Solved: How do I detect and remove virus, malware, spyware, from laptop, Android, and iOS smartphone completely

Question

Today, your cell phone may be just as vulnerable as your laptop. The most common mobile viruses are adware, ransomware, spyware, trojan horses, and computer worms. So how do you know if your phone has infected by virus, malware, or spyware?

In this article we’ll tell you how to detect virus, malware, and spyware on your computer or both Android smartphone and iPhone, and show you how to remove them.

Content Summary

How do I know there are viruses in my phone?
Solution 1: Install security software and run malware scan
Solution 2: Scan for malware using Google Play Protect
Solution 3: Remove virus/malware manually
Solution 4: Download apps from official source
Solution 5: Remove malware for Droid device
Solution 6: Factory reset for phone
Solution 7: Reset browser to default settings
Solution 8: SMS/ MMS Spy Detector
Solution 9: Anti-Spy Mobile
Solution 10: Privacy Scanner
Solution 11: Stop Spy
Solution 12: Hidden Device Admin Detector
Reference

How do I know there are viruses in my phone?

Malware includes viruses, spyware, ransomware, and any other unwanted software that gets secretly installed onto your device such as PC or laptop, tablet, iPhone, or Android smartphone. Malware can be used by hackers to infiltrate our devices and steal our data and money or destroy our device.

The classic signs of malware in your phone are:

• Battery draining faster than usual
• Apps that you did not download showing up
• Device or apps suddenly slows down, taking longer to load, crashes, or displays repeated error messages
• Unfamiliar graphics displayed
• Device won’t shut down or restart
• Device restarting several times every day
• Device won’t let you remove software
• Device serves up lots of pop-ups, inappropriate ads, or ads that interfere with page content
• Device shows ads in places you typically wouldn’t see them, like government websites
• Device shows new and unexpected toolbars or icons in your browser or on your desktop
• Browser uses a new default search engine, or displays new tabs or websites you didn’t open
• Browser keeps changing your computer’s internet home page
• If the contacts on your phone are receiving weird spam messages or email from your phone itself, the malware may already hijack your messenger service and spam all your contacts with infected link to spread to other types of messages.
• Device is overheated or hot even though you have not used it much
• You receive expensive phone bills
• You see a sudden unexplained increase or spike in data usage due to malware is running background tasks on your device or transmitting information or background data from your phone.

Solution 1: Install security software and run malware scan

If any of these strange signs occur, check to see if you have security-related application software installed on your device. If not, refer to the following recommendation to download and install it.

• Find recommendations from independent review sites by doing a search online.
• Ask friends and family for recommendations.
• Go with a trusted name in the security space, such as Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Malwarebytes, Avast, and McAfee all of which have their own Android and iOS antivirus apps. We recommend investing in one, scanning for viruses, and allowing the program to identify and remove any malware it finds.

Warning: Some software that claims to be security software to protect you from malware is malware, so it’s important to do your research.

The easiest solution available is to run a malware scan, but it may not prove effective in every case. Use a spyware detection and removal program to scan for spyware or some anti-virus software also has a malware detection capability. It can detect different kinds of malicious applications and files that may include adware, backdoor, spyware, keyloggers, phishing attacks, unwanted programs (PUA or PUP), and any other harmful threats. Try downloading them and performing a scan to wipe out infections.

Solution 2: Scan for malware using Google Play Protect

Follow below simple steps to scan for malware on Android device:

Step 1: Go to the Google Play Store app.

Step 2: Tap on the three-line icon located at the top-left corner of your screen to open the Menu.

Step 3: Select Play Protect.

Step 4: Tap Scan. Your device will to start check if any malware exists.

Step 5: If your device uncovers harmful apps, it will provide an option for the removal.

Note: To setup automatic scanning for your phone, tap the gear icon located at the top-right corner of the Play Protect window. Make sure both sliders are toggle on or set to green.

Solution 3: Remove virus/malware manually

The best way to keep your Android phone safe and secure is to keep to the secured confines of the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Most of the Android viruses come while Mazar sneaks in via text message prompting you to download Tor Browser. Although virus and malware can be removed using an antivirus software but you can also avoid your device getting infected by them.

To avoid viruses, you should concern about some points below:

• Do not install app from outside Google Play Store/Apple App Store
• Avoid cloned apps
• Check app permissions
• Keep Android version up to date
• Install antivirus app and more.

After installation and scan using antivirus app, you can try below mentioned approach to resolve the detect and remove the viruses/malware:

Step 1: Put your device into safe mode, you will see safe mode at the bottom left of screen. Safe mode allows you to turn off any third-party apps and services, giving you a chance to disable malware as well.

Step 2: Open the Settings menu and select apps and see the Download apps. If you don’t know the name of virus then go through the list and find any malicious app.

Step 3: Tap on this app to open the App Info.

Step 4: Tap on the Uninstall tab.

Step 5: Exit the apps menu.

Step 6: Tap on the Settings in Security and select the Device Administration.

Step 7: Uncheck the box for the app you want to remove and on the next screen tap on the Deactivate.

Step 8: Go to the download folder and delete the malware .apk file.

