How do I Know If My Phone has a Virus? Expert Tips

Last Updated on 3 months by Touhid

A virus can infect your phone in different ways such as when downloading third-party apps, clicking on malicious links, or visiting a vulnerable website. But how do I know if my phone has a virus? After reading this article, you will know whether your phone has been infected by a virus or not.

So, keep reading the article.

How Do I Know If My Phone Has a Virus?

A phone can be infected by a virus or malware program. Already we know how virus is spread on computer. Hence, the most common ways that a virus may spread on your phone:

• Downloads Software or Files
• E-Mail Attachments
• Phishing Emails
• External Devices
• Online Advertisements
• Click On Malicious File
• Infected Website
• Copying Data from Infected Computer
• Unsolicited E-Mail
• Social Media Scam Links

Phone viruses may spread in different forms such as images, programs, software .exe, and Word documents. How do I know if my phone has a virus? If your phone is infected by a virus or malware, you can easily identify it by some symptoms or signs.

Here are the common symptoms to know if my phone has a virus or malware:

• Increased Storage Memory of Phone
• Phone Apps are crashing.
• Displays Pop-ups Ads
• Unwanted Apps installed on the phone.
• Unexplained Phone calls and Messages
• Poor Performance on Your Phone
• Battery Runs Down 

Related article: How to remove virus from your Phone?

Increased Storage Memory of Phone

This is a very common symptom that the storage memory of my phone increases when my phone has a virus or malicious software. The virus is trying to run a lot of background processes and uses the phone’s data to show advertisements or communicate with the internet.

Sometimes you can see that the storage memory of your phone is suddenly full even if you have not done something wrong.

Expert Tips

Go to Settings > Data usage to see which apps are using the maximum storage on your phone. If you see anything suspicious apps, then uninstall that app immediately.

Also, go to Settings > Apps storage to see which apps have been installed on your phone. If you see anything malicious apps, then uninstall that app immediately.

Phone Apps Are Crashing

It is a very unwanted situation when you want to use your favorite app and it becomes unresponsive. There are several reasons apps become unresponsive or keep crashing.

One of the reasons is your phone has a virus or malicious software. Many apps on the phone may crash. Here is a list of some popular Apps that crash a lot.

• Messenger
• Instagram
• Google Maps
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Uber
• WhatsApp
• Skype
• Dropbox

Expert Tips: To fix apps crashing when your phone has a virus:

• Go to Settings> Tap on Apps
• Find the malicious app that keeps crashing.
• Clear cache.
• Tap Force stop.
• Install the app again.

Displays Pop-ups Ads

If your phone displays unnecessary advertisements and pop-up ads that contain inappropriate content, then your phone has been infected with adware. This malware can steal your data, change the names of files and folders on your phone, and transfer your files from one folder to another.

Expert Tips: To block pop-ups, add on the phone

1. Open the Chrome app.
2. tap the three-dotted menu icon at the top-right.
3. Settings -> Site settings-> Pop-ups and redirects
4. Turn off Pop-ups and redirects. 

Unwanted Apps Installed on Phone          

How do I know if my phone has a virus? It is another symptom, that unwanted apps are getting downloaded from unknown sources and automatically installed on your phone without your permission.  This type of app may contain adware and bring pop-up advertisements.

Unexplained Phone Calls and Messages

If you know that your phone has a virus then it can send spam messages and phone calls to all your contacts without your acknowledgement. If someone receives unsolicited SMS or calls from your phone, then it is sure that your phone has a virus or malware.

Expert Tips

You should install good anti-virus software on your phone to remove viruses from your phone. Once installed antivirus software runs silently to protect your phone from viruses, malware, spyware, unsafe apps, and unwanted threats.

Here is the best antivirus software that you can install:

• Avast Mobile Security
• Bitdefender
• AVG
• McAfee Security & Power Booster
• Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus
• Sophos Free Antivirus and Security
• Norton Security and Antivirus
• Avira Antivirus Security

Poor Performance on Your Phone

When your phone is infected by a virus or malware then they will use your phone’s resources and spread malicious intent and become extremely slow. There are also some reasons for performance slowdown on your phone, which are as follows:

• Running too many apps or programs
• Not enough storage space
• The operating system is out-of-date.

Expert Tips

The best way to increase the performance of your phone install anti-virus software to scan and clean the virus. You can also do the following tips to increase your phone performance.

• Update your phone.
• Remove unwanted apps.
• Update the apps.
• Disable unnecessary apps.
• Turn off Animations.
• Clearing cached data.
• Turn off Auto-Sync.

Battery Runs Down 

If your battery consumption increases, then it is sure that your phone has a virus. Viruses are programs that may operate as other regular programs, so they consume the capacity of your phone battery.

Expert Tips

Go to Settings > Battery section on your phone and see which app is using the maximum power. If you find any suspicious or malicious apps on your phone, then immediately uninstall those apps.

Related article: What to do if your Phone has been hacked?

Conclusion

Finally, your phone can be infected by a virus or malware without your acknowledgment. If a virus installs on your phone, then the virus can do anything on your phone.

In this post, we have discussed the common symptoms of how do I know if my phone has a virus. Hope the article will be helpful for you!