How to Scan and Remove Malware from Android and iOS Phones

If you’ve ever seen the “Walking Dead” series or the medical horror film “Monsters Inside Me,” it’s eerie! Then you likely have an understanding of malware. Not connected, you say?

The constant system failures, error messages, viruses, and worms! Indeed, they are monsters, and what they do to your system – computers and mobile devices – is comparable to what parasites do. Creepy stuff! This is the information age, and hackers are constantly on the lookout for opportunities to steal your data.

In addition, mobile phones are the most popular device used by people. In addition to making calls, it is used by nearly everyone for shopping, banking, playing, dating, and other purposes. It contains a vast amount of data, including personal and professional documents. With the rise in popularity of mobile phones, cybersecurity concerns have skyrocketed, including numerous online attacks such as malware, virus, spyware, ransomware, Trojan horses, and so on.

And you can never afford to lose this information to a potential hacker, who could exploit it or use it to tarnish your online reputation. Therefore, you need effective software to safeguard your phone and its data. It not only prevents these attacks from gaining access to your phone, but also informs you of its security status. These types of software include so many additional security features and functionalities, such as alerts and virus scanning, that you would need to stay one step ahead in protecting your devices.

Malware

The definition of Malware is incomplete without these two terms:

• Intentional
• Damage

Malware is an umbrella term for all malicious and parasitic software designed to cause damage to your server, computer, network, or phone.

It is referred to by various names, but with the same intent. There is Ransomware, which is literally software designed to encrypt your data and demand a ransom. The victim has no choice but to pay the “ransom” when threatened with the disclosure of data and secrets.

In addition, Spyware, like James Bond, 007-like, malicious software was designed to collect and steal information from its victims. Others exist;

• Verbal Bomb
• Computer Viruses
• Trojan Horse
• Rootkit
• Virus

However, we will not be discussing these additional names and examples today. It is crucial to understand that your computer can become infected with malware in a variety of ways. Despite the fact that the majority of malware infections exhibit the same symptoms and signs, with some being more dangerous than others, they all result in the same undesirable outcomes.

This article explains how to remove Malware from Windows and macOS.

Malware on Your Mobile Device

Most people doubt that mobile devices can become infected with malware. The naked truth? It is one hundred and one percent possible, albeit perhaps not using the standard, conventional method, for iPhones and Apple devices. However, the same process applies technically. Once malware infects a device, it performs multiple operations. Competes for your phone’s resources and eliminates numerous applications.

• The typical indicators of malware on your phone are:
• Apps with slower load times
• Your battery is draining more quickly than usual.
• Apps that you have not downloaded appearing.

This method is simple and straightforward. You must purchase, download, and install anti-malware software to complete the task. The majority of security software includes a variety of features. These applications can scan for all types of malicious software, uninstall or delete it, and safeguard your mobile device against future attacks.

Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes is compatible with both iOS and Android, allowing you to prevent scams and protect your phone. There are two plans available for Android: free and premium, which can be downloaded from Google Play. The free version provides the following features:

• Virus removal
• All of your phone’s applications undergo privacy audits to ensure their security.
• Scans at any time you specify

With the premium plan, you gain additional protections against online threats such as ransomware, scams, and malware. Additionally, it can detect phishing URLs while you use Chrome. Similarly, if you own an iOS device, download it from the App Store.

The premium version protects you from online scams and malicious websites, in addition to blocking calls from unknown numbers and suspected scammers. Malwarebytes also provides a 60-day money-back guarantee. It begins at $3.33 per month for one device when billed annually.

Sophos Home

Cybersecurity experts adore Sophos Home’s superior security solution. Even Fortune 500 companies employ this solution, which employs industrial-grade security standards. It offers superior protection against viruses, privacy invasions, malware, and other threats for up to ten devices.

