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[img src="https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/2683519/hubfs/signal_images/articles/article-5990863479/additional-image-cluttering-hot-phone-620x300.jpg?width=600&name=additional-image-cluttering-hot-phone-620x300.jpg" aid="width=600&name=additional-image-cluttering-hot-phone-620x300.jpg"][br]malware, like viruses, is all about the stealth attack. It sneaks onto your phone like a thief in the night (or day, malware doesn’t discriminate), lying dormant until you unknowingly activate it, or quietly (usually) stealing your sensitive information right from under your nose. It’s up to you to be proactive and keep a lookout for symptoms that could indicate your device is infected.[br][br]1. Increased data usage[br][br]If you notice a sudden spike in data usage, this could be a sign that a virus is running background tasks on your device or trying to use the Internet to transmit information from your phone.[br][br]2. Excessive app crashing[br][br]Apps crash from time to time, but if your apps start crashing regularly for seemingly no reason, your phone could have a virus.[br][br]3. adware pop-ups[br][br]Most pop-up ads are just annoying, not malicious. And the good news is that these can easily be blocked by using an ad block browser extension, or the free Opera Browser app, which comes with a built-in ad-blocker . However, if you’re seeing pop-up ads on your Android or iPhone even when your browser is closed, these could be malicious pop-ups caused by malware trying to steal your data.[br][br]4. Phone bill higher than normal[br][br]Some malware strains attack by sending premium rate SMS messages from your phone, causing your phone bill to take a hit.[br][br]5. Unfamiliar apps[br][br]Again with the fake apps, if you notice an app on your phone that you don’t recall downloading, stay away! A common symptom of malware on Android phones, uninstall unfamiliar apps immediately.[br][br]6. Faster battery drain[br][br]Malware mischief can use up a lot of energy, which subsequently takes a toll on your Android or iPhone’s battery. If your battery is draining faster than usual, you shouldn’t rule out a virus as the cause.[br][br]7. Overheating[br][br]While the majority of reasons your phone is over heating normal and relatively harmless, it’s also possible that the cause is a malware infection.[br][br] |
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