How to Protect Your Android Device against Malware

Do you remember the time when you initially laid hands on your brand new Android smartphone? How you pledged to take care of it and not let it go downhill. Well, it did go downhill, didn’t it? Don’t worry, we have all been there. As large a need as it seems to be, a smartphone can also turn into a headache if it’s not properly taken care of. You may care for your Android smartphone on the outside, no scratches, no bumps, but what is more vital is to take care of the things under the hood. One of the significant purposes for an Android smartphone’s performance issues is malware.

Malware can slow your phone down, make unnecessary interruptions, exploit your phone’s resources, misbehave in every way possible and in the worst case, keep your cell phone from doing anything. So, if you feel your Android smartphone has been acting weird and the reason behind this may be a malware. Well, you may be true and thus, we are here to let you know about how you can protect your Android gadget from malware.

Initially, let’s talk about the things you should keep in mind if you truly need to avoid malware:

Things you should keep in mind to avoid Malware

The main thing that we are going to list out are the precautions you ought to take to avoid malware and alongside that, we will also offer some solutions, in case your gadget is already affected by malware.

1. Download Apps only from the Play Store or trusted sources

So initially let’s start with the most obvious one, it ought to be well understood that applications are meant to be downloaded just from the Play Store or well-trusted sources. Downloading applications from an unreliable source is no different than a gamble and not exactly a profitable one. Whatever application you may need to download from an inconsistent store, Play Store will probably have a better option.

Even if you discover an application that is not accessible on the Play Store, it is better to ensure that the site from which you are downloading is consistent. You don’t need to end up with unnecessary malware on your phone, which will completely mess it up. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

2. Do not download music or other content from any random site

Downloading applications from the Play Store is one thing but downloading music, videos, and images are a totally different thing to consider. Most people are utilized to just searching for the song or video on Google and annoying out the first download link that appears, completely unaware of the huge risk they are taking. Instead of downloading that track you adore or any other content, you may end up with a load of malware, that isn’t going to give any music to your ears.

We recommend you either download your music and videos from a trusted site, one that you have been utilizing for a while. Another choice, though usually not free, is to utilize one of the services like Hulu, YouTube, Spotify etc.

3. Keep your system software up to date

We wait for Android updates with bated breath because of the different new features they bring, be that as it may, they also convey security updates that ensure to fix any loopholes in your gadget’s software security. Malware usually enters your gadget and exploits it only when the system can’t detect it or control it. For the most part, malware is one of the primary concern for Android makers and thus, security patches are one of the primary things they work on while releasing a new update. With every update, any loopholes that exist are covered up and this leaves very less margin for any malware to enter the system.

Note: Many smartphone manufacturers are also rolling out monthly security patch updates. You can find the information about it in Settings->About->Android security patch level.

4. Install a high rated Anti-Malware app

This may appear like an obvious thing to say, however we are not simply asking you to download any anti-malware application but we are asking you to download a good one. Unquestionable, there are numerous anti-malware applications on the Play Store but only a few of them are worth utilizing. Before you go on and download the first anti-malware application you perceive, check its ratings and reviews.

Ratings and reviews should bring you a good idea of how well the application truly works. Look among the top rated or top downloaded applications and you will surely discover a good anti-malware application. We would personally recommend you to attempt Malwarebytes or 360 Security.

What to do if your phone is already affected

In case, you reached to this post late and already your phone is affected with malware, here are a few things that you can attempt to fix it, before you go for a factory reset:

1. Download Anti-Malware app and scan system

If you didn’t have an anti-malware application before your gadget got infected, don’t worry you can get one now too. Anti-malware applications don’t simply prevent malware from entering your gadget, they also work in removing them. An application like Malwarebytes could come in handy for you in such a scenario. Utilizing this application you can just scan your gadget for existing malware and the application will take care of it. Other applications like 360 Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, Avast antivirus etc. will also do a decent job in removing malware.

2. Use safe mode to format Storage and uninstall Apps

If you end up in a situation where your gadget is constantly misbehaving or you can’t even turn it on normally, you should attempt the safe mode. Already we have covered a detailed article on Android Safe Mode and how to utilize it. So, check that out to know about protecting your phone utilizing the Safe Mode.

In the Safe Mode, only the stock applications that initially came with your gadget are active and this make sures that no malware can bother your gadget. You can utilize this to uninstall any applications which you think are the ones responsible for malware. You can also format your gadget if want be.

Remember: All That Glitters is Not Gold

Keeping these aforementioned points in mind could make a big difference to your Android experience. No one needs to utilize a phone that’s slow or lagging, and more often than not malware is the prime reason for that. Aside from slowing down your phone, malware can also exploit and extract personal information from your gadget. So unless you want to face such a situation, you should take our tips seriously and if followed, these precautions will make sure that you don’t end up going to war with your phone and you get to use it, like it was meant to be.