As smartphones and tablets match laptop and desktop computers in
power and become our main way to communicate and store sensitive information, it's no surprise they've become a serious target for hackers. Criminals around the world are working hard to slip viruses on to your smartphone and tablet to steal data or just cause trouble.
- The "NotCompatible" virus disguises itself as a system update. It adds your gadget to a giant botnet of infected gadgets that sends out spam.
- Using the default Android browser could let hackers steal your browsing and online account login information.
- The "Heart" app arrives as a text message link from a friend. If you install it, it will steal your information and then send a text message to 99 of your friends so it can spread.
The problem is that while most Android attacks at this point come in the form of malicious apps, they aren't that noticeable. So if you do accidentally install a malicious app, here's how you can tell.
Big slowdowns
Similar to a computer, a virus working in the background is going to slow things down. If your formerly fast phone or tablet is suddenly acting like it's stuck in molasses - and closing all the open apps and restarting doesn't help - then you may have picked up something malicious.Lots of Internet activity
A spam-sending virus working in the background is going to be using your Internet like crazy. If you're burning through your cellular data all of a sudden, that could be why.It's harder to notice on a tablet over Wi-Fi, but an occasional glance at Settings->Data Usage can show you any substantial changes in your Internet use.
In both cases, you'll also notice much shorter battery life - constant communication takes a heavy toll. Check your battery use under Settings->Battery or install a third-party battery-monitoring app like Battery Doctor. This will tell you which apps or phone features are the culprit.
New apps you didn't install
Speaking of apps, you might download one that isn't malicious on its own, but brings a bunch of malicious apps along with it. So, keep tabs on your app list and look for any new apps that you don't recognize.Get things back to normal
If you do get a malicious app, you want to get rid of it as quickly as possible. So, the first thing to do is switch your gadget to airplane mode to stop the virus from sending any more information. Usually you get this option by holding the power button, or it might be in the notification area if you swipe down from the top of the screen.Next, you need to go remove the app in question. You can do this under Settings->Applications. Find the app, tap it and then tap Uninstall. You'll need to do this for any other questionable apps you have. If you aren't sure which app is the culprit, start with the last ones you installed before the gadget started acting up.
You might run into a malicious app that refuses to uninstall. To get rid of it, you'll need to switch your gadget over to Safe Mode - click here for the step-by-step instructions.
If you absolutely can't get rid of the app, or you feel like your gadget is no longer trustworthy, then your last-ditch option is to wipe it and start over.
Transfer your photos and any important documents that aren't stored in the cloud over to a computer via USB or upload them to a service like Dropbox. Then go to Settings->Backup and reset.
Make sure your app data, passwords and settings are set to be backed up to Google's servers. Once you've confirmed they're backed up, choose the factory data reset option.
When the reset is done, sign in to your Google account and your information will restore. Then you can reinstall the apps you know are good and move your photos and documents back to your gadget.
After the malicious app is gone, you should make sure you can't install any more untrusted apps. Go to Settings->Security and uncheck the Unknown Sources option. This should keep you safe from most malicious apps.
You'll also want to change your passwords for any online accounts you access with your smartphone like Facebook, Twitter, email or your bank. You don't know what the malicious app might have stolen and sent to a hacker.
