The Easiest Way to Find and Remove Spyware on Your Android Phone

If you follow cybersecurity news, it’s impossible not to come across a headline about recently discovered Android malware that allows criminals to steal your banking information or passwords. However, these reports are usually directly related to malicious apps that you have hopefully avoided so far.

Android is more open than iOS, allowing alternative app stores and sideloading of apps; it naturally attracts bad actors who use disguised utility applications, fake updates or phishing texts to spread spyware. However, Android’s open ecosystem doesn’t mean your phone is an easy target. Spyware is stealthy, but it rarely works without leaving clues. Fortunately, spyware removal does not require a computer science degree and most infections are very easy to remove with a few simple steps. We’ll explain how exactly to detect spyware infections, how to safely remove malware, and simple habits that will help keep your device safe in the future.

Spyware often runs silently in the background, searching for your information, waiting for you to enter a password or use an application. But it is rare that it works without leaving a trace. One of the things you need to watch out for is a sudden change in performance. If you notice unexplained slowdowns, overheating, or a battery draining much faster than usual, it could be a sign of spyware.

You might also notice a spike in mobile data usage or storage disappear without you having installed anything new or taken a billion videos. Persistent ads, random browser redirects, or suspicious text messages can also be a sign of spyware. If you notice unknown apps or apps suddenly asking for or accessing your camera, mic, or location, spyware could also be to blame.

None of these signs are proof on their own, as an aging battery can drain quickly for a multitude of reasons that have nothing to do with malware, and an aging phone can sometimes have glitches here and there. But if you notice several of these issues appearing together or sudden changes in your device’s usual behavior, it’s worth giving it some thought.

While it’s true that spyware can get onto your phone through someone gaining access to your device and installing monitoring software without your knowledge, the most common infections occur remotely. Phishing scams trick people into clicking malicious links or downloading fake attachments; Sideloading apps from outside the Google Play Store is also risky because they skip Google’s verification process. The truth is that even the Play Store is not completely safe from malicious apps, although Google Play Protect detects most of them before they cause damage.

Despite its scary name, spyware is not impossible to remove from your device, nor is it that difficult to do.

1. Run a Google Play Protect scan by launching the Google Play Store app, tapping the profile icon, selecting Play Protect and typing Scanning. Play Protect already scans your apps regularly, but you can always do your own check.

2. Install a reliable antivirus application. There are many antivirus apps available, but Bitdefender Mobile Security and Malwarebytes are commonly recommended options for detecting threats that a manual check of your device might miss.

3. Check the device administrator permissions on your phone by going to Settings > Security & Privacy > Device Administratorsand revoke access to any application that appears suspicious.

4. Start the phone in safe mode if you are unable to remove suspicious apps. Hold down the Power button, press and hold the Power off key until the Safe Mode option appears. This will temporarily disable third-party apps, making it easier to remove malicious apps.

5. Perform a factory reset if the spyware persists.

Android is a truly secure operating system by default… as long as you stick to installing apps from Google Play and following some basic online safety rules. Here are some steps to keep your phone clean:

• Stick to the Google Play Store for app downloads.

• Even from the Play Store, don’t install just any application; look beyond the star rating. Discover the developer profile To be sure it comes from an established company, check the Data security section to find out what information it collects and whether the data is encrypted, and analyze authorization requests — a PDF reader, for example, should not request location or access data via SMS.

• Make sure you do not allow installation from unknown sources in your Security Settings.

• Regularly check the list of installed applications and remove anything unknown or unused to you.

• Install system updates as soon as possible to fix known vulnerabilities.

• Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.

Android’s openness is part of what makes it flexible, but it also means that the user has a lot of responsibility for the security of their device. A quick scan of Play Protect, an antivirus application, and the habit of removing unknown applications will handle the vast majority of threats.