{"id":28523,"date":"2025-06-26T12:49:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T20:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=28523"},"modified":"2025-06-24T12:54:44","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T20:54:44","slug":"how-to-know-if-you-have-a-virus-on-your-phone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/how-to-know-if-you-have-a-virus-on-your-phone\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Know if You Have a Virus on Your Phone (and What to Do About It)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Look, phones act weird sometimes. Whether it\u2019s 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\u2019s a difference between the occasional glitch or hiccup and the genuine threat of viruses or malware. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to find out if you have a virus on your phone and what you can do about it? Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malware vs. Viruses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nowadays, most modern smartphones, whether they run Android or iOS, come with substantial built-in malware protection. But that doesn\u2019t mean you should get complacent \u2013 we\u2019re not totally out of the woods yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right off the bat, let\u2019s break down the difference between viruses and malware<\/a>, both of which can invade your phone and wreak havoc. Malware <\/strong>is a portmanteau of \u201cmalicious software,\u201d and that\u2019s exactly what it is \u2013 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<\/strong>, adware <\/strong>that crams your device with unwanted ads, or ransomware<\/strong>, which locks device or file access until you pay a ransom.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When malware is designed to spread further on your device by \u201cinfecting\u201d other files, apps, and devices, it\u2019s designated as a virus<\/strong>. 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\u2019s downloaded from suspicious websites, malicious ads, links, or attachments.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Know if You Have a Virus on Your Phone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now, we\u2019re not taking sides in the smartphone wars, but it is true that you\u2019re less likely to see malware on an iOS<\/a> device compared to an Android device<\/a>. This is simply because Apple\u2019s operating system restricts interactions between your phone and outside apps to strictly Apple-approved software \u2014 it\u2019s a walled garden compared to Android\u2019s more open, customizable nature. Still, if you \u201cjailbreak\u201d your iPhone (which removes those app interaction restrictions and voids your warranty) or purchase a jailbroken device, iOS devices can be susceptible to malware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Telltale Signs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re 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\u2019t going to tell you that it\u2019s malware that easily. Here\u2019s what to look for across Android and iOS phones:<\/p>\n\n\n\n