How to Clean Your Phone from Virus for Android and iOS

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Your phone carries your personal photos, bank details, passwords, and private messages. Knowing how to clean your phone from virus attacks is important because when a virus gets into your device, all of that information is at risk. Hackers can use mobile malware to steal your data, spy on your activity, or even lock your phone and demand money to unlock it.

The danger is real and growing. Every year, millions of phones around the world get infected with different types of malware. Some infections are easy to notice, while others work silently in the background without you ever knowing. The longer a virus stays on your phone, the more damage it can do to your data and your privacy.

In this article, we will learn how to clean your phone from virus for both Android and iOS phones. You will also find some extra tips to protect your phone from virus. 

Not all phone threats are called viruses, but people use the word "virus" to describe many different types of harmful software. Here are the most common types of mobile malware that can affect your phone.

- Adware: Adware fills your screen with pop-up advertisements. It can slow down your phone, drain your battery, and sometimes secretly collect data about your activity to send more targeted ads.

- Spyware: Spyware hides on your device and watches what you do. It can track your location, read your messages, and record your passwords without making any obvious signs that it is there.

- Ransomware: Ransomware locks your phone or encrypts your files so you cannot access them. It then demands that you pay money, a ransom, before it lets you back in.

- Trojan Horse: A Trojan looks like a safe, normal app. Once installed, it works secretly to steal your banking information, send expensive text messages, or give hackers control of your device.

- Stalkerware: Stalkerware is a type of spyware often disguised as a parental control or security app. It allows someone to track your location, calls, and messages without your knowledge.

- Worm: A worm spreads from device to device without you needing to do anything. Once on your phone, its goal is to infect as many contacts as possible, often through text messages or emails.

Many phone viruses work quietly, so you may not notice them right away. However, there are some warning signs that often appear when malware is active on your device. If you notice one or more of these, it is a good idea to act quickly.

- Your Battery Drains Much Faster Than Normal: Malware running in the background uses your phone's power without you knowing.

- Your Phone Feels Slow or Freezes Often: Harmful apps can use up your phone's memory and processing power, making everything run slower.

- You See a Lot of Pop-Up Ads: If ads keep appearing even when you are not using a browser, this is a common sign of adware.

- Your Data Usage Has Gone Up Suddenly: Some malware uses your mobile data to communicate with hackers or display hidden ads.

- Unfamiliar Apps Appear on Your Phone: You did not download them, but they are there. This can happen when malware installs extra programs on your device.

- Your Phone Bill Has Unexpected Charges: Certain Trojans send premium-rate text messages without your permission, which raises your bill.

- Your Contacts Receive Strange Messages from You: Some malware sends phishing links or suspicious messages to your contacts pretending to be you.

- Your Phone Overheats Regularly: Malware working constantly in the background can cause your phone's temperature to rise even when you are not doing anything heavy.

Android phones are more open than iPhones, which makes them a more common target for malware. Follow these steps carefully to remove threats and get your device running safely again.

1. Clear Your Browser Cache and Downloads: Open Settings, go to Apps, select your browser (such as Chrome), then tap Storage and choose Clear Cache. Also check your Downloads folder and delete any files you do not recognize.

2. Restart Your Phone in Safe Mode: Hold the power button until the power menu appears. Press and hold Power Off until the Safe Mode option shows up, then tap it. In Safe Mode, third-party apps are disabled, which makes it easier to find the source of the problem.

3. Find and Remove Suspicious Apps: While in Safe Mode, go to Settings, then Apps, and look for any apps you do not remember installing or apps you never use. Tap on each one and select Uninstall. Pay special attention to apps that ask for too many permissions.

4. Turn On Google Play Protect: Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, and select Play Protect. Make sure it is turned on. You can also run a manual scan from this screen to check all apps on your device.

5. Update Your Android Software: Go to Settings, then System, and select Software Updates. Installing the latest updates often fixes security weaknesses that malware uses to get in.

6. Change Your Passwords: If you think your phone was compromised, change the passwords for your Google account, banking apps, email, and any other sensitive accounts. Use strong passwords that mix letters, numbers, and symbols.

7. Factory Reset as a Last Resort: If the problem is still there after all the steps above, open Settings, search for Factory Reset, and choose to erase all data. This removes everything on your phone, including the virus, but make sure to back up your important files first.

iPhones have a strong security system, which makes viruses less common. However, they can still happen. If your iPhone is acting strangely, follow these steps to clean and protect it.

1. Delete Any Suspicious Apps: Look through your apps and remove any that you do not recognize, do not use, or downloaded from outside the official App Store. Press and hold the app icon, then select Remove App to uninstall it completely along with its files.

2. Clear Your Safari Browsing History and Website Data: Go to Settings, select Safari, and tap Clear History and Website Data. This removes any malicious scripts or data that may have been saved from a bad website. If you use Chrome, go to its settings and clear browsing data there as well.

3. Restart Your iPhone: A simple restart can help stop active malware processes temporarily. Hold the side button and a volume button at the same time, then slide to power off. Wait a few seconds before turning it back on.

4. Update to the Latest Version of iOS: Apple regularly releases updates that fix known security problems. Go to Settings, then General, and tap Software Update. Always install the latest version available.

5. Restore from a Previous iCloud Backup: If you know roughly when your phone started acting strange, you can go back to a time before that. Go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, and look for Device Backups. Choose a backup from before the problem started and restore from it.

6. Factory Reset Your iPhone as a Last Resort: First, go to Settings, tap your name, and turn off Find My iPhone. Then go to Settings, then General, then Transfer or Reset iPhone and choose Erase All Content and Settings. This brings your phone back to the state it was in when it was brand new.

Now that you know how to clean your phone from virus infections, the next step is making sure it does not happen again. These habits will greatly lower your risk of getting malware in the future.

- Only Download Apps from Official Stores: Always use the Google Play Store for Android or the App Store for iPhone. These platforms review apps for safety before making them available. Avoid downloading apps from unknown websites or links in text messages.

- Keep Your Operating System and Apps Updated: Software updates often include important security fixes. Set your phone to update automatically so you never miss a patch that closes a vulnerability hackers could use.

- Avoid Clicking Unknown Links: Do not click on links in emails, text messages, or social media posts from people or sources you do not know. These links can take you to malicious websites that download harmful software onto your phone.

- Be Careful on Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi networks in cafes, airports, and hotels are often unsecured. Avoid logging into bank accounts or entering passwords when connected to these networks. Using a VPN adds an extra layer of protection.

- Check App Permissions Before Installing: Before you install an app, look at what permissions it asks for. A simple game does not need access to your contacts, microphone, or location. If the permissions seem unnecessary, do not install it.

- Back Up Your Phone Regularly: Regular backups mean that if your phone ever gets infected, you can restore your data from a clean version. Use iCloud for iPhone or Google Drive for Android and back up at least once a week.

- Install a Trusted Antivirus App: A good security app scans your device in real time and alerts you to threats before they cause damage. Look for well-known brands with strong reviews, and make sure to keep the antivirus app updated.

- Turn On Two-Factor Authentication: Even if malware steals your password, two-factor authentication (2FA) makes it much harder for hackers to access your accounts. Enable it on your email, banking, and social media accounts.