External apps available on websites and other platforms are not always safe; some may contain malicious codes and files. Rooted Android phones are more vulnerable to viruses.
The most common way for a smartphone to get a virus is by downloading a third-party app. However, this isn't the only way. You can also get them by downloading Office documents, PDFs, by opening infected links in emails, or by visiting a malicious website. Both Android and Apple products can get viruses.
Having said that, even though App Store viruses are few and far between, you should never blindly trust that all apps are safe or let your guard down. While Apple reviews all apps prior to adding them to the App Store, they can become unsafe to use after some time.
Google Play Protect checks your apps and devices for harmful behavior. It runs a safety check on apps from the Google Play Store before you download them. It checks your device for potentially harmful apps from other sources. These harmful apps are sometimes called malware.
Phones can be hacked through malware, phishing, and malicious code, just to name a few methods. Jailbroken iPhones or rooted Android phones are easier to hack, as it removes most built-in safety guards. Read our TotalAV antivirus review to learn how it can protect your phone from being hacked.
Fortunately for Apple fans, iPhone viruses are extremely rare, but not unheard of. While generally secure, one of the ways iPhones may become vulnerable to viruses is when they are 'jailbroken'. Jailbreaking an iPhone is a bit like unlocking it — but less legitimate.
Signs of an infection include your computer acting strangely, glitching and running abnormally slow. Installing and routinely updating antivirus software can prevent virus and malware infections, as can following cautious best practices.
To ensure that an app is safe, a good strategy is only to download them from official app stores. This is because Apple has teams of people verifying the safety of the apps that are available on the App Store. Because of this, the likelihood of an app containing malware or spyware is incredibly low.
Another way hackers weasel their way into your device is by getting permissions to access things like your location, contacts, and photos—and they'll use sketchy apps to do it. So check and see what permissions the app is asking for.
Spyware apps surreptitiously run on a device, most often without the device owner's awareness. They collect a range of sensitive information such as location, texts and calls, as well as audio and video. Some apps can even stream live audio and video.
No single app can definitively tell you if someone is spying on you. However, anti-malware and anti-spyware apps might be able to detect spyware on your phone. If the anti-malware system is familiar with the type of spyware installed, it can detect it. More sophisticated forms of spyware are more difficult to detect.
Yes! Unless you're meticulous about phone maintenance practices, there's a good chance you're toting around far more apps than you need. Cleaning up your apps will make your phone easier to navigate, perform better, and also make it more secure.
Just because you deleted an app, doesn't mean that it is 100% gone. There are still data and files stored on your device using up valuable memory space on your android device.
Yes, on Android devices “uninstall” is the same thing as “delete". When you remove an app you purchased, you can still reinstall it without having to pay again. However, deleting apps on Android won't always delete all of the app's files and associated data.
macOS includes built-in antivirus technology called XProtect for the signature-based detection and removal of malware.
The main risk you want to avoid? Downloading a software application from a third-party app store that infects your smartphone or tablet with malicious software. Such malware could enable someone to take control of your device. It might give hackers access to your contacts, passwords, and financial accounts.