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Knowing how to remove spyware from Android is critical if you suspect you’ve been infected. Spyware can be used by hackers to record everything you do on your phone and to use it as a surveillance device. Because of this, it’s essential to address the issue quickly and decisively.
In this guide, I’ll explore the telltale signs someone has infected your phone with malware and explore how to remove spyware from Android devices.
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Best Antivirus Software for Detecting Spyware on Android
TotalAV – Superb antivirus software for complete, real-time protection
How to Remove Spyware From Android
- Choose a reliable Android antivirus. I suggest going for TotalAV, which proved highly effective against malicious mobile apps during my testing.
- Download a dedicated TotalAV Android app.
- Launch the application and run a full scan of your smartphone. If you’re particularly suspicious of an app or a file, you can scan them specifically.
- Follow TotalAV instructions on how to delete any apps, files, or programs that the antivirus has flagged as dangerous.
Is Someone Spying on My Phone? Telltale Signs of Android Spyware
Malicious actors can use spyware to capture your usernames, passwords, payment details, chats, and emails and to record your internet browsing habits. Cybercriminals can use access to credit card and banking details to make purchases or commit other financial crimes.
From stolen banking information to identity theft, Android phone spyware can cause a lot of damage in a short space of time. So, how can you tell if you’re a victim of spyware for Android? Here are some of the telltale signs to look out for:
- Poor Device Performance — Spyware demands computing power from your phone and can quickly burn through your battery life.
- Increased Data Usage — This could be a sign that malicious software is using up your data by broadcasting large volumes of information to third parties.
- Suspicious Transactions on Your Bank Statements — If you see new, unauthorized transactions, your banking information may have been recorded and stolen by cybercriminals using spyware. If you’re worried, investigate further and contact your bank.
- New, Suspicious Apps — One of the ways cybercriminals infect your device is by installing software with malicious code without your knowledge – so if you find apps you didn’t download, it’s a red flag.
- Applications Behave Strangely — Whether they’re opening without your permission or regularly crashing, odd behavior from your apps, or changes to your device admin app, could be a sign your device has been infected with spyware.
- Spam Pop-Ups Auto-Load — If you’re seeing frequent, intrusive ads, this could be a sign of adware, a common form of spyware used to track behavior that will often expose you to untrustworthy sites and software.
See our guide to how to remove spyware from iPhone for recommendations for iOS products.
Steps to Remove Spyware From an Android Device
From downloading antivirus software to removing suspicious applications, let’s take a look at how to remove spyware from Android. Many of these steps will also apply to how to remove malware from Android more generally.
Download or Update Your Antivirus Software
To remove spyware, you first need to know how to detect spyware on Android phones. Antivirus software is one of the best ways to keep your devices safe from malware, including spyware. Having tested and reviewed the top antivirus software on the market, I recommend TotalAV.
TotalAV is an effective spyware detector. Based on testing by AV-Comparatives, it offers users a 97.7% protection rate against malware and viruses, blocking 508 online threats out of 520. Androids can be vulnerable to spyware, and I rate TotalAV as one of the best Android antivirus apps on the market.
Sign Up For TotalAV
To download Total AV, go to TotalAV, set up an account, and download the app by tapping the “Tap here” link under “Android.”
Install the TotalAV App
Once in the Play Store, click the “Install” button, and, once complete, open the app and log in.
Run a Full System Scan
After downloading TotalAV, you need to run a full system scan on your Android phone to detect spyware. In TotalAV, tap the “Security Scan” button to run a full system scan. This will run a complete scan and let you know if there is any spyware software on your system.
I recommend always using strong, unique passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols and looking into the best antivirus software and the best antivirus VPN solutions to help keep your device free from spyware.
What to Do After Scanning for Spyware on Your Android Phone
Scanning your Android device for spyware is an important first step, but there are additional measures you can take to ensure your system is safe.