It is downloadable through Google Play and the App Store. With the premium version of Sophos Home, you receive alerts when attacks occur, monitor your device thoroughly, and can add devices from your mobile device with ease. The attributes consist of the following:

• Cleaning and scanning for malware: Initiate a thorough device scan and cleaning to eliminate Trojans, spyware, rootkits, and other threats.
• Protect your personal photos and files from being held hostage or encrypted by ransomware. This is accomplished by blocking ransomware and reverting affected files to their original state.
• AI Threat Detection: Protects your devices from viruses, bots, worms, and other malicious software.
• Security administration: Easily manage all your connected devices.
• Privacy safeguards: It prevents unauthorized access to your microphone and webcam and encrypts your keystrokes, preventing keylogger software and cybercriminals from capturing what you type on your device.
• It blocks security-vulnerable websites so you can safely browse, shop, and bank online. Additionally, it automatically scans your downloads for added security.
• Real-time Antivirus: Sophos utilizes behavioral detections and SophosLabs’ extensive database to protect your computer from threats in real time.
• Get parental control over the web content your children can access on your device with parental web filtering.

Sophos Home is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. It is free for up to three devices, with a Premium plan for up to ten devices available for $27 per year.

Anti-Malware by MalwareFox

Due to Android’s expansive platform, it has become the hackers’ preferred target. MalwareFox Anti-Malware is available to safeguard your Android devices. It can detect a variety of malicious applications and files, such as adware, backdoors, spyware, keyloggers, phishing attacks, and unwanted programs (PUA or PUP). These are some of this tool’s features:

• 25% quicker file and application scanning
• Protects confidential data with Anti-logging, which identifies malicious keyboard apps, SMS applications, and password managers.
• Constantly updated virus database
• Real-time data protection and privacy

MalwareFox Anti-Malware has over 100,000 installations and is compatible with Android 4.1 and later versions.

F-Secure SAFE

With more than 30 years of experience, F-Secure offers its advanced product F-Secure SAFE to protect all of your devices. This security suite is the recipient of the 2018 AV-TEST Best Protection Award. It protects against a variety of online threats, including advanced ones such as phishing and ransomware, so your family’s mobile phones will be safe. F-Secure SAFE is one of the most user-friendly and effective antivirus programs available.

Consequently, whether you are banking or simply surfing the web, you are protected by its Ransomware Protection, which monitors your folders and prevents cybercriminals from encrypting them. Other characteristics include:

• Parental control by blocking potentially harmful content and imposing time limits on their screen use.
• Finder, in case you lose or have your phone stolen.
• My F-Secure Account manages and monitors the security status of your devices.

These features are offered in both the free and paid plans. If you want more advanced features, however, you must purchase F-Secure TOTAL, which costs $59.99 for 3 devices and 1 year. These features are included:

• Personal VPN to protect your online privacy by encrypting your network and masking your IP address when visiting websites.
• Wi-Fi security to protect your internet connection when using a public Wi-Fi network.
• Virtual location to circumvent geo-restrictions and access the desired content while adding an additional layer of privacy
• Tracking protection to prevent advertisers from using your information to generate revenue at the expense of your privacy.
• Password manager that allows you to store and access all of your passwords from any device. Additionally, it alerts you to reused and weak passwords and assists you in generating new ones.
• Online identity protection that employs 24/7 Dark Web monitoring and human intelligence to locate all of your personal data that has been compromised online.
• When a well-known service is hacked, which could compromise your account and data, you will receive a breach alert.

Compatible with Windows 7, 8.1, and 10; Android 5 or later, macOS X 10.14 or later, and iOS 11 or later. There is a 30-day, three-device free trial available without financial information or credit cards.

Stay protected with Tenorshare ReiBoot’s comprehensive features, which also allow you to restore your Android device to normal with a few taps. You can enter and exit the Android Fastboot mode with a single click at no cost.

ReiBoot is a viable option if your Android or iOS device is infected with a virus and you wish to restore it to factory settings. When your phone gets stuck in Fastboot mode, you can exit the mode with a single click and no key combination; this is done for your convenience. Similar to Tenorshare ReiBoot, Android Recovery Mode can be entered or exited without manually holding down any buttons.

Also available are how-to guides detailing how to exit the Android Recovery mode.

This tool makes entering the Android Download mode or Odin mode effortless and risk-free.

