Can you download a virus on an android

Viruses are just one type of malware, or malicious software. Criminals take advantage of vulnerabilities in out-of-date operating systems or browsers to target your phone, or exploit weaknesses in Wi-Fi networks.

Alternatively, they might try to con you into accepting malware by downloading a fake app or by clicking a link in a bogus text message or email, or on a dubious website.

But these terms are often used loosely. A virus , as we mentioned above, is a specific type of malware that copies itself by inserting its code into other programs or your operating system. Malware is the general name for any kind of harmful software, including viruses.

A threat is the catch-all term for any kind of security risk to your phone, including mobile phone malware. While you're not likely to catch a phone virus, there's a much higher risk of your phone being infected by other kinds of malware.

The most common ways that malware gets onto your iPhone or Android device are:. Downloading a malicious app is the most common way for Android malware to get onto your phone. For iPhone users, app-based malware is much rarer but may still be a risk. Android phones are more vulnerable to malicious apps than iPhones because, unlike Apple, Google allows the downloading of apps from sources other than the official Google Play app store.

By default, though, Android disables the downloading of apps from other sources. The best way to avoid downloading a malicious app to your phone is to do a little research. Ask yourself these three questions:. Check, for example, how many times an application has been downloaded from the Google Play Store or the App Store.

Are they positive? Cybercriminals often post short, fake reviews to try to trick you into downloading an app containing malware. Genuine app developers often create more than one app.

If they have, read the reviews of those apps too. If not, be wary. Signs that an app could be used to deliver malware or some other type of threat include:. If a phone app asks you to download an urgent security update, stop, think and do a little Googling. Have other users downloaded this update? Were they happy with the result? Does the phone app you downloaded look and behave like a professional app?

With nearly 8 million malicious samples in our mobile threat detection database and 6, new unique samples being added every day, you are always protected. Your Android phone or tablet can be a victim of malware just like your desktop computer. Learn how to scan and remove viruses from an Android device here. Want to learn about malware? Read this ultimate guide to find out what malware is, how it works, how it spreads and what you should do to protect yourself.

From Cyber Police to Article , Android devices have been hit by several major ransomware attacks. Learn how to remove ransomware from Android here. Trojan horse malware disguises itself as harmless to trick you into installing it. Learn how Trojans work and how to prevent attacks. Find out how to check for and detect keyloggers. Then learn how to remove them to protect your personal information and sensitive data.

Ransomware is a serious threat to individuals, businesses, and even hospitals. Learn how ransomware works and block hackers from holding your files hostage. Doxing, or doxxing, is the release of someone's personal info without their consent.

Find out how doxing works and how you can prevent it. The best passwords are strong enough to thwart a brute force or dictionary attack. Find out how to create good, easy-to-remember passwords.

United States English. Note : If your download did not start automatically, please click here. There are a number of legitimate compression formats commonly used and easily opened by typical end users on most operating systems other than ZIP, such as:. EICAR test virus is not a real virus. Test viruses are built for testing and observing the features and reactions of your anti-malware solution when a virus is found.

Download the test file to your computer. The EICAR test virus is the only standardized way to watch anti-virus-programs doing their job, and therefore probably all of them will detect and name the file. Nevertheless, this says nothing about detection rates and protective performance of the tested software. If the EICAR test file is not detected by your malware scanner, we recommend looking for the reason because it might be caused by malfunctions.

But yours is not. Get your hands on fresh malware for testing your antivirus software and maybe mutate it yourself with a packer. Security Center Malware How to remove a virus from an Android phone.

Jan 14, Join today. Cancel anytime. Start Free Trial. Viruses and other types of malware What can viruses and other malware do to Android phones? Signs your Android phone may have a virus or other malware How to check for viruses and other malware on your Android phone How to remove viruses and other malware from your Android device Tips to help protect your Android device against viruses and other malware Viruses and other types of malware Malware is malicious software that can sneak onto your phone.

What can viruses and other malware do to Android phones? Malware is designed to generate revenue for cybercriminals. Signs your Android phone may have a virus or other malware Phones can be vulnerable to damage externally and internally.

Your phone is too slow. Apps take longer to load. The battery drains faster than expected. There is an abundance of pop-up ads. Unexplained data usage occurs. Higher phone bills arrive.

How to check for viruses and other malware on your Android phone A good way to check for malware on your Android phone is to run an antivirus scan. Power off the phone and reboot in safe mode.