Malware gets in the way of how you would normally use your Android phone. It can be disorienting and makes you feel uneasy not knowing what's really going on with your device.
If you think you have malware on your phone or you just want to protect yourself from a potential attack, here's what you should do:
First, ask yourself: "Is my phone's software up to date?" Security experts all agree that regularly updating your device's OS and apps is one way of protecting it. If your phone already has malware, a simple software update from your phone-maker will make it go away. Updates can patch vulnerabilities and make stop malware from working.
Second, review your app permissions. Do you have a game that has the ability to send text messages? That's already a warning sign. Most apps don't need this kind of access.
Also, keep in mind that some malicious apps aren't that easy to remove. At times you can just remove the app's permissions, delete the app, and be done with it. With malicious apps, though, they can give themselves admin privileges, so they can't just be deleted using the usual steps. If you have this kind of problem, try looking for answers online. Chances are, some people already have a workaround for it.
It's best to install antivirus apps as well. Though certain antivirus apps can slow your device, they do have increased access to your phone in order to identify malicious behavior and warn you about it. There are free services you can take advantage of, but it's best to choose the paid option so you can unlock the best features. Also so you don't have to deal with pesky ads.
These apps can notify if you if there's malware on your phone and offer customer support when you have to deal with something nasty. Use an established program as well, something that's been used by millions of people already, such as Norton, Malwarebytes, Bitdefender, or Lookout.
Last but not least, get rid of all Android apps downloaded from third-party app stores. Best to just avoid outside apps altogether. These apps didn't pass by Google's review and are more likely to be laden malware.
Although, there are apps at Google Play masquerading as entertainment one or services that offer help. Yes, malicious apps can elude Google's detection, but at the very least, the search giant takes care of this problem and does a follow-up removal. It's certainly better than nothing at all.
