How To Remove Malware from Your Android Phone

Malware is any malicious software that can get into your device, which means your Android phone could be vulnerable to a cyber attack. With new viruses created every day, the threat is stronger than ever. Today, there are more than 1 billion malware programs in existence.

When hackers sneak into your device, they could steal your personal data. That means anything from text messages to banking and credit card information may get exposed to criminals. 

Learn how to prevent malware and how you can remove it from your Android device manually or with a trusted antivirus app.

How to remove malware from your Android phone

If you suspect you have malware on your Android device, you should stop it from causing further harm. Here are simple steps to remove the malware and prevent future damage.

Remove suspicious apps

Malicious apps could be causing malware on your Android device. The exact steps for removing suspicious apps may vary slightly depending on your phone's model and the version of Android you have installed.

1. On your Android device, go to Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Choose the infected apps you want to remove and click Uninstall.
4. If you receive any on-screen prompts, follow those instructions to finish.

If you don’t have the option to uninstall, revoke device admin permission. You can find and deactivate device admin permissions in the security section of your settings.

Reboot in safe mode

When you reboot your Android device in safe mode, doing so stops third-party apps from running. That will include any malware.

Once in safe mode, look for any suspicious apps. If you think issues with your Android are caused by a hardware malfunction rather than malware, rebooting in safe mode will help you narrow down the issue. If the device runs fine in safe mode, the phone’s hardware is not the issue. You likely have an app causing the problem.

Rebooting your Android in safe mode only takes a few simple steps.

1. Press the power button and hold it for several seconds until you see the “Power off” option.
2. Select the “Power off” button and hold it until you see the “Reboot in safe mode” prompt.

3. Press OK. Your Android device should now reboot in safe mode.

Reset your browser to factory settings

If your phone is infected with adware or other malware, it is possible that it redirected your browser. When that happens, your start page or homepage will be something new.

If you want to restore your Android device to factory settings, you can use some general steps. These may vary depending on your specific Android device. This may also clear your browser passwords, so be sure you know what those are to save time setting it up again.

1. Go to your Settings app.
2. Select Apps.
3. Locate Google Chrome, which is the default Android browser.
4. Click the Clear Cache and Clear All Data buttons. These will reset your browser.

Clear out downloads

When you need to check for unwanted downloaded files, you can view those in your Files folder. To find your Files folder, swipe left or right through your apps to get to the folder icon. There are some simple steps to clear out downloads from your Android device.

1. Open your Files folder. That may show as the “Files by Google” or “My Files” app.
2. Click on Clean at the bottom.
3. Choose Select files from the Delete downloaded files card.
4. Select any downloads you want to remove.
5. At the bottom, select the Delete button. Press Delete again to confirm.

Factory reset

If rebooting in safe mode and uninstalling suspicious apps does not fix your Android’s malware infection issues, you can reset your phone to the original factory settings.

Before you restore the factory settings, it is crucial to note that this will erase all your data. It will also uninstall all apps and essentially create a blank slate. You can perform a factory reset from your Settings menu button with these steps, which may vary slightly depending on your device:

1. Go to Settings on your Android device. Navigate to Backup & Reset. Select Factory Data Reset.

2. Select Reset.

3. You may be asked to enter your passcode next. Your device may send you a generic code if you do not have a passcode. Once you enter that code, click the Erase everything button.
4. Your phone will perform a factory reset. Once it finishes, your Android device will restart and take you through the setup procedures.

Signs of malware

If you have malware on your Android phone, some signs may present over time. If your device is presenting any of these symptoms, it could be a good indication you have Android malware.

• Your battery drains fast, even if you don’t use your phone much.
• You start getting expensive or higher than usual phone bills.
• The phone starts overheating.
• Your apps take a long time to open, or they don’t open at all.
• Your data usage is higher than normal.
• The phone’s performance is slow.
• You get unusual ads or other notifications that keep popping up.
• Your device won’t update.

Tips for avoiding malware

One of the best ways to protect your Android device from malware and increase your mobile security is to use caution when downloading third-party apps. Some of these could contain malware. An example could be an ad blocker app that only produces more ads on your phone.

You also want to be sure you keep any permissions locked down at all times. When an app asks permission to change your device, you want to use caution. You could be giving a hacker administrator privileges, which could allow cybercriminals to steal your data.

Another cybersecurity step is keeping your phone’s operating system software updated to the latest version. This is crucial to protecting your device because updates could patch security vulnerabilities.

Finally, be cautious about clicking on links or downloading text or SMS attachments. These could be phishing attempts or scams. If you don’t recognize the sender or something seems “off,” it’s best to trust your gut.

Consider installing an anti-malware app

If you do not have an anti-malware app on your Android device, consider installing one. It could block potential threats from infecting your phone. Popular options include Bitdefender and Norton 360. You will also be able to run regular scans to detect any malware or possible vulnerabilities you may have on your device.

Anti-malware security apps are made to protect your device from spyware, ransomware, and any other malicious cyber attacks. The best antivirus apps for Android will help keep hackers from installing different malware variants on your phone.

Google Play Protect

Another option is to set up automatic scanning on your Android device. The best way to do this is by using the Play Protect feature. On the Play Protect window, tap the gear icon. Switch both sliders on. They should turn to green when turned on. Follow the steps below to run a manual scan using Google Play Protect.

1. Go to your Google Play Store app.
2. Click on your menu button. That will be the three-dot icon on the top-left corner of the screen.
3. Choose Play Protect.
4. Click the Scan button. Your Android device will check for malware.
5. If any malware gets found, you will get an option to remove it.

You can also install third-party anti-malware apps, but vet them and only download apps from the Google Play Store.

FAQs

Bottom line

Malware can be annoying and destructive. You may receive unwanted pop-up ads or be invaded by a virus that steals your most sensitive data. None of us can afford to be complacent about cyber threats.

You don’t want to wait until your device is infected before taking action. With some diligence and determination, you can take steps to help prevent malware attacks on your Android device. If your device does become infected with a virus, use these techniques to restore your phone. Installing a trusted antivirus software app could also help you stay safe online.