The gadget’s operating system offers users truly great possibilities. Thanks to its openness, you can do anything with it – from customising individual UI elements to installing any app you like. But downloading software from untrusted sources can be very likely to damage your device. So how do you protect your gadget?
Dangerous apps for your devices
Google itself strongly discourages device users from downloading applications from the Internet. To that end, the OS has even recently introduced a special mechanism that blocks APK files, not just warning the user that they are unsafe, but literally forbidding them from downloading. Normally, for such cases it is extremely important to use antivirus software as well.
The reason for its appearance is quite simple: as a rule, such software fails to pass verification and may pose a threat to the user who downloads it. Practice shows that cybercriminals very often embed virus software into cracked versions of applications that are distributed free of charge and attract users who are unwilling to pay for the software. This can be anything:
Adware scripts
Software miners
Spyware
Keyloggers
They scan passwords and logins and then intercept access to accounts, bank accounts, emails and messengers. For your own safety, it is therefore strongly advised not to download software from the internet. There are several ways to keep your users secure. Of these, three of the most important ones you should be aware of in detail:
Do not install any unknown applications
There is an option in the mobile settings to allow or disallow the installation of unknown mobile apps. This option is disabled on devices at the time of purchase, so the user can only download apps from the Play Store service.
This option protects the user from malicious software distributed via unreliable and unverified app shops or common web pages. Since such inherently poor-quality applications are quickly removed from the Play Store, you may rarely read news about a malware infestation on the Play Store.
Using Google antivirus
Google’s is the second line of defence. It has no compatibility issues and offers anti-virus scanning that helps identify malware and suspicious programmes. This feature scans applications for viruses before they are installed. If viruses are detected, your gadget’s operating system rejects the installation of the suspicious app.
Quadrooter doesn’t stand a chance with this scan. Google confirmed a few days after the virus was detected that the malware in question could not be installed if all relevant settings had been set correctly.
Google Antivirus Scanner is capable of extracting individual characteristics from applications and subjecting them to a thorough inspection.
This is what allows Google Antivirus Scanner to identify potentially dangerous app features and warn the user about them, if necessary, and even prevent the installation of the app being checked.
At the same time, the scanner checks already installed apps while scanning a new app and can also warn about possible future manipulations to which an already installed mobile app might be subjected.
Use antivirus protection systems
For Android users, there is Kaspersky Internet Security for Android which can be purchased separately or as part of the comprehensive protection product Kaspersky Internet Security for All Devices. The product incorporates the most advanced protection technologies capable of preventing infections even in ways not yet invented by malefactors.
For the convenience of gadget owners, automatic scanning and real-time protection are provided. “SMS Anti-Phishing” protects the owner from dangerous and annoying SMS spam and fraud attempts by checking all links in text messages. Anti-Theft protects valuable data on the device if it is lost: remotely lock or erase information, as well as knowing the location of the gadget using GPS, GSM and Wi-Fi connection data and taking a secret photo of the person in case of unauthorised use.
How to remove a virus from your phone
If you do encounter a problem such as your mobile device being infected through unknown sources, then we offer you a few ways to solve the problem:
-If your gadget is still functional, the easiest way to remove the virus is to use the antivirus installed on your Android. Run a full scan of your phone’s flash memory, and if you find a malicious object, select the ‘Remove’ option, saving the disinfected copy in quarantine;
-If you are unable to clean your phone or tablet in normal mode, try to do so in safe mode.To boot the device in safe mode, press the on/off button, place your finger on “Power off” and hold it until the message “Go to safe mode” appears. Then press OK. While in safe mode, scan your device with an anti-virus;
-Uninstalling viruses on your phone via your computer helps if your mobile antivirus fails to do so even in safe mode, or if the device’s functions are partially blocked. It is also possible to remove viruses from tablets and phones using a computer, either with an antivirus installed on the PC or manually via a file manager for Android gadgets such as Android Commander.
What to do if the virus is not removed
If the operations described above have failed – the malware is still present and the operating system is no longer functioning normally after cleaning, you will have to resort to one of the drastic measures:
Factory reset via the system menu;
Hard reset via the Recovery menu;
Reflash the device.