follow the equivalent path until you’ve cleared all browsing data from your iPhone.
Restart Your iPhone
Some malicious programs are non-persistent, meaning they can be removed from your iPhone with a reboot. Press and hold the power button to turn off your iPhone until the Apple logo appears. Wait a few seconds for the phone to reboot and check to see if the problem persists.
Update Your Operating System
To maximize device protection against malware and viruses, always ensure you’re using the latest version of iOS. To check this, go to Settings and, under General, tap on Software Updates. Update your device if a new version is available.
You should also make sure to keep your apps up to date to ensure they have the latest security patches in place.
Update Your Apple ID Credentials
Some malicious software can enable cybercriminals to access your accounts. I strongly recommend periodically updating your Apple ID password to stop them from abusing your data. Navigate to Settings and, under your name, tap on Password & Security and change your password.
Restore Your iPhone from a Backup
If a virus alters the original settings on your iOS device, you can revert to a previous backup. Under General Settings, tap on Reset and choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the steps on your screen to restore the previous iPhone settings.
Reset Your Phone to Factory Settings
Completely resetting your iPhone to its factory settings is a relatively extreme option for removing malware. This will generally remove all malware, ransomware, spyware, and other unwanted apps on your device, as well as all your data.
If you back up your files, make sure to scan them to ensure you’re not preserving any malware-infected files.
How to Remove a Virus From Android Devices
The process for removing viruses from Android phones is different but equally simple. Follow the steps below to manually remove an Android phone virus:
Clear Your Browser Cache
If you’re worried you might’ve accidentally downloaded Android malware, clear your browser cache and delete all recent downloads. Navigate to Settings, and under Apps, select Chrome and clear the cache and all stored website data.
Remove Unwanted and Unrecognized Apps
To remove unwanted apps from your Android phone, navigate to Settings and tap Apps. There, search through the list of installed apps on your device and delete any you don’t recognize, having confirmed that they’re not needed.
Enable Two Factor Authentication (2FA)
To prevent hackers from accessing your Google account, enable two-factor authentication. This will make accessing your account much more difficult since a secondary confirmation will be needed for logging in. To enable 2FA, go to Settings and find the 2-Step Verification option.
Fully Wipe Your Phone
If your phone is infected, you can remove the virus by resetting your device to factory settings. This will undo any changes the malware has made, but all files on your device will be deleted.
While you can back up your files, I advise only doing so if you have an antivirus program on another device that can scan the files and check for and remove viruses and malware. To wipe the phone, go to Settings, System, Reset Options, and choose Erase All Data.
Common Phone Viruses
There are various different types of malware that can infect your phone, and they’ll differ depending on whether they’re trying to steal your bandwidth and processing power, log your activity, or hack your accounts. Here’s a quick rundown of the most common types of phone viruses:
Adware – Adware is typically hidden within other applications and, once active, bombards you with advertisements and links. While adware doesn’t directly harm your device, clicking on an ad might lead to malicious sites and new viruses infecting your phone.
Spyware – Spyware is subtle but incredibly dangerous and works in the background to feed cybercriminals your personal information. Spyware programs can give hackers access to your messages, location, and login details and allow them to access your camera and disable your device.
Our guide to the best spyware removers explores tools specifically geared toward removing spyware.
Ransomware – In these attacks, hackers lock up your device and files and threaten to destroy them unless you pay a ransom. This can be extremely damaging for individuals and is even worse for companies and organizations carrying sensitive data.
Trojans – This malicious software is usually attached to an app or download. It hides inside the app’s code and activates once installed. Trojans typically disrupt your device’s processes and seek access to files, logins, and other information while often opening a backdoor for hackers.
Worms – Worms are often spread via SMS and MMS messages and aim to multiply and spread to other devices. They often seek to steal personal user information.
See our guide to the best malware removal software for recommendations on removing these viruses.
How Do Phones Get Viruses?
Cybercriminals are getting more and more creative, though, so even if you’re careful about what websites you visit and what you click on, a malicious program or app can still sneak its way onto your phone.
Here’s a breakdown of the most common ways you can get infected by a phone virus:
- Downloading malicious apps or files – When downloading apps, you should only use official platforms, such as the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Never download third-party apps from websites you don’t trust, and never turn off the default security scans on your phone. The same goes for accessing files like PDFs, Google Spreadsheets, and any other Microsoft Office documents.
