- Jan 12, 2014 AntiVirus for Windows Phone 7.8. I have a Nokia Lumia 900 with Windows 7.8, and I would like to find an antivirus app to download, but don't see one in the marketplace search. Does anyone know of one? I suspect I may have a virus on my phone because I downloaded a document on it yesterday, and today, after I turned on the phone and tried to.
- Get AVG AntiVirus FREE 2019 for Android™ to help protect you from harmful viruses and malware. Keep your personal data safe with App Lock, Photo Vault, Wi-Fi Security Scan, and App Permissions advisor. Download for Free Now! Over 100,000,000 people already installed AVG’s antivirus mobile security apps.
- Sep 12, 2019 Antivirus Free 2019 - Virus Scan & Removal, Cleaner is phone security and antivirus app, packed with Virus Cleaner, Virus Protection, Junk Cleaner. By providing powerful security services, it secure your phone in realtime.
If you believe your Android phone or tablet has a virus then the good news is it's really easy to delete. Here's how to remove a virus from your Android device. Plus, we show you how to avoid the Gunpoder virus, the Mazar virus, and other Android malware.
Step 1 of 7:
How to remove virus from Android: Summary
The top two ways to protect yourself are to download a mobile security app like Lookout to catch those pesky “phone viruses” and to be judicious about what apps you download and were you download them from. Lookout will scour your phone or tablet for any existing malware, and also examine every new app you download to ensure it is safe. With AVG AntiVirus FREE 2019 for Android you’ll receive effective virus and malware protection, phone locator, task killer, app lock, Wi-Fi Scanner and photo vault to help shield you from threats. May 21, 2018 Remove virus from Android phone using Zemana Antivirus is very simple. First of all you should download and install this app on your phone, for this use the following link. When the installation process is complete, click Open button. Zemana Antivirus will start and you will see the main window, as shown in the figure below.
Android viruses are installed via third-party apps; to remove an Android virus put your device in Safe mode, if necessary remove its administrator status and then uninstall the affected app. If all else fails a factory reset will clear the infection. In this article we offer a step-by-step guide on how to remove malware from an Android phone or tablet.
How to remove virus from Android: Step-by-step guide
First of all, it's worth pointing out that it's unlikely that your Android phone or tablet has a virus. What you're more likely to be seeing is an ad that wants to convince you Android is infected and you need to download an app, or a dodgy pop-up, or perhaps your device is just misbehaving. But viruses for Android do exist.
If you're sure your device has a virus, read on to find out how to remove it.
Step 2 of 7:
How to avoid Android malware, including how to avoid Gunpoder virus, how to avoid Mazar virus
All Android viruses are delivered via apps installed on your device, so if your phone or tablet doesn't already have a virus, the best way to avoid it getting one is to never install software outside of the Google Play app store.
What App To Download For Virus On Phone Calls
This is also true of the Gunpoder virus, which recently hit the headlines after Palo Alto Networks discovered it could sneak on to your phone via Nintendo game emulators installed outside Google Play - and even has the cheek to make you pay for the priviledge. Fortunately, Gunpoder hasn't been seen to affect UK users as of yet, but it's still worth taking measures to protect yourself from the Gunpoder virus and other Android viruses that may be released in the future.
More recently the Mazar virus has hit headlines, arriving on your phone via a link in a text message that downloads the Tor browser. Right now it appears to have affected devices only in Denmark, although it could potentially spread further.
Step 3 of 7:
To ensure you don't inadvertently install malware through the installation of apps outside of Google Play, open your Settings menu, look for the Security option, then ensure the option for Unknown Sources (allow installation of apps from unknown sources) is disabled. Also see: Security Advisor
If you're determined to install an app from outside Google Play, do your research. Check its permissions (does a video player really need to see your contacts?), look online for reviews and have a good look at the developer's site to see what else it offers. In the case of Gunpoder, be particularly wary of Nintendo game emulator apps.
You can also install an antivirus app, and plenty of free Android antivirus appsare available that are able to detect and remove malicious apps, for example 360 Mobile Security, Avast and Lookout. These all include an app scanner that will seek out anything dodgy, but note that these apps can also trigger false-positives - reporting an app you've been using for months as malware when you know it's fine. In most cases you can simply ignore these alerts. Also, again with Gunpoder in mind, these apps may not pick up on malicious behaviour if the app is able to hide it from them - Gunpoder uses the Airpush adware library to conceal that behaviour.
If you believe you already have a virus on your Android phone or tablet - perhaps one that is resisting your attempts to uninstall the associated app or even let you bypass the lock screen - a factory reset will remove it, returning your device to its out-of-the-box state. But doing so also means you'll lose everything on your phone that's not backed up. Instead, follow the below steps to remove a virus from Android.
Step 4 of 7:
How to remove a virus from Android
Put your phone or tablet into Safe mode. This prevents any third-party apps running, including any malware. On many devices you can press the power button to access the power off options, then press and hold Power off to bring up an option to restart in Safe mode. If this doesn't work for your device then you should Google 'How to put [your model name] into Safe mode' and follow the instructions. When in Safe mode you'll see 'Safe mode' at the bottom left of the screen.
Step 5 of 7:
Open your Settings menu and choose Apps, then make sure you're viewing the Downloaded tab. If you don't know the name of the virus you think has infected your Android phone or tablet, go through the list and look for anything dodgy-looking or that you know you haven't installed or shouldn't be running on your device.
Step 6 of 7:
Tap on the malicious app (clearly it won't be called 'Dodgy Android virus', this is just an illustration) to open the App info page, then click Uninstall. In most cases, this is all you need to do to remove the virus, but occasionally you might find the Uninstall button is greyed out. This is because the virus has given itself Device administrator status.