Remove Suspicious or Unfamiliar Programs
When it comes to removing spyware on Android, it’s a good idea to remove any programs you don’t recognize from your device. Here’s what to do:
- Swipe down from the top to the bottom of your phone screen
- Wait for the menu to appear
- Tap on the “Gear” icon to open “Settings”
- Tap “Apps”
- Scroll through your list of apps
- Make a note of any suspicious or unfamiliar apps, running an internet search for any unfamiliar names
- Select the app you want to remove
- From the app information screen, tap “Disable” or “Uninstall”
- A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm the change
- Tap “Disable app” or “OK”
Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies
To help protect yourself from spyware, you should clear your Android browser cache and cookies. Cybercriminals often plant malware in your browser’s cache, so be sure to run through these steps to remove any hidden spyware lurking in your browser:
- Tap the Chrome app
- Tap “More”
- Tap “History”
- Clear browsing data
- Either select a time range or select “All time” to delete everything
- Check the boxes next to “Cookies and site data” and “Cached images and files”
- Tap “Clear data”
Check for System Updates
From new security updates to bug fixes, system updates can help protect your phone from spyware in the future. To update your Android:
- Tap “Settings” and then “System”
- Select “System Updates”
- Tap “Download and Install”
Do a Factory Reset
For complete spyware removal, it’s a good idea to do a factory reset on your phone. A factory reset removes all the data from your phone and returns it to its original settings.
- Open up “Settings”
- Select “System”
- Tap “Reset options”
- Tap “Erase all data (factory reset)” – you may need to enter your password to approve this
For more information, see our guide on Will a Factory Reset Remove Viruses?
If you’re still concerned, check out our guides to the best malware removal solutions and the best spyware remover for more Android security solutions.
Why is Spyware So Dangerous?
There are several serious risks that come with having a spyware app on your device.
It’s worth making a distinction between spyware and parental control apps, though. Parental control apps are used by parents to keep children safe on the internet, monitor online activity, and block undesirable sites. Spyware is used by cybercriminals to track your online activity and steal valuable information from you.
Here are some of the risks of having spyware on your phone or computer.
1. Stolen Passwords
Spyware is often used to steal passwords. As such, spyware can pose a major risk to your security – from your social media logins to your music and video streaming accounts. A hacker could access your cloud storage files or send phishing emails to your contacts from your accounts.
2. Financial Loss
In addition to spying on your passwords, cybercriminals can use spyware to steal your financial details.
If you log onto your account to check your bank balance, cybercriminals may be able to see all the information you see, including your passwords, your account number, and details of the payments going in and out of your account.
They can then use this data to access your accounts – and cybercriminals can record and steal your bank and credit card numbers if you use them to make purchases on an infected device.
3. Identity Theft
In extreme cases, cybercriminals might use all the data they’ve collected on you to steal your identity. More elaborate financial crimes might even extend to opening new bank accounts and taking out loans. See our guide to how to prevent identity theft for recommendations on improving your online security.
4. Spying On Your Conversations
Cybercriminals can use spyware to monitor your digital conversations, whether in text messages, on Slack, or sent via social media apps.
They can do this by tracking keystrokes – the tap of a letter, symbol, number, or other keystroke. In some cases, they’ll also be able to access your call history, listen in on calls, or even turn on the device’s camera and microphone without your knowledge.
5. Viewing Your Search History
Some 67% of people say they value their privacy over convenience. Malicious actors can use spyware to sneak a look at all of your activities online – viewing every site you’ve visited.
How Does Spyware Get on Android Devices?
How does spyware get on an Android device? Knowing how your device can become infected is integral to keeping your phone and your personal data safe. These are some of the ways spyware can get on your phone.
Conclusion – How to Remove Spyware From Android Devices
Spyware is an extremely dangerous type of malware. It can be used to track your online activity, hack your bank account, and even steal your identity. With the right tools, though, you can find and remove spyware from your device, as I’ve covered in this guide to how to get rid of spyware on Android.
Getting a reliable antivirus is an important first step for spyware removal on Android, of course. For future protection from spyware and malware, you should avoid downloading software from unofficial sources, clicking on questionable links in texts and emails, and using public Wi-Fi without a VPN.
