Your phone may have malware: Here’s how you can check

Here's what to check firstKaspersky blocked more than 1.99 million malware, adware and unwanted-software attacks on mobile devices in the second quarter of 2026, and that counts only its own users.Plenty of infections never announce themselves.

The signs of malware on your phone are often small.Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and remove any profiles that you did not download.

Next, check app permissions by going to Settings > Privacy & Security and remove any permissions of apps you do not recognise.Apple's sandboxing technique means that traditional antivirus software is not applicable, but certain security software warns about breaches in data.Go to the Google Play Store and click on your profile icon to see Play Protect.

If the scan comes up empty, you will need to use an Android antivirus application.

Your phone may have malware: Here’s how you can check October 19, 2026.