Malware can be deceitful and Android malware is irritating too. While many of us use Adblockers to eradicate the ads from our phones, security researchers have found that the same apps intended for removing the ads are responsible for malware that generates more ads.
This is just one of the examples of how malware can easily frustrate Android phone users. This malware is often responsible for collecting fake clicks on the ads, doubling the value for the creator.
Ad blockers are the most common type of malware that can frustrate you to the point where you just want to break your phone at any time. But Android malware is far worse than ad blockers as they can steal your personal information and data directly from your phone.
We do understand the need for ad blockers, but when you can find a much better, optimized, secure, and encrypted option, why settle for any less.
That’s right. We are talking about NordVPN’s adblocker feature that blocks intrusive ads and offers maximum protection against all forms of cyber threats. If you want to give it a try, I would recommend availing of NordVPN’s risk-free trial and testing it out yourself against malware.
Malware can quickly get in your way and on your nerves. So how do you know if your device is infected with any member of the malware family? How to protect yourself? Keep reading till the end if you want to find out.
Indiction of Android phone Malware
The following scenarios are an indication that your Android phone has been infected with the malware:
- You are constantly seeing ads, regardless of the nature of your activity on your phone
- Icons of the applications that you install are disappearing immediately
- You are experiencing a battery draining issue
- Application appearing on your phone that you barely recognize
Android malware implications to your phone
Apart from bombarding you with impractical and pointless advertisements, android malware can severely compromise your online privacy by stealing your personal information. Usually, this information includes:
- Banking credentials and other sensitive information
- Device information and data
- Phone number and email address details
- Access to the contact list
Hackers can easily use this information to commit identity theft. We see a famous example of this in the form of the Anubis banking Trojan. The hackers trick you into activating the phone’s accessibility features. This lets malware keep a record of every app you open and every text you enter, including passwords. The device information collected can send you more targeted ads and text messages and automatically generate sales phone calls. In such cases securing your personal data to avoid identity theft becomes absolutely crucial.
How does Android Malware work?
Android malware usually works in two different ways. In the first method, the malware tries to trick you into granting such permissions that will let it collect sensitive information and data from your phone.
In the second method, the malware itself tries to exploit the vulnerabilities of the device. It collects sensitive data and information with administrative privileges without the user feeling its presence on the device.
How to stop Android Malware?
The first step that you can take to stop android malware is to ensure that your phone’s operating system software is updated at all times. Let’s say your phone has malware present in it. The software updates from the developer can provide you with the security patches needed to counter and even eradicate the access this malware has been enjoying so far. These same updates can also keep the malware from injecting itself into the device in the first place.
The second thing we highly recommend you to do is to review the permissions your installed applications have. For example, a gaming application shouldn’t have permission to send a text message or make a phone call. Sometimes, removing a malicious application can be difficult as some malicious applications will grant themselves administrator privileges. They can’t be deleted without performing some additional steps.
You can also put your faith in an antivirus application. Although they can slow down your phone considerably, you have to select one after careful consideration. Always go with the premium solution as you can get access to all the features, plus you’d be safe from more advertisements. These applications can instantly warn you about any malware presence and offer customer support service if you encounter something very nasty.
Another good alternative can be using a Virtual Private Network. We are not referring to any trusted VPN provider from the market but only the providers that offer ad blocker and malware protection, such as NordVPN. Not only does this provider offer state-of-the-art security and privacy against cyber threats, but at the same time, it is pretty affordable and easy to use.
Lastly, make sure to uninstall the Android apps that are not downloaded from the official Google Play Store. The applications which are installed from third-party app stores are neither audited nor reviewed by Google Play Store. Therefore, they can not be trusted and can easily inject malware into your phone.