I love my iPhone and iPad and I wouldn't know what to do without it. I still use a Windows and Apple computer, but like many of you, depend more and more on my mobile devices. I know many of you love your mobile Apple and Android devices and rely on them more and more everyday. Don't think I don't notice. Unfortunately cyber criminals are also aware that you are using your mobile devices more and more as a part of your digital life style. Rather than concentrating on infecting your computers with viruses and ransomware, criminals are designing malicious software that's designed to infect your mobile devices. It's rare to have malware or a virus attack your Apple and Android devices, but it is possible. Learn what steps you need to take to protect yourself and your devices from hackers.
What’s a Virus, Anyway?
A virus or malware is malicious software that alters the way your mobile device runs in a bad way.Many viruses disguise themselves as useful programs and applications. Once installed on your phone or tablet, they can steal your personal information, lock up your device and destroy your data. Android devices are usually prone to virus attacks, but you Apple users out there shouldn't let your guard down.
Who is Targeting Your Devices?There are thousands of people around the world who make viruses and malware. Malicious software helps criminals steal your information and allows them to make money. Some legitimate companies make malware and benefit from it because it helps them create ads that are targeted directly to you. This type of spyware captures your information and sells it to companies who want to market to you. If criminals install tracking software like a keylogger on your device, they can watch your online activity and steal your banking information, social security numbers and more. Other people creating this software just want to make life harder for you.
How Can I Get Infected?There are several ways your devices can get infected. First, it's from the Google Play store or the Apple App store. Criminals who want your information will upload programs to the app store that look legitimate and they are free. When you download these programs to your devices, they start to do their dirty work stealing your information. Next, your devices can get viruses by visiting web sites that are designed to infect your devices once you visit them. Finally, hackers can send text messages to your smart devices with links in the text that will direct you to a web site that will download malicious information to your devices.
Identifying and Removing
If your phone or tablet starts to slows down, automatically connects you to websites you didn’t want to visit or apps open on their own, your device might be infected. Here are some steps you can take to get your mobile devices safe.
Apple Devices:
If you suspect an app or a visit to a web site has infected your Apple device, check the following things. If you have a bad app on your device, simply remove it. Virus apps on Apple devices are usually confined to the app. Once you remove the app, you should be in good shape. If you think your smart device web browser is infected, go to your iPhone or iPad Settings app, find “Safari” or your other preferred web browser. Scroll down to a part of the menu that says “Clear History and Website Data.” After you tap this option, confirm you want to proceed by hitting “Clear History and Data.” This will usually take care of the problems you’ve been experiencing. Another step to take is to turn off and restart your device.
Android Devices:If you suspect an app or a visit to a web site has infected your Android device, check the following things. Remove any new apps you have installed on your devices. If you have problems removing an app of an android devices, you should boot into safe mode. To enter this mode, hold down your Android device’s power button until a menu loads. Hold the power off icon down, and your phone will show you a safe mode option. Once in safe mode, you can delete the problem app. Rebooting your device will get you back into normal mode. Make sure you clear out your Android trash as well. Sometimes apps can still run if they are in the trash. Also, like Apple devices, simply turning off and turning your device back on can fix many issues and disable viruses on your devices.
If the app is still in your device’s trash, it could continue to cause problems for you. Empty your trash to delete the app once and for all. After all of this, your issues will likely be behind you. If your phone continues to run poorly, you may have identified the wrong app or you might have another infected app on your device.
Making sure the software on your devices is updated is one of the best ways to keep your technology safe. If you get alerts that you need to update your Apple or Android devices, do it immediately. These updates keep you safe from the latest virus threats. Also, make sure you don't just download anything from the Apple App Store or the Google Play store. Read the reviews to make sure you getting a legitimate app, rather than one that is designed to infect your phone or tablet. Want to ask me a tech question? Click here and send it in! If you prefer to connect with me on social media, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and watch great tech tip videos on my YouTube channel. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I want to make technology fun and exciting for you.
If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. My team of friendly tech experts are always standing by to answer your questions and help make your technology useful and fun. Reach out to us a www.integralcomputerconsutants.com or phone at 888.256.0829.
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