If you still facing the issue with your Android device then contact the technical support team of your android device for help. They will provide you a guaranteed solution to remove the viruses and malware from your device.

Solution 4: Download apps from official source

Download apps only from official sources such as Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Never install any apps from third party sites. There are many apps that contain malware because APK can be modified. But official apps posted over Google Play can only be modified by the developer and it won’t have any virus. So be very careful while download and install each app. See reviews and which company’s app.

When you install an app and start using it, see what permission is being asked on the device. Do not give permission that seems unnecessary.

Antivirus software is required on mobile phones as well as on computers. Install the best software of its kind especially from trusted brand vendor such as Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Malwarebytes, Avast, and McAfee.

Perform check-up for your smartphone at least monthly and don’t try to install all the apps without knowing the source and publisher of the App.

Solution 5: Remove malware for Droid device

In fact, 98% of all viruses in the mobile community are targeted against Android or Droid devices. An additional fact is that Google Play Store gets infected with viruses on a regular basis even if you download exclusively from the Google Play store you can still get infected.

There is no defense for Droids that can be proven to work or work all the time. For Droid device, you will have to wipe the device completely clean, reset it to factory defaults, update the operating system and then carefully install one app at a time, watching to see if any one app causes you to get infected again.

Solution 6: Factory reset for phone

The most effective way to remove majority of malware or virus is by hard reset or factory reset the phone or a complete wipeout of data by a computer. It sets your phones state back to a factory one, which usually doesn’t contain any malware.

To perform a factory reset, you can follow the given steps.

Step 1: Go to the Settings menu.

Step 2: Select General & Backup and reset.

Step 3: Select Factory data reset.

Step 4: Tap Reset device. Enter your passcode when requested.

Step 5: Tap Erase everything or Remove all option.

Step 6: Reboot your device.

Step 7: Restore from a previous backup.

If malware manages to escalate its privileges to root (jailbreaking, rooting, misusing unlocked boot, fake rooting, jailbreak guide to guide users to install the malware) and install itself to system partition, boot, or recovery partitions which are normally not even visible to the phone users, then factory reset won’t help you and you would have to use some special tooling to get rid of the malware such as hardware re-flashing of the memory chip or re-gaining the root privileges and re-flashing the affected partitions from clean image/backup.

Solution 7: Reset browser to default settings

To get rid of pop-up ads and redirects from your browser, you will have to reset the browser to default settings.

Solution 8: SMS/ MMS Spy Detector

SMS/ MMS Spy Detector can scan and get to know about the spyware that is sending and writing SMS/MMS secretly. Some malicious apps cost you money when any message is sent from your device. SMS/ MMS Spy Detector app would be helpful to you and detect every single SMS. You can visually check every app and detect the malware. Features of SMS/ MMS Spy Detector including:

• Lightweight
• Detect all malware
• Impressive design
• Monitor your apps and server
• It is available in the free version

Solution 9: Anti-Spy Mobile

Anti-spy mobile is one of the best apps which helps your phone from spying. Anti-spy mobile app comes with a free anti-spyware scanner that can detect the bug and remove it from your phone. Anti-spy mobile has a super-fast scanner with automatic background and notification on the status bar for free. Anti-spy mobile helps in identifying which is tracking your cell. It is available in the free version. In general, Anti-spy mobile’s features including:

• Support multiple languages
• Advanced spyware Detection
• Protects from mobile spyware
• Regular updated
• Easy and straightforward to use

Solution 10: Privacy Scanner

Privacy scanning app checks your smartphone and detects parental control. Privacy Scanner uses GPS tracking technology and accesses your call history, contacts, calendar, etc. Privacy Scanner also scans the apps that run with suspicious permission. Privacy Scanner is available in the free version. Features of Privacy Scanner included:

• Protection against Spy apps
• Activate automatically
• Customization
• Uninstalled the malware apps
• Regular update

Solution 11: Stop Spy

Stop Spy is a popular app that allows you to quickly and accurately determine spyware apps. There are malware apps found which do not allow your data to be yours. Stop Spy use your location, call, SMS photos, and more. Stop Spy app will uninstall the unwanted apps permanently. It is available in the free version. Features of Stop Spy:

• Virus Protection
• Web security
• Traffic monitoring
• Identify and remove app malware quickly
• Optimized detection speed.

Solution 12: Hidden Device Admin Detector

If you’re looking for a free malware detection app, then your search is over. Hidden Device Admin Detector has a powerful scanning tool that can help in detecting the malware which hides from the user. Hidden Device Admin Detector app can quickly recognize all the malicious apps easily. Hidden Device Admin Detector is available in the free version. It is an effective solution to remove malware. Features of Hidden Device Admin Detector included:

• Anti-theft
• Speed Booster
• Impressive and comfortable app
• Security & Antivirus
• Junk file cleaner

Reference

• Microsoft Support > How to prevent and remove viruses and other malware
• Dell Technologies Support > Knowledge Base Article > Protect your computer or remove virus, spyware, or other malware in Microsoft Windows
• Google Chrome Help > Remove unwanted ads, pop-ups & malware