Yes, your phone can get a virus — here’s how to spot it
Look out for these 6 signs
How does a phone get infected?
Like personal computers, phones can be compromised by malware.
For example, the Hummingbad virus infectedten millionAndroid devices within a few months of its creation in 2016, and put as many as85 milliondevices at risk.
Typically, a phone virus works the same way as a computer virus: a malicious code infects your device, replicates itself, and spreads to other devices by auto-messaging others in your contact list or auto-forwarding itself as an email.
A virus can limit your phone’s functionality, send your personal information to hackers, send your contacts spam messages linking to malware, and even allow the virus’s operator to “spy” on you by capturing your screen and keyboard inputs and tracking your geographical location.
In Australia, Scamwatch received16,000 reportsof the Flubot virus over just eight weeks in 2021. Thisvirussends text messages to Android and iPhone users with links to malware. Clicking on the links can lead to a malicious app being downloaded on your phone, giving scammers access to your personal information.
Flubot scammers regularly change theirtarget countries. According to cyber security firm Bitdefender, FluBot operators targeted Australia, Germany, Poland, Spain, Austria, and other European countries between December 1 2021 and January 2 of this year.
Is either Apple or Android more secure?
While Apple devices are generally considered more secure than Android, andless proneto virus attacks, iPhone users who “jailbreak” or modify their phone open themselves up to security vulnerabilities.
Similarly, Android users who install apps from outside the Google Play store increase their risk of installing malware. It’s recommended all phone users stay on guard, as both Apple and Android arevulnerableto security risks.
That said, phones are generally better protected against viruses than personal computers. This is because software is usually installed through authorized app stores that vet each app (although some malicious apps can occasionally slip throughthe cracks).
Also, in comparison to computers, phones are more secure as the apps are usually “sandboxed” in their own isolated environment – unable to access or interfere with other apps. This reduces the risk of infection or cross-contamination from malware. However, no device is entirely immune.
Watch out for the signs
While it’s not always easy to tell whether your phone is infected, it will exhibit some abnormal behaviors if it is. Some signs to watch out for include:
If you do suspect a virus has infected your device, there are some steps you can take. First, to prevent further damage you’ll need to remove the malware. Here are some simple troubleshooting steps:
As a last resort, you can back up all your data and perform a factory reset on your phone. Resetting a phone to its original settings will eliminate any malware.
Protecting your phone from infection
Now you’ve fixed your phone, it’s important to safeguard it against future viruses and other security risks. The mobile security apps mentioned above will help with this. But you can also:
Continually monitor your phone for suspicious activity and trust your gut instincts. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Article byRitesh Chugh, Associate Professor – Information and Communications Technology,CQUniversity Australia
This article is republished fromThe Conversationunder a Creative Commons license. Read theoriginal article.
Story byThe Conversation
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