How to understand that an Android smartphone is infected with a virus: the most obvious signs

You notice that your Android smartphone has started to act strangely? There is a chance that it is infected with malware. The makeuseof.com portal told how you can check if viruses are downloaded to your device.

Even if you don't notice any signs of suspicious activity, this doesn't mean that they don't exist — they may be hiding somewhere deeper. If your smartphone is consuming a lot of power for no good reason, there is a chance that malware is running in the background. Check your battery status through your system settings and see which apps are using the most battery.

The Google Play platform usually protects users from downloading suspicious apps, but it's worth taking extra precautions. Try stopping the app that's draining too much battery, restarting your phone, or uninstalling the app.

Another sign of a possible hack is the downloading of random programs to the smartphone's memory. Some malicious programs are capable of remotely downloading other files and sending confidential information to attackers. If you notice something in the list of programs that you did not install, immediately clear the smartphone's memory. In doubt? Search the Internet for information about an unknown program.

Many people use unlimited Internet tariffs, which is why they rarely look into the “Data traffic” menu. If your smartphone has started to behave strangely and you want to check for suspicious connections, be sure to open the settings and view the traffic usage history. Large volumes are normal for streaming services and games that download updates. If there is something among them that consumes several gigabytes of traffic per month – study the program in more detail.

Unfortunately, the modern Internet is full of advertising banners that appear for no reason or without reason. Many users have already more or less adapted and learned to deal with them, but this does not mean that they do not pose a threat at all. Do not click on dubious banners wherever they appear. Warnings that the smartphone is “infected with a virus” and “needs cleaning” – are lies, they will simply transfer your personal data to a third party. And in no case do not enter bank card details.