Android smartphones store temporary files used for cache partition and OS updates, but if they become corrupted, they can lead to issues such as a sluggish phone, frequent crashes, etc. Clearing the device’s cache with Tenorshare ReiBoot restores its smoothness, cleanliness, and speed without data loss.

It supports more than 600 Android tablets and smartphones with Android 2.0 or higher, regardless of carrier, including AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, Orange Vodafone, and other providers. ReiBoot is compatible with iOS devices as well.

The Manual Way – Android Phone (Scan and Remove Malware)

Step One: Shut down your Phone due to Malware

As soon as you detect the classic signs of a malware invasion, if you cannot pinpoint the entry point, you immediately turn off your phone.

Stopping the phone from functioning will prevent further damage and the spread of malicious software to other applications.

It is the most secure first choice.

Step Two: Activate Safe Mode

It’s simple to activate the safe mode on your Android device:

• Press and hold the power button for several seconds.
• If you skipped step one and choose to enter safe mode immediately. Then, with the phone on, press and hold the power off button.
• Tap the Restart option, which is available on most Android devices. Then click the Safe mode restart button.
• For devices without this option, turn off your phone by holding down the power button.
• Then, maintain a long press on the Volume down button and wait for your device to power on.
• The option for Safe mode will appear in the lower-left corner of your phone.

Step Three Part A: Phone Administrator Settings

Some malware is so clever and intelligent. When they invade your phone, they devise a means of protection. They navigate to the Phone Administrators settings to modify the configuration. Therefore, no amount of effort will be able to remove them. To resolve this, please follow these steps:

• Access the phone’s Settings menu.
• Proceed to the Security settings.
• Locate the icon for Device Administrator, disable the malware’s access, and reconfigure the settings.

Step Three Part B: Find and Uninstall the Suspected App having Malware

This is the most crucial phase since it involves eradicating the threat. It is also a simple task.

• Simply navigate to Settings on your Android device.
• Select the Applications icon.
• Select App Manager to locate the entire list of your apps.
• Select the affected apps.
• An Uninstall/Force closure option must be just there.
• Selecting uninstall will remove the application from your phone.
• You can also delete other questionable programs, to be sure.
• In circumstances when the Uninstall symbol is absent in the options, Disable will be present. Select it instead.

With these methods, your smartphone should be back in health.

The Manual Way –  iPhone (Scan and Remove Malware)

The process of removing malware from an iPhone is less technical than that of an Android device. This is due to iOS and the fact that applications may only be downloaded and installed from the App Store. Malware on your iPhone is likely the result of jailbreaking and app downloads from unreliable sources. You can resolve the issue by following these instructions;

Step One: Ensure You Have Data Backups

Your data must have been backed up prior to the invasion. If not, find a way to retrieve your vital files from your device, but make it a habit to back up your data often in the future.

Step Two: Clear the browser’s history and data

• Navigate to your device’s Settings menu.
• Proceed to the Safari icon.
• Click then on Clear History and Website Data.

This is a simple technique to eliminate error warnings and numerous pop-ups from Safari.

Third Step: Power off and restart your iPhone

It is as straightforward as that. Turn your iPhone off and then on again. It will then be able to modify its settings following the second step.

Fourth Step: Restore From Backup

If the preceding methods do not resolve the issue, you can restore your device to a previous configuration. This was before the malware infection. Ensure that the backup is devoid of virus; otherwise, it’s back to square one.

Fifth Step: Erase All Content (Malware too)

This is more of a plan B step. If none of the other actions still work, you can always begin again. It is difficult, even terrifying, yet it is still preferable than malware.

• Navigate to the Options menu.
• Next, click the General icon.
• Select the Reset button.
• Click the option labeled Erase All Content and Settings.

Your iPhone is in like-new condition. Keep in mind that it is essential to obtain up-to-date anti-malware software. It is also crucial that you routinely back up your data.

Conclusion

The emergence of new and sophisticated cyberattacks that compromise personal and professional information is a major concern among internet users. Choose any of the aforementioned applications to safeguard your mobile phone, and rest easy knowing that all of your gadgets are protected from internet threats.