Your phone runs slow
A sudden drop in performance is a key indicator that your phone may be infected with a virus. This can manifest as longer wait times for apps to load, slower internet browsing, and frequent freezing. Phones eventually slow down as they age, so speak to a professional to ensure that it’s not a matter of simply needing an upgrade.
People can’t call you
If your friends and family frequently mention that they’re unable to get a hold of you, it may be because your phone is littered with harmful viruses. This is especially concerning if your phone used to work without any issues but now suddenly leaves you cut off with no clear reason as to why.
You struggle to send texts
If text messages are forever being bounced back, your phone is likely infected. Contact your phone network to clear out any other possibilities – being cut off, poor signal, failing to pay your bill – before taking any drastic action. If you get the all-clear from your provider, it’s best to completely wipe your phone – hopefully erasing the virus.
You can’t connect to the internet
A flakey internet connection is a common occurence with cell phones, with poor reception usually being the key offender. However, if you can’t get onto the web no matter what you do, it may be because your phone has picked up an unwanted – and likely harmful – virus.
Your phone is plagued with ads
Unwanted, pesky ads are perhaps the biggest sign that your phone has encountered dangerous malware. If you encounter these ads, it’s of vital importance that you don’t click on them – doing so can give out your personal information and bring further harm to your device.
Strange apps appear on your phone
There’s been an increase in malicious apps over the past few years, with the hardware able to access your messages, record your phone calls, and spy on you via your microphone and camera. If you encounter any odd apps that you don’t remember installing, immediately remove them from your phone. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Your device feels hot
There’s numerous reasons as to why your cell is running hot, including a worn battery, an overstimulated CPU, and exposure to heat. However, some viruses can also make your device feel warm, with the malicious hardware putting a strain on your phone’s operating system. If your phone is frequently running hot, it’s time to install some anti-virus software.
Random messages are sent to your contacts
If friends and family report odd messages being sent to them that weren’t by your hand, it’s likely that your phone is infected. It may not be your cell itself, but whatever app the duplicitous texts were sent from. Change your passwords frequently to prevent any hackers from gaining access to your messaging features.
Fraudulent charges are made to your account
Some malware can make calls, texts, or purchases beyond the parameters of your contract, resulting in an inflated phone bill at the end of the month. Frequently check your bank statements and phone bill for any unusual activity, immediately reporting any suspicious charges to your provider.
Your socials have been hacked
There’s nothing worse than having your socials at the mercy of an unknown hacker, with all of your personal information and conversations at risk of being exposed. If your social media accounts have been hacked, it’s wise to wipe your phone and install some anti-virus software to ensure your phone is completely virus-free.
Your phone frequently freezes
Constant crashes and frequent freezes are a clear sign that something’s not quite right with your phone. Some viruses overwhelm the phone’s system, causing delayed responses. If your phone is forever crashing, it’s worth investing in some decent anti-virus software to ensure that your phone is sufficiently protected.
Call quality is poor
Subpar phone call quality can be caused by a multitude of reasons, including poor signal (on both ends), a broken SIM card, or an obscured microphone. If you’ve thoroughly explored these options and your call standard is still lacking, it may be due to a potentially harmful virus.
Apps take an age to open
Your phone may be taking a while to open any apps due to an overworked CPU. To combat this, clear out your cache and delete any unused apps. If you’re still encountering performance issues, your cell may be battling against harmful malware, causing the slow response times.
Your phone uses excess data
Keep a close eye on your data usage. If your amount suddenly spikes, a virus may be the cause, with hackers using your phone to harvest your data to sell it on the black market. They do this by remotely accessing your phone, transferring your files to their server, causing an increased use of data roaming.
You receive strange notifications
Viruses can cause your phone to receive unwanted notifications, urging you to click on suspicious links. It’s important that you don’t visit these websites – doing so will put your data at the mercy of malicious hackers. Instead, scan your phone with an anti-virus app to eliminate any potential threats.
Your battery drains unusually fast
Battery drainage isn’t necessarily anything to worry about – it can be caused simply by an overworked CPU, an aged battery, or a faulty charging port. However, if you’ve swapped out your battery and you’re still encountering issues, you may want to consider spyware being the cause. These types of software execute a slew of tasks on your cell, draining its overall battery life.
You’re blocked from using certain apps
Being unable to access certain apps or features on your cell is a clear sign that something isn’t right. Hackers may have eliminated your control of your phone, preventing you from removing malicious viruses. If this is the case, it’s best to do a complete factory reset of your device.
You find strange files in your phone
Finding unusual files hidden away in your phone is a disconcerting experience, showing that your device is vulnerable to outside forces. If you stumble upon any suspicious files, do not open them. Instead, send them to the trash, ensuring that you also empty your deleted files folder.
You’re unable to use certain features
Some experienced hackers have the ability to restrict you from using select features of your phone, stopping you from removing their embedded spyware. If you’re unable to access your phone’s settings, for example, it’s vital that you completely wipe your phone, erasing any harmful files.
You notice strange behavior from your mic
If hackers have planted a virus on your phone, you may notice strange sounds emitting from your device’s microphone. Keep a keen ear out for any suspicious behavior, such as an excess of strange static or even hushed voices. Ensure you only grant use of your phone’s microphone to sites and apps you fully trust.
