Android has become the first choice of many people because of its openness and freedom, but this is also a two-faced thing, because the high flexibility and freedom allow malware on Android to appear in various forms. For example, some mobile applications that claim to be able to remove ads will pop up ads when you use other applications. What impact will these malware have on mobile phones and users? What are the signs of suspected malware? How can we prevent these malware?
Does my Android phone have malware? 4 major signs that go hand in hand with malware prevention
The most common type of malware on Android phones is software that aims to earn advertising fees as mentioned above. However, there are other worse applications that can further damage your personal privacy and steal personal data. These behaviors cause more serious damage to users. Generally speaking, common malware is divided into three major types:
- Defrauding users of their authority to access sensitive information
Including ad filters, etc., will ask users for many permissions, including malicious adware, which will also imitate the same behavior and permission requirements. The difference is that in addition to gaining permissions, malicious adware also keeps the app running in the background and shows you ads while you are using other, unrelated apps. - Exploiting vulnerabilities to gain administrator privileges
This type of malware exploits security vulnerabilities in mobile phones to gain administrator privileges and then obtain users’ sensitive information. When installing, you will find that there is one less step to ask for permission. The software will run rampant in your phone with administrator rights, and you will not even notice it exists. - Ransomware
If infected with this type of malware, users will find that their files are locked and cannot be used or opened. There will usually be a pop-up window asking you to pay a ransom in virtual currencies such as Bitcoin before you can get rid of the files. Thankfully, most Android ransomware can only lock files on external storage devices such as photos.
Malware makes people feel uneasy when they are not sure what is causing the problem, and it can hinder the normal use of the phone. However, there is no need to panic too much. If you encounter the following 4 situations, it is very likely that there is malware in your phone:
- No matter which app you are using, you will constantly see ads appearing.
- After you download and install an application, you find that the application icon immediately disappears from the desktop.
- Unless there are special circumstances (such as updates, hardware failure, additional usage, etc.), the battery of the mobile phone drains much faster than usual.
- An unrecognized application appears on your phone.
So, what impact does malware have on phones, or what is their purpose? The common goals of these malware are to obtain your bank credentials, device information, mobile phone number or email address, and your contact list. Bad actors can use the information mentioned above to perform various malicious tasks, such as using your banking credentials to commit identity theft. For example, the Anubis banking Trojan does this by tricking users into granting them access to Android phones. In addition, the malware can also record the traces of each application you use and the text you enter (including passwords). After you grant permission, you will not see any application activity on the phone screen, and there will be no sign that there is malware behind it. Hackers can also use malware to collect and sell your device and contact information until your phone is flooded with autodialed calls, spam messages and more ads. They can also expand their “business scope” by sending more links to malware to everyone in the phone’s contact list.
How to stop malware from getting onto your Android phone?
Whether you already suspect that your phone contains malware, or you want to protect yourself from being victimized, you must be familiar with the following points;
- Keep mobile phone software updated
Various manufacturers will release security updates to mobile phones from time to time to fix vulnerabilities, or improve and enhance new versions of the operating system. Keeping your mobile phone up to date is the first line of defense to protect your mobile phone. If you already have malware on your phone, these software updates will help patch vulnerabilities, cut off remote access to the malware, and even disable the malware. - View the permissions required by the application
When downloading and installing an application, be sure to confirm what permissions the application requires and identify any irrationalities. For example, if a gaming app asks you for permission to send text messages, that’s obviously suspicious. - Consider installing anti-virus software
Although after installing anti-virus software, the operation of the mobile phone will be slightly slower, it can play a role in prevention and detection, and issue a warning to you. You have to choose a trustworthy service, and there may be a small fee if you need all the advanced features. These apps can warn you about the presence of malware on your phone after scanning and provide customer service if you need to deal with malware. If you think you have malware installed on your phone, you can at least scan your device for the pest using a reputable app like Malwarebytes, Norton, Lookout, or Bitdefender. - Avoid or deny downloads of Android apps from third-party app stores
I have often emphasized this point in the past. Since third-party APK download points are not reviewed by Google, it is easier for application versions to be modified and implanted with malicious programs, and it is easier for malware to sneak into your phone. Therefore, for ordinary users, it is still recommended that you go through official channels as the most basic safe channel.
Removing malicious applications is sometimes very tricky. For some malware, you only need to remove it and delete permissions. However, for some applications with administrator rights, you can’t use them without special steps. If you have problems when removing the application, you can try to search online for the application and the corresponding measures proposed by others on the forum.
◎Data source:Cnet
Source: KOCPC Chinese