How to Tell If Your Smartphone Has Malware: 6 Clear Signs I’ve Observed

Important information

• Abnormally high data usage or battery draining usually indicates malware running in the background, leaking data to third parties.
• Pop-up ads or strange applications that install themselves on your smartphone may indicate an adware infection.
• Overheating, lagging, frequent reboots, or performance issues while performing basic tasks are also signs of a malware infection.

If your smartphone seems to be working fine—perhaps bombarding you with pop-ups or launching apps you don’t recognize—these could be red flags for malware. Here are six clear signs of malware that I’ve come across, which can help you determine if your phone is infected.

1 High utilization of non-standard data

Malware often works in the background on phones, performing silent tasks such as sending information to other people or downloading malicious files. Such tasks can consume a large amount of data. For me, an unexpected spike in my mobile data usage was the first red flag that there might be malware on my phone.

In order to understand exactly what was happening, I went Settings > Connections > Data usage > Mobile data usage my Android device. This gave a clear view of how much data each app was using.

If you use an iPhone, you can check the data usage by going Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data. When I saw applications using more data than usual, especially ones that shouldn’t consume a lot, it was a strong indication that malware might be involved.

2 Constant Pop-up ads started appearing

Malware or malicious software is often designed to generate revenue for cybercriminals by displaying advertisements, known as “adware.” Interacting with these ads can lead to many problems, such as additional infections or being tricked into downloading more malicious software.

Although pop-up ads are common while I’m browsing, I’ve noticed an unusual increase in ads, especially in places I don’t normally see them. This made me suspect that adware might have entered my device. Another clear sign was the appearance of these ads even when I was not using a specific web browser or device.

3 My Battery Died Overnight For No Reason

Normally, my phone only loses a few percent of battery overnight. However, recently, I noticed that the battery was draining a lot overnight, even though I hadn’t changed any settings. This also happened when I left my phone idle for hours during the day.

At first, I suspected that I might have accidentally left the app running, but the problem persisted even after closing all apps and restarting my phone. That’s when I realized that it’s not normal.

If your phone’s battery drains suddenly for no apparent reason, malware could be the cause. Pay attention to any unusual behavior of the battery, especially if it happens frequently, as it can be a warning sign of infection.

4 Apps keep crashing and my phone keeps restarting

System crashes are sometimes common and can happen for a variety of reasons. However, when almost all of my apps started freezing or crashing – even after I updated them – I knew something was up.

The situation worsened when my phone started rebooting itself. These random reboots felt like an invisible hand was controlling my phone. If you experience a lot of hardware problems or your phone restarts at random times, it could be a sign that something bad is going on.

5 My phone started overheating and lagging even with simple tasks

Even though the apps weren’t crashing and my phone wasn’t booting up, I noticed that it would heat up abnormally and lag. This was very disturbing because the time was so intense that it would affect my ability to use the device properly.

The overheating and lagging were not limited to specific applications or times; they happened out of nowhere, even when I was checking emails or using WhatsApp. Even though my Galaxy S22 is a few years old, it shouldn’t struggle with these basic functions. This inconsistency in performance was alarming and made me suspect that something more sinister might be going on.

If you’re wondering why your phone is overheating and freezing for no apparent reason, malware could be the cause. It is important to research your phone to find out if it is affected.

6 Strange apps keep showing up on my phone

Malware usually works by installing applications in the background. These apps may seem harmless at first, but they are designed to track your information, serve you bulk ads, or steal valuable information. At first, I thought it might be a simple bug or something added by my phone provider during the update, but the number of these strange applications made me very suspicious.

In my case, when I checked the permissions of these strange tools, I found that they asked for contacts, storage, and even my microphone – permissions that they had no good reason to need. If you also notice unfamiliar apps installing themselves on your phone, it’s worth investigating further.

Spotting the signs of malware early can greatly improve your device and information security. By keeping an eye out for the six clear signs I’ve shared, you can stay one step ahead of potential threats. If you notice these symptoms on your phone, a factory reset can help remove malware and normalize it.