How to detect if your Android phone is infected, even if it "works fine"

Do you suspect something is wrong with your device? Although most people believe that a virus always damages the phone or makes it extremely slow, nowadays, Malware prefers to go unnoticedIn this article, we'll see how to detect if your Android phone is infected, even if it seems to be "working fine." Learn to identify the invisible signs to detect silent threats and regain full control of your privacy.

Signs that will help you detect if your Android phone is infected

To help you detect if your Android phone is infected, first keep in mind that Modern viruses are notable for their ability to operate in the shadowsThis allows them to steal data or use your resources in the background. Even if everything seems fine, there are warning signs:

• Hidden processes.
• Increase in temperature.
• Data and battery consumption.
• Unknown applications.

Temperature and battery don't lie

To detect if your Android phone is infected, first of all, Pay attention to its temperature and battery consumptionIf your phone feels warm to the touch while in your pocket or when you're not using it, it means something is running without your permission. Be suspicious of the following signs:

• Increased battery drain for no apparent reasonFor example, if you used to end your day with 40% battery, but now at midday your battery is low (without having changed your habits), it's a warning sign.
• Unjustified temperature increaseConstant data processing generates waste heat. Why? Perhaps an app is using your phone in the background without your permission.

Unknown applications

Did an app icon suddenly appear on your screen that you don't remember downloading? While it's true that some viruses display the icon on your phone's screen, sometimes they prefer to remain hidden. That's why, It is appropriate to perform a manual review of the installed applications. To find out if your Android phone is infected. We'll explain how to do this step by step later.

Increased data consumption

A strange and disproportionate increase in data is also a sign that will allow you to detect if your Android phone is infected. The virus needs to communicate with its base. To find out, Check your mobile and Wi-Fi data usageFollowing this route: Settings – Network and Internet – Use of dataFor example, if an app like a flashlight or photo editor has consumed a lot of data in just a few days, you should start to get suspicious.

Strange screen behavior

There are some details that might seem small, but are actually significant if you think your Android phone is infected. For example, Does your phone screen turn on by itself? If the phone lights up without receiving notifications, it may be a process trying to interact with the interface.

On the other hand, Are you seeing ads that are out of place? If you see ads on your lock screen or while using apps that shouldn't have ads (like the calculator or calendar), you might have adware. Of course, it's also possible you've agreed to receive notifications from a website or installed app.

A “ghost” in the administrator settings

Some viruses They grant administrator privileges so you can't delete themIf you see an app with a generic or unusual name (or a familiar app with a non-official icon) that has administrator privileges, this is a huge red flag. To check it, go to Settings – Security – Device administrator applications.

The Reboot Test

Have you noticed that Your phone takes forever to turn off or restartIt could be that the virus is trying to safely close its processes or send one last data packet before the connection is cut. How can you tell if your Android phone is infected in this way? By performing a restart test to see how it behaves.

Here's how to tell if your Android phone is infected

To detect if your Android phone is infected with a virus when there are no obvious symptoms, you need to move from superficial observation to a deeper reviewBelow, we've outlined the exact methods for finding malicious apps that are trying to hide on your phone.

Google Play Protect

It is true that Google Play Protect It works in the background, but you can Force a manual analysis using Google's most up-to-date databaseTo do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Play Store.
2. Tap your profile picture (top right)
3. Open Play Protect and tap the Scan button.
4. If you want to go further, you can tap the Settings icon and make sure the "Improve detection of harmful apps" option is enabled.

Application settings

Many viruses try to hide by removing their own desktop icon, but they cannot hide from the system's list. conduct a more in-depth review of the applications To detect if your Android phone is infected, follow this path:

• Go to Settings – Applications – View all apps.
• Look for apps with generic icons or, more commonly, apps without a name.
• If you see an app you don't recognize, tap on it and check its Battery Usage and Data Usage. If it's an app you've never opened and it's using up resources, you have even more reason to be suspicious.

Take a look at the Device Administrators

Another thing you can do to detect if your Android phone is infected is to run a device administrator audit. It's a commonly used technique to prevent you from uninstalling these unwanted applications. on your mobile phone. To do this, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings and use the search bar above to type: Device administrators.
• Only trusted services like Find My Device or Google apps should be active.
• If it's an unknown app with the switch enabled, revoke its permission immediately. This will allow you to uninstall it later.

Restart your phone in safe mode

As a last resort to detect if your Android phone is infected, restart it in Safe ModeEspecially if you spot something suspicious in the app list, but the uninstall button is locked. This disables all third-party software and lets you delete the intruding app before it can defend itself. To enter safe mode, press and hold the power button, then press and hold the power off button on the screen.