Is There Malware On Your Phone Our phones contain a lot of data. Photos, videos, messages, banking details, etc. But if you are not careful, then just like a computer, your phone can also be at risk. Without you knowing, there may be activities such as dangerous programs running in the background, and personal data theft. This can not only damage your phone but also trap you financially. This activity is called malware.
Malware (Malware: Malicious Software) is a program created by hackers, which hackers/cyber criminals use to damage and destroy other computers and computer systems through email/internet and pen drives or infected computers.
Unwanted ads and apps appear
Let’s say you are searching for photos/videos on the Internet, but if you keep seeing unwanted ads, you should be worried.
Those ads are annoying and there is a possibility that they may contain malware. Therefore, you should not click on such ads immediately. Similarly, if after unlocking your phone you see an app that you did not install, this is a major sign of malware.
Phone heats up quickly and the battery drains
It is normal for the phone to heat up after using it for some time. But if the phone heats up for no reason, that is also a sign of malware. The phone may be heating up because of any app running in the background. There may be some illegal activity going on in it. For example: crypto mining, sending spam, etc.
The phone gets stuck while using it
Smartphones in normal conditions never get stuck while using them. They run smoothly. But if the phone gets stuck while switching from one app to another, or when you open an app, that is also a sign of malware.
Phone calls get disconnected automatically
If your phone keeps disconnecting even when you have a good network, the reason may be malware. Malware may have corrupted your network settings and made it that way. Therefore, it is important to be careful if phone calls keep disconnecting repeatedly even when there is no problem with the network.
Data consumption increasing rapidly
If the data consumption on your phone has increased rapidly, it may be due to malware. But when streaming 4K videos, downloading games, and downloading large files, more data is consumed than usual. But if the data consumption is the same in other cases, it is a sign of danger.
How to stay safe from malware?
Do not use unsafe websites such as freeware, pirated software/games, free music/video, and pornographic content. When visiting such unsafe websites, do not click on the links that appear in the Pop-Up Window/Banner for promotion and do not download Freeware/shareware and pirated software, music video/games from such websites.
Do not click on suspicious attachments and links received on social networks such as; Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and WhatsApp/Viber.
Only click or open email internet links and attachments on computers and computer systems after correctly identifying them and do not open those links and attachments if they seem suspicious.
Do not accept (Accept) Cookies Requests from unsafe websites, ignore them.
If for some reason the computer and computer system are hacked and the hacker encrypts the data and demands money for the decryption of the data, do not pay such hackers. If you pay the hacker, there is no possibility of decryption of the data.
Do not use pen drives found unattended in the computer and computer system.
Use Security Browser Add-on Tools like Netcraft to identify unsafe websites.
Keep regular backups of important data stored in the computer and computer system.
Scan the computer and computer system regularly using Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Spam Filter.
Always keep the firewall of the computer and computer system active “ON”.
Update the operating system, Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware / Spam Filter, and the software used in the computer and computer system regularly.
Do not use open Wi-Fi (unsecured Wi-Fi) as much as possible.
Stay informed about new Viruses / Cyber Attacks that spread through email and the Internet. Let’s inform others about this matter as well.
Let’s use strong passwords on computers, computer systems and digital accounts. Let’s change the passwords from time to time.
Keep computers and computer systems safe by using Multi-Factor Authentication (such as Two Factor Authentication, Mobile Number, OTP, Fingerprint, etc.).
Do not reply/respond to messages, phone calls, etc. sent via email/internet with various temptations or threats, including prizes, gifts, lottery, or visas.
Do not send details like your password, OTP, or bank account number. PIN code through email.
Do not share Personally Identifiable Information (PII) including Login Credentials (User Name and Password), bank credit card number, and citizenship number without properly identifying any website. Share your details only after properly identifying the official website.
If you are suspicious about an email or website you have received, please contact the relevant organization by phone and only reply/respond after thoroughly identifying the person or organization sending the email.
