Look, phones act weird sometimes. Whether it’s planned obsolescence, cheap parts, or just regular old wear and tear, that supercomputer in your pocket is probably going to tweak out sometimes. Of course, there’s a difference between the occasional glitch or hiccup and the genuine threat of viruses or malware.
Want to find out if you have a virus on your phone and what you can do about it? Here’s how.
Malware vs. Viruses
Nowadays, most modern smartphones, whether they run Android or iOS, come with substantial built-in malware protection. But that doesn’t mean you should get complacent – we’re not totally out of the woods yet.
Right off the bat, let’s break down the difference between viruses and malware, both of which can invade your phone and wreak havoc. Malware is a portmanteau of “malicious software,” and that’s exactly what it is – any software designed to harm or compromise your device. In most cases, malware is designed by bad actors to mine your device for valuable private information for the purposes of identity theft or taking your money without your consent, though the category may also include tracking software known as spyware, adware that crams your device with unwanted ads, or ransomware, which locks device or file access until you pay a ransom.
When malware is designed to spread further on your device by “infecting” other files, apps, and devices, it’s designated as a virus. Basically, all viruses are malware, but not all malware operates like a virus. By and large, they share similar symptoms and treatments. Typically, malware breaches your phone when it’s downloaded from suspicious websites, malicious ads, links, or attachments.
How to Know if You Have a Virus on Your Phone
Now, we’re not taking sides in the smartphone wars, but it is true that you’re less likely to see malware on an iOS device compared to an Android device. This is simply because Apple’s operating system restricts interactions between your phone and outside apps to strictly Apple-approved software — it’s a walled garden compared to Android’s more open, customizable nature. Still, if you “jailbreak” your iPhone (which removes those app interaction restrictions and voids your warranty) or purchase a jailbroken device, iOS devices can be susceptible to malware.
In any case, mobile malware flies largely the same red flags across operating systems. While not every symptom on its own is definitive proof of malware, a persistent combo of signs is definitely worth investigating. The keywords here are unusual behavior.
Telltale Signs
If you’re wondering how to check if your phone has a virus in settings (a surprisingly popular search phrase), you should know up front that once it infiltrates your device, most malware isn’t going to tell you that it’s malware that easily. Here’s what to look for across Android and iOS phones:
- Sluggish performance or slow load times
- Consistent freezing
- Pop-up ads, or otherwise invasive ads, appearing all over the place
- Unauthorized account access (you may get notifications about sign-ins from new devices or locations that you don’t recognize)
- Suddenly decreased battery life
- Your phone feels unusually warm to the touch or shows overheating notifications
- Sudden spikes in data usage
- Your phone spams your contacts with unwanted texts, emails, or DMs from your accounts
- The appearance of suspicious-looking apps or features that you don’t recognize
And speaking outside the confines of the device itself, if you find fraudulent charges on your bank account and you can’t pin down the source, it doesn’t hurt to run a malware scan on your phone (after dealing with the bank to reverse the charges and lock down your account, of course).
How to Remove Malware
On Android devices, it’s good practice to install a trusted (i.e., well-reviewed and popularly downloaded) malware-protection app from the Google Play Store. These apps will typically warn you of potential malware before you tap on something malicious, and they can scan your phone for malware and remove it after the fact, too. Many modern Android phones feature Google Play Protect as a standard, which automatically runs safety checks on apps before you download them and may even disable or remove them automatically. You can check if your phone is Play Protect certified by opening the Play Store app, tapping your profile, going to your settings, and viewing the “About” section.
While trusted antivirus or anti-malware mobile apps are your best bet, if you have any suspicion of malware on your phone, it doesn’t hurt to check your app library for dubious or unrecognized apps and uninstall them, delete sensitive private information currently stored on your device (like texts, pics, and other local files), reset your most essential passwords, and clear the cache and browsing history from your apps and browsers, no matter which OS you’re running.
- To clear your Chrome browser’s cache on Android, go to “Settings” > “Apps” > “Chrome” > “Storage” > “Clear Cache.”
- For iOS, tap “Settings” > “Safari” > “Clear History and Website Data.”
If running an anti-malware app and taking those steps doesn’t do the trick, you can try performing a factory reset on either Android or iOS. Be warned that this will clear your local storage and sign you out of all of your associated accounts, so it’s a last resort. The details may vary per device and operating system version, but on Android, this option can typically be found in your Settings app, under “System,” then “Reset options.” On iOS, look for the “Transfer or Reset iPhone” option and choose “Erase This iPhone.”
Prevention Is the Best Medicine for Viruses
You know what’s better than frantically Googling “how to remove malware” or “how to get rid of viruses on your phone?” Not getting those viruses in the first place. Alongside using a trusted malware-protection app on Android phones, stay smart and stay safe with these prevention tips:
- Never download apps from untrusted sources
- Don’t open email or text attachments from unfamiliar senders
- Avoid clicking sketchy-looking ads
- Don’t connect your phone to unknown storage devices, like USB drives or strange computers
- Be wary of public USB charging stations (to avoid “juice jacking”)
- Trust the warnings of malware-protection apps when they flag suspicious websites
- Always keep your phone’s operating system up to date
- Don’t grant an app requested permissions unless you’re certain it’s trustworthy
- If you’re contacted by a person or company that seems suspicious, use Spokeo People Search to find out if they really are who they claim to be
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re wondering how to know if you have a virus on your phone, you’re not alone. Let’s clear up some of the most frequently asked questions about checking your phone for viruses and how to remove malware when it strikes.
Can your phone get a virus from visiting a website?
Your phone can definitely get a virus from visiting a website. Avoid visiting websites that are flagged by your phone’s built-in or downloaded anti-malware protection. If it looks sketchy, it probably is.
Is it real when your phone says it has a virus?
Probably not. Once installed, malware isn’t likely to announce itself, but it is a common tactic to get you to install malware by telling you that your phone has a virus and that you need to download an app to fix it immediately. That app, ironically, then installs malware.
How do I know if my iPhone has a virus?
While non-jailbroken iPhones are less susceptible to malware, iPhones infected with malware or viruses will exhibit largely the same symptoms as Android phones (see “Telltale Signs” above).
What happens if I leave viruses on my phone?
If the malware is viral in nature, it can continue to spread deeper into your phone’s operating system, files, and software, making it harder to remove, or may even spread to other devices your phone comes in contact with. Malware left untreated can also continue to spy on your device, steal your private information, serve you unwanted ads, or continue to exercise nonconsensual control of your device.
At the end of the day, smartphones are kinda meant for going viral. But not like that.
As a freelance writer, small business owner, and consultant with more than a decade of experience, Dan has been fortunate enough to collaborate with leading brands including Microsoft, Fortune, Verizon, Discover, Office Depot, The Motley Fool, and more. He currently resides in Dallas, TX.