- Clicking on shady links and ads – Unless you’re on a reputable website, avoid clicking on ads. Pop-up ads on shady websites can direct users to scam sites or attempt to upload malware to your device.
- Connecting to public Wi-Fi networks – If you’re not using a VPN and a phone antivirus, I strongly recommend against connecting to open, unsecured Wi-Fi networks. Hackers can use network vulnerabilities to get access to your device and your personal data.
- Opening suspicious emails or SMS – Avoid opening emails and SMS messages from sources you don’t recognize and trust. If you do, never click a link or download an attachment without being certain it’s safe.
How to Know if Your Phone Has a Virus – Common Signs
If your phone is infected with a virus, you’ll typically notice strange behavior or performance issues. Here are the most common signs your phone has a virus:
- Short battery life – If your battery starts to drain unusually quickly, even when it’s not being actively used, it may indicate a virus is running processes on the device without your knowledge.
- Overheating – Phones tend to overheat when they are performing too many tasks. This may happen if a virus is running numerous programs in the background.
- Constant pop-up ads – If random pop-up ads appear on your home screen or when your phone is locked, your device may well be infected with adware. A sudden increase in in-app ads is also a clear sign of infection.
- Increased data usage – An unusually large increase in data usage is also a sign that malicious software is using your device’s data without your knowledge and consent.
- Strange new apps on your phone – Phones won’t automatically install apps, so if you find new, suspicious apps you haven’t installed yourself, it’s a strong indication that your device is infected with some form of malware.
- Unauthorized charges on your credit card – If your account sees repeated unauthorized charges, it may be a sign that hackers have gotten their hands on your payment information.
- The phone sends messages on its own – If your contacts are automatically sent suspicious messages from your account, it’s a very clear indicator that your device has been compromised.
While all of these factors indicate signs of malware on your phone, the best way to know for sure whether or not your device is infected is to download an antivirus and scan your phone.
You can also read our full guide on how to remove spyware from iPhones, including common signs to look out for.
Steps to Protect Your Phone From Viruses and Malicious Apps
There are thousands of malicious programs out there, so protecting your devices is crucial. Here are some actions you can take to improve your protection against iPhone and Android viruses:
- Run regular updates – It’s best to keep auto-updates on, but you can also manually update your phone’s operating system and the apps you’re using. Don’t ignore these updates, as newer versions of the system and the apps will make you less vulnerable to malware.
- Run regular security scans – An important first step to how to get viruses off your phone is to download security software and regularly scan your device.
- Only download apps from trusted sources – Never download files, executables, apps, or programs from third-party app stores. Stick with reliable app stores, like the Play Store and the App Store.
- Avoid suspicious links and attachments – If you receive an email or an SMS from someone you don’t know, be wary of it, especially if it includes links or attachments.
- Steer clear of ads on websites you don’t trust – If you see an ad with an offer that’s too good to be true, ignore it. These clickbait ads aim to trick you with incredible deals or time-limited offers and may well direct you to sites hosting viruses.
- Use a VPN when accessing public Wi-Fi networks – Don’t connect to open Wi-Fi networks without using additional security features. Ideally, you should use password-protected networks and install one of the best VPN apps to protect your data and privacy.
- Enable 2FA – Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible to ensure hackers can’t log into your accounts even if they get hold of your credentials.
- Update your passwords – Use a strong, unique password for each of your accounts, and update them if you believe your phone might be infected.
Conclusion – How to Get Rid of a Virus on Your Phone?
Phone viruses and mobile malware are more common than people think, and even if you’re careful online, you can still fall victim to them. Cybercriminals use a variety of methods to trick you into clicking on suspicious links and downloading malicious software to your Android device or iPhone, so it’s important to be wary and to use dedicated mobile security software.
If you’re worried that your device might be infected, I strongly recommend you install anti-malware software, like TotalAV, on your phone and run a full device scan. This is the best way to detect and remove phone viruses and to keep your device protected from threats in the future.
FAQs
Can your phone get a virus?
Do iPhones get viruses?
Can you get a virus on your phone by visiting a website?
How do you know if your phone has viruses?
Does resetting a phone remove a virus?
How can you clean your phone from a virus for free?
References
- Jailbreaking Information for iOS Devices (Standford University IT)
- How To Recognize, Remove, and Avoid Malware (FTC)
