Does a game have the ability to send SMS messages? That’s probably unnecessary and could be a red flag, Bauer said. Keep this in mind when installing apps in the future, too.
SIGNS OF MALWARE
There are many signs that could indicate that your phone is vulnerable to attack by presence of malware. Four common signs are listed below for your awareness:
- Your battery is draining much faster than usual.
- You see apps you don’t recognize on your phone.
- You’re seeing ads constantly, regardless of which app you’re using.
- You install an app and then the icon immediately disappears.
HOW TO STOP MALWARE
Whether you think you already have malware on your Android device or you just want to protect yourself, there are clear steps you can take.
First, keep your phone’s software updated. Security experts consistently rank a current OS and updated apps as one of the most important steps users can take to protect their devices and accounts. If you already have malware running on your phone, software updates from your phone-maker — say Android 10 or the upcoming Android 11 — can patch vulnerabilities and cut off the access the malicious software enjoyed. Updates can also keep malware from working in the first place.
Next, review what permissions your apps have. Does a game have the ability to send SMS messages? That’s probably unnecessary and could be a red flag, Bauer said. Keep this in mind when installing apps in the future, too.
Removing apps you think are malicious can be tricky. At times you can just remove the app’s permissions, delete the app and be done with it. Other malicious apps will give themselves administrator privileges, so they can’t just be deleted without extra steps. If you have trouble removing a specific app, you can try looking it up online to find what has worked for other people.
You can also consider installing antivirus apps. These services can sometimes slow your phone, and they do have heightened access to your phone in order to spot malicious behavior and warn you, so you have to choose one you trust. And you’re likely to want to choose the paid option if you can, both to unlock all the best features and to avoid seeing even more ads. The apps can warn you about malware on your phone and offer you customer service when you need to deal with something nasty. At the very least, you can use a well-known program like ESET, Malwarebytes, Norton, Lookout or Bitdefender to scan your device if you think you already have malware installed.
Finally, you can get rid of or avoid Android apps downloaded from third-party app stores. These apps don’t go through review by Google and can more easily sneak malicious software onto your phone. Google doesn’t catch everything, as reports about malicious Android apps being removed show but sticking to the official Google Play Store and having a direct outlet to report problems you encounter is a further line of defense.
ALABI OLUSEGUN SUNDAY
Chairman, NCS Abuja Chapter
bsking@bskingdavid.net
(The articled was copied from an unknown author and modified for public awareness and information)
