Phones can show malware-like symptoms from bad apps, malicious profiles, browser popups, or ordinary battery problems. Android and iPhone handle these risks differently, so use the section for your phone.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Android phones and iPhones showing popups, unknown apps, fast battery drain, strange data usage, or suspicious profiles.
Android: scan with Play Protect
Google Play Protect is built in and can be run manually.
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile icon.
- Choose Play Protect.
- Tap Scan.
- If a harmful app appears, choose Uninstall or Remove.
- Review the full app list and uninstall anything you do not recognize.
- Open Settings > Apps, review permissions, and revoke access that does not match what an app does.
Android: reset if problems continue
Use this when suspicious apps return or symptoms do not clear.
- Back up photos and important files.
- Open Settings > System > Reset options on Pixel or stock Android, or Settings > General management > Reset on Samsung.
- Choose Erase all data or Factory data reset.
- Confirm and let the phone reset.
- During setup, restore contacts and photos but reinstall apps individually from the Play Store instead of restoring every old app automatically.
iPhone: remove profiles and suspicious apps
iPhones rarely get traditional viruses, but profiles and scam apps can still cause problems.
- Open Settings > General > VPN & Device Management.
- Remove any configuration profile you do not recognize.
- Delete apps you do not remember installing.
- Install pending updates under Settings > General > Software Update.
- If you entered your Apple ID on a suspicious page, open Settings > your name > Password & Security and change the password.
More control
Battery drain is not always malware
Check Android battery usage or iPhone Battery settings before assuming infection. A stuck app, bad signal, or old battery is often the cause.
Browser-only popups are usually web data
If ads appear only in the browser, clear site data and remove suspicious extensions before doing a full reset.
iPhone antivirus apps are limited
Because iOS sandboxes apps, App Store antivirus apps cannot scan other apps like a desktop antivirus. Focus on profiles, suspicious apps, updates, and Apple ID security.
Erase as new if necessary
If an iPhone still behaves oddly after cleanup, back up important data, erase all content and settings, and set it up as new rather than restoring the old app state.
Sources
- Google Play Protect – About Play Protect (2025)
- Apple Support – If you think your iPhone has a virus or malware (2025)
- Malwarebytes – How to remove malware from an Android phone (2025)