How Do I Know If There’s a Virus on My Phone?

Viruses can get activated before you ever know that they've infected your phone. The most potent viruses will steal your data and damage your device without being detected. However, there are some signs that you should be on the lookout for if you want to identify viruses before they cause too much damage. These signs include everything from regular crashes with the apps you use to increased data usage.

1. Apps Crash Constantly

Even the most stable apps can crash from time to time, which doesn't indicate that a virus is present on your phone. However, constant app crashes may be the result of a virus or similar malware.

2. Data Usage is Increasing

Among the most common signs of a virus is increased data usage. If this increase is sudden, a virus may be running different background tasks on your phone. It's also possible that the increase in data usage is caused by the virus using your internet connection to transfer information and data from your device.

3. Battery Drains Quickly

While batteries don't retain their charge for an unlimited time, the battery on your phone shouldn't drain too quickly. If the battery is draining fast, a virus may have created this problem. The battery will continue draining quickly until you get rid of the virus.

4. Frequency of Adware Pop-Ups is Increasing

The majority of pop-up ads that occur on an Android or Apple iPhone model are harmless and are only designed to market products and services. Downloading a simple ad blocker will allow you to avoid seeing any pop-up ads while using an internet browser on your phone. However, there are times when pop-up ads will come up even when the browser is closed, indicating a virus. This type of virus is known as adware, and it can steal your data if you click on one of them.

5. Apps Are Constantly Appearing

If you find an application on your phone that you don't remember downloading, don't open the app. It could be a virus or malware that needs to be activated before it can damage your device. To prevent this from happening, delete all unfamiliar apps immediately.