I may have downloaded a malicious software on android

I physically, I was sick, because I didn't know what they were," Harvey said. That story's no surprise to cybersecurity expert Gary Miliefsky, whose company SnoopWall tracks malware. He said certain apps are designed to steal your personal information. You're gonna wonder why there was a transaction. You're gonna wonder how someone got into your bank account and paid a bill that doesn't exist," Miliefsky said. Milifesky said when you download an app, you also give permission for it to access other parts of your phone, like an alarm clock app that can also track phone calls.

Access to the Internet over wifi, your call information, calls you've made, call history, your device ID? One form of malware is ransomware, which can allow a cybercriminal to encrypt and steal the data stored on your device. How do you get ransomware? You may install ransomware unwittingly by downloading a program you thought was safe, or clicking on a link embedded with malware. Robust anti-malware software such as Norton Security will run regular, scheduled scans across your whole computer.

These scans will help provide an additional layer of protection against malware harming your system by checking for infections on a regular basis. If you do end up with a virus, you can use the free Norton Power Eraser to help remove malware. These updates will equip your devices with the latest patches to recognize and protect against new threats.

Your anti-malware software should detect and flag suspicious websites. For example, some fake websites are specifically designed to look like real sites with the goal of phishing, or tricking you into sharing your passwords or account numbers. A strong anti-malware program should use email spam-filtering technology to help protect against suspicious messages that try to entice a user to click on malicious links.

Part of this filtering involves isolating these potentially malicious emails in quarantine, which then allows you to determine if those messages are safe. Another form of anti-malware analysis is known as heuristics. Heuristics can spot malware by looking at its behavior and characteristics as opposed to relying only on its knowledge of malware definitions, or signatures. Heuristics can provide an extra layer of security by enabling an anti-malware program to detect and eradicate threats that were not detected in prior scans.

If your security software detects a potentially-malicious program, it can perform a test by running that program in a protected, enclosed space on your computer known as a sandbox. If the suspicious program is determined to be malicious, your anti-malware software should be capable of removing it. Another key feature you should look for in a strong anti-malware software is safeguarding your online account information.

Some password managers will also help you create passwords that are unique and complex, and then store them — along with sensitive data such as your credit card or other account information — in an encrypted online vault.

Antivirus software programs should be easy to install and use. If the process is difficult, you might not install them correctly or use them regularly and effectively.

Cybercriminals have many reasons for attempting to install malware on unsuspecting devices, such as accessing your personal information, passwords, banking credentials, and other private data. What can you do to help protect yourself?

Be vigilant in your online activity. This is a common tactic of Trojan viruses, which often originate from a browser-based infection. Unfortunately, a lot of malware is specifically designed to go undetected, so while the previous nine points are important to look for, you may be infected without knowing it.

If you do not have your operating system set up to automatically update, do so now. The easiest way is to download the latest versions.

Download Firefox versions here. Download IE versions here. Download Google Chrome versions here. It should be up-to-date with all available patches, fixes