There’s been a change to your home screen
This is less common, but not entirely unheard of. Changes to your home screen that you didn’t do yourself may be implemented by a hacker, leaving untrustworthy apps or files on display, hoping that you’ll click them. Of course, you shouldn’t open these mysterious files and should instead complete a swift virus scan.
Apps close mid-use
There are few things that are more frustrating than your phone crashing mid-email, leaving you to restart the entire process. However, the cause of these closures may have darker origins – namely spyware being hidden within your phone. If your apps are forever crashing, consider downloading some top-tier anti-virus software to combat the issue.
You receive strange texts
Modern phones tend to send spam text messages straight to your trash, protecting you from any malicious intent. However, some still manage to slip through the cracks. When met with an unusual message, it’s important you verify its origin. Don’t be fooled by fear-led spam campaigns – most companies will never directly ask for your personal information.
Your camera is playing up
Some malware is capable of accessing your phone’s camera, causing it to act strangely. If your camera frequently opens and closes without a clear reason, it’s likely that your phone is littered with spyware. To prevent any hackers from spying on you, it’s important that you do a complete factory reset of your device to keep your data safe.
Your screen lights up for no clear reason
If your phone randomly lights up when you’re not using it, it’s likely that you have a virus. Your phone should only ever light up when in use or when receiving a notification. Otherwise, it shows that your phone is likely being remotely controlled by an external party, using your private data to make a profit.
You can’t download anything
Malware can cause your phone to be unable to download any new files or apps. Hackers purposely implement this to prevent you from downloading any anti-virus software, keeping your phone prisoner. All is not lost, however, simply do a factory reset to get your phone working properly once more.
Your phone takes a while to turn on
A slow device usually isn’t a cause for concern, with numerous innocent explanations usually being the cause. However, in some cases, a virus may be behind your phone’s slow wake-up. A virus can cause your phone to struggle to function, including a failure to complete simple tasks such as being switched on.
You hear strange sounds while on call
If you suspect that something’s wrong with your phone, listen closely to your calls. Experiencing high levels of static, voices, or general strange sounds can indicate that your phone is being tracked. Hackers are able to remotely access your ingoing and outgoing calls, making it imperative that you protect your device.
There’s signs of activity while it’s on standby mode
Perhaps you switch on your phone to discover a new app has been installed, or your phone has made outgoing calls without you touching it. If this is the case, your phone is extremely likely to be littered with harmful malware. Only actions you complete should show up on your device – anything else rings alarm bells.
Your browsing history isn’t accurate
A key indicator that hackers have control of your phone is unusual websites being found in your browsing history. If the tab shows a slew of sites you haven’t visited, it’s likely that a hacker is doing so on your behalf, pumping your device full of harmful malware.
Your phone isn’t protected
If you don’t have any active anti-virus software installed on your phone, it’s likely that your device will eventually encounter a virus. Always ensure that your phone is protected by anti-virus apps, and that these handy apps are always kept up to date to fully protect your data.
Your other devices have been comprimised
If your other devices have fallen victim to hacking, it’s likely that these same hackers have access to your cell phone. Our accounts tend to be shared across our devices, making for a smoother logging-in process. Unfortunately, this also makes hackers’ work that much easier, granting them access to an array of accounts.
Your phone is slow to switch off
Cell phones that are reluctant to be turned off may be harboring harmful files. Viruses keep your phone constantly active, using your device’s CPU to infiltrate your personal data. Temporarily cutting ties with these viruses by switching off your device can cause your phone to act out, in some cases even refusing to shut down entirely.
You constantly see error messages
A phone that constantly displays error alerts is a cause for concern. Frequent spam messages about viruses can cause many users to panic, believing the fear-inducing errors. Practice caution when encountering these alerts – most of them are false, created by hackers who are attempting to infiltrate your phone.
Your settings have changed
For the most part, your settings shouldn’t change unless you choose to change them. Seeing strange alterations in your system’s settings is usually the work of a hacker. When hackers install malware on your device, they usually make changes to your phone’s settings in order to make it harder to remove any lingering viruses.
You can’t make calls
If you’re barred from making phone calls, first explore the common causes – ensure you’re not blocked by the person you’re trying to call, check that you have sufficient signal, and double-check that you haven’t exceeded your phone’s allowances. If none of these causes are behind the issue, a virus may be the reason your device is acting strangely.
Apps have been deleted
It’s rare for apps to remove themselves from your phone. If you switch on your device one morning to find an app you were previously using to be non-existent, it’s likely there’s a virus at play. Viruses give hackers a huge amount of control over your device, making it vitally important that you protect your phone as best as possible.
You get odd calls
You don’t have to already have a virus on your phone to receive phishing calls. However, giving out your personal information can lead to a virus being installed on your phone remotely. Ensure that you don’t answer any calls you don’t trust, nor do you give out any personal information over the phone.
Random reboots
Phones shouldn’t turn themselves off. In fact, they should do little that you don’t actively request. If your phone is forever randomly rebooting itself, it’s likely that it’s being controlled by hackers, through the means of a potentially dangerous virus. Protect your data by running a virus scan, checking for any malicious software.
Virus scans come back positive
The best way of discovering if your phone is housing harmful malware is to complete a virus scan. If it comes back positive, it’s time to remove the virus once and for all. Ensure you practice safe phone habits – ignoring strange links, browsing secure sites, and screening phishing calls to prevent a virus from damaging your device in the future.