Written by Ria du Plessis - Web Developer Updated on September 22, 2021 |
Most malware is focused on stealing your personal information such as banking details, contacts list, or other personal details. However, there are plenty of malicious apps that will display unwanted advertisements on your phone or within the browser and redirect you to malicious sites.
Written by Ria du Plessis - Web Developer Updated on September 22, 2021 |
This is why it is important that you are always aware of what could happen and keep our malware removal recommendations in mind when using your Android device.
Generally, you won’t need anti-malware software on your Android device if you play it safe. If you only download apps from the Play Store, and keep your security settings enabled, you can get away with no malware remover on your mobile device.
However, there are some people who like to take a walk on the wild side and not keep it safe and download unrecognized apps from unknown places.
The thing is, these days, most people's work relies on their smartphones. From social media to bank accounts and from keeping documents to storing confidential messages, everything lies in this palm-size gadget. So, rather be safe than sorry and download anti-malware software on your Android device.
Sometimes it can be hard to spot malware on an Android device. Android malware often tries to trick us. A mobile app called Adblock, for instance, bills itself as a useful service for cutting back on pesky mobile ads, but users quickly found that this app was nothing other than malware. The app just served up more ads.
So now the question is, how do you know if you have malware on your phone?
Well, if you notice any of these things happening, your phone might be infected;
An Android device infected with malware might look like this;
Adware like Ads Blocker is the most common type of malware that is found on Android devices. The fact is, there are other malicious apps that can do worse things like steal your personal information etc.
Malware can be disorienting, getting in the way of how you use your phone, and make you feel uneasy even if you aren't sure what's causing the problem. Now, how do you choose the right malware removal software for Android?
Norton offers protection for various devices with their multiple options. Norton 360 deluxe lets you protect Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices.
How Norton can protect your Android device;
The best option for your Android device will be the Norton 360 Mobile Security with its 100% protection. This option will include a secure VPN that will keep your data private even on a public wifi. Your device will be protected against risky apps, websites, and harmful files. All of these options include a free trial. When starting out we would suggest the Norton 360 Mobile Security App.
Operating Systems: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS
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Norton 360 deluxe and 360 mobile adds a full-powered VPN, Dark Web Monitoring, Parental Control, and more.
Bitdefender offers a few packages that can protect your Android device against malware.
How Bitdefender can protect your Android device;
Bitdefender's Total Security offers a lot of features in a single integrated package and also offers protection for macOS, Android, and iOS devices. This seems like an amazing deal when you think about it, but the best option to choose would be the Bitdefender Mobile Security option.
Bitdefender gives your mobile devices absolute protection against viruses and malware. This will be the best option to choose when you want complete protection against malware on your Android device.
Operating Systems: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS
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Bitdefender Mobile security will allow you to remotely locate, lock, and wipe your Android device in case of loss or theft.
Read the full Bitdefender review
ESET offers protection for your Android device on all levels.
How ESET can protect your Android device;
ESET Mobile Security for Android offers full protection for your mobile device. You can download the app for free and use it for 30 days before paying the premium price. They do offer a lifetime free version of this app with limited features.
We would advise upgrading to the premium package after 30-days to enjoy features such as; Anti-Phishing Protection, payment protection, Automatic updates, and more. Your Android device will be well protected against all threats!
Operating Systems: Android
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ESET offers comprehensive protection for an Android device. Users will not be dissapointed.
Sophos mobile can recognize malicious code and advanced threats that nobody has ever seen before. It has an advanced malware scanner for your mobile device.
How Sophos can protect your Android device;
With Sophos Mobile in Sophos Central, you already have a fully-featured Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution at your fingertips that will keep your users, data, and devices secure.
You can manage your Sophos Mobile through the same central interface you already use for your other Sophos products. It will be the same console, same look, and feel, and the same simplicity.
Operating Systems: Android, iOS
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Sophos Mobile offers a free trial. You can use this to test the product on your device.
Malwarebytes delivers virus protection to your Android for free, but there is a premium option available.
How Malwarebytes can protect your Android device;
Although this app is free, you can protect your mobile devices and avoid annoying scams with Malwarebytes for iOS and Android. The sofware offers other features than the Malwarebytes for iOS app. You can expect features such as; infection removal, Scans, Ad blocker etc with the free option.
The premium option offers features such as; online threat protection against malware, ransomware, and scams. You will also have browsing protection. The free option will not be the right choice for malware protection. We recommend the premium option.
Operating Systems: Android, iOS
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Malwarebytes has most of the bells and whistles included by other security developers, focusing on malware detection.
Android phones can fall victim to malware. It slows your system down and creates glitches that make it difficult for you to use your phone.
So, as soon as you suspect your device might be infected, you have to stop it as soon as you can.
Whether you’ve downloaded an infected app or visited a corrupted website, there are certain steps you can take to remove the malware and protect your phone in the future.
STEP 1: Start your phone in Safe Mode - How do you do this? Press the power button to access the Power Off options. Press and Hold the “Power off” button for a few seconds until the “Safe Mode” option comes up.
STEP 2: Turn your phone on in safe mode and navigate to the malicious app/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.
STEP 3: 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.
STEP 4: If this does not work, use an anti-malware app to remove viruses, adware, and other malware. You can download an app like shown below;
This app will allow you to scan your device for malware.
When your device is safe, it will appear like this;
There are other ways to protect your device and make sure that it is extra secure. If you follow these rules, malware infection rates will drastically come down. You will stay content that you haven’t exposed your smartphone to any risks, which you could otherwise avoid.
Avoid third-party play stores - Apple and Google have always insisted that users download apps only from them. Both Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store have mechanisms built-in to screen new apps before they are allowed inside, minimizing the spread of malicious code
Only visit secure websites - Always check if a website is HTTPS (secure). These websites are more secure
Avoid public Wi-Fi hotspots - Public Wi-fi hotspots require no authentication to establish network connections. This enables hackers to easily access devices on these networks
Great, there you have it. Keep your Android device safe from malware as best you can. It is best to be safe rather than sorry, so we recommend you install one of the anti-malware tools we mentioned on this page. Keep your personal information safe!
These articles might interest you:
How to Protect Your Android Phones From Viruses
Microsoft’s New Android Antivirus App
Malware Remover Vs. Antivirus: Which Is More Effective?
