Smartphones are a perfect example of incredible technology that has changed our lives for the better. We can do so many things with these handy gadgets that you probably never dreamed of a few decades ago. Of course, to get the most out of your Android device, you’ll need to take advantage of some of the millions of apps available.
To be safe, we are constantly warning you not to download apps from third-party stores. With stringent security protocols, it is more secure to get apps from Google Play Store.
Unfortunately, this is no longer 100 percent true. Security researchers recently discovered 144 Android apps on Google Play containing a form of Trojan malware.
The malware threat is being dubbed “Grabos”. It was originally found in an app called “Aristotle Music Audio Player 2017” which has been downloaded over 5 million times. (Note: A list of affected apps is included near the bottom of this article.)
If your gadget is infected with this malware, you will see fake notifications that are trying to trick you into downloading and installing other applications. It is considered an elaborate pay-per-app-install plan. Grabose can also track a user’s location and constantly send annoying pop-up ads to your gadget.
data usage surge
One of the first things to check is your monthly data usage. This is usually located on your details from your cellphone service provider or when you view your mobile account details online. Compare the amount of data used to data usage over the past months and if you see sudden spikes in your data usage, even though you haven’t actually changed your usage pattern, chances are you are infected.
Adware infected phones usually make unwanted clicks in the background for cybercriminals to make a profit. All of these secretly use bandwidth and it should be easy enough to spot the unauthorized data they consume.
unexplained charges
Another sure sign that your Android gadget is infected is charging unusual charges on your cellphone bill under the category “SMS”. This happens when your gadget gets infected with malware that sends text messages to premium-rate numbers and charges you.
sudden pop-up
If you start getting annoying pop-up ads and notifications, unwanted reminders, and “system” warnings that just won’t go away, your Android phone may be compromised. Malware can also add bookmarks you don’t want, website shortcuts to your home screen that you haven’t created and spammy messages that tempt you to click through.
In addition to slowing down your phone and draining your data, these intrusive notifications can also install more malware on your phone.
unwanted apps
Keep track of apps you don’t remember installing. Trojan malware, especially adware, are known to automatically download more malicious apps without your knowledge. In addition, cybercriminals try to copy and clone legitimate apps to trick users into installing them but swap them out with malware through automatic app updates.
battery drain
As you can imagine, all this unauthorized background activity not only takes a toll on your data usage, but it can affect your battery life as well. These battery-sucking viruses can be lurking in third-party apps and untrusted downloads, and once you install the program on your Android, you’ll notice the drain almost immediately.
Steps You Can Take to Remove Android Virus
If you think that your Android phone is not working properly and you suspect that it may be infected with malware, here are tips that can help you clean up its function.
remove suspicious apps
To review and remove suspicious apps, go to Settings >> then Apps or Application Manager. Go through the list and keep an eye out for anything that is strange or unfamiliar. Tap on the suspicious app you want to get rid of and this will open the App Info screen.
First, clear the data cache of the app by pressing “Clear Cache”. Next, tap on “Clear data” to clear the app’s data. After completing these steps, click on the “Uninstall” button to remove the app.
Some malicious apps may have administrator access and are more difficult to remove but there are ways.
First of all, enter Safe Mode on your Android phone. In most Android gadgets, this requires holding down the power button until the “Power off” or “Power options” menu appears. Simply tap and hold this menu until the option to Reboot in Safe Mode appears, then hit OK.