Step 7 of 7:
Exit the Apps menu and tap on Settings, Security, Device Administrators. Here you'll find a list of any apps on your phone or tablet with administrator status. Simply untick the box for the app you want to remove, then tap Deactivate on the next screen. You should now be able to return to the apps menu and remove that app.
With the virus now off your Android phone or tablet, all you need to is restart the device to take it out of Safe mode. Now that it's working correctly it's a good time to back up whatever important data you have stored on the device, and install an Android antivirus app to protect you from any future viruses that come your way.
If you like this article and found it helpful please follow me on Linkedin
Does my Android phone have a virus? Is it infected with malware or a malicious app? Will my personal information be held for ransom? If you find yourself asking these questions, then here is some useful information about Android devices and antivirus apps that may help you.
Viruses and other types of malware
Malware is malicious software that can sneak onto your phone. Written with the intent to cause harm, malware can include viruses, computer worms, Trojans, ransomware, and spyware.
Cybercriminals can use malware to access your personal data and, in some cases, subsequently use that sensitive information to commit identity theft or fraud.
Viruses are a particular type of malware that infiltrate a computer or other device and their programs. A cybercriminal may be able to install a virus on your device without your knowledge or consent. The virus may then be able to insert new, malicious code on your device that can monitor and manipulate your online activity.
What can viruses and other malware do to Android phones?
Malware is designed to generate revenue for cybercriminals.
Malware can steal your information, make your device send SMS messages to premium rate text services, or install adware that forces you to view web pages or download apps.
Info stealers can steal your contact list, your personal information, your location, your passwords, and more.
With the aid of malware, cybercriminals can access your devices and steal your information for their own use or to sell on the dark web.
Hackers also use ransomware to lock devices and encrypt personal data. Then they can demand a ransom payment from the victim in order to regain access to their files.
Signs your Android phone may have a virus or other malware
Phones can be vulnerable to damage externally and internally. While the external damage is usually visible, internal damage is usually hidden from view.
Malware like viruses are known to perform repeated tasks that can take up resources on your devices. Signs of malware may show up in these ways.
- Your phone is too slow.
- Apps take longer to load.
- The battery drains faster than expected.
- There is an abundance of pop-up ads.
- Your phone has apps you don’t remember downloading.
- Unexplained data usage occurs.
- Higher phone bills arrive.
How to check for viruses and other malware on your Android phone
A good way to check for malware on your Android phone is to run an antivirus scan.
Before buying antivirus software for your phone, make sure you consider the most comprehensive product that’s available for your device.
There are many antivirus software choices available on the market. Some are free, and some are sold.
What App To Download For Virus On Phone Number
It’s a good idea to do your research to ensure the security software you invest in runs a complete scan and doesn’t overlook any vulnerabilities. An incomplete scan could give you a false sense of security when, in fact, your device could be vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Norton Mobile Security for Android is one product you might consider.
How to remove viruses and other malware from your Android device
If you think you have malware on your phone, it’s important to stop the malware from causing any further damage. Here are a few steps you can take.
- Power off the phone and reboot in safe mode. Press the power button to access the Power Off options. Most Android phones come with the option to restart in Safe Mode. Here’s how, according to Google, although Safe Mode can vary by phone: Press your phone's power button. When the animation starts, press and hold your phone's volume down button. Hold it until the animation ends and your phone restarts. You'll see “Safe mode” at the bottom of your screen.
- Uninstall the suspicious app. Find the app in Settings and uninstall or force close it. This may not completely remove the malware, but it could prevent further damage to your device, or from it transmitting the malware to other devices on your network.
- Look for other apps you think may be infected. There’s a chance that some apps may have been infected by the malware. If you think you can identify those apps, delete them immediately.
- Install a robust mobile security app on your phone.
Tips to help protect your Android device against viruses and other malware
Here are seven key steps you can take to help protect against future risks.
- Invest in and use robust security software to protect your Android device.
- Keep all operating systems and software updated with the latest versions.
- Don’t click on suspicious or unfamiliar links in emails and text messages.
- Use strong, complicated passwords or a password manager.
- Never use unsecure Wi-Fi connections. Always use a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
- Always use strong cyber safety protection on all devices that connect to the internet.
- Always install apps from trusted sources, such as the Google Play Store. Read the fine print and permissions on the apps to understand how much access you are giving the app developers.
It’s a good idea to not wait until your device gets infected. Make protecting your Android device a priority. Having good antivirus software that helps protect your PCs, tablets, and other Android devices could help prevent malware from spreading from device to device.
An estimated $11.3 billion was lost to cybercrime in the past year*
Norton™ 360 brings real-time protection for your PCs, Macs, smartphones or tablets against ransomware, viruses, spyware, malware and other online threats.
Try Norton 360. Post, bank and shop from your device. We’ll keep it secure.
*Based on a survey of 1,004 adults in the US, of which, 395 experienced cyber crime in the past 12 months. Conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Norton™ LifeLock™, October 2018.
Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you. Norton LifeLock offerings may not cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat we write about. Our goal is to increase awareness about cyber safety. Please review complete Terms during enrollment or setup. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime, and that LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses.
Copyright © 2019 NortonLifeLock Inc. All rights reserved. NortonLifeLock, the NortonLifeLock Logo, the Checkmark Logo, Norton, LifeLock, and the LockMan Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NortonLifeLock Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Firefox is a trademark of Mozilla Foundation. Android, Google Chrome, Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google, LLC. Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Microsoft and the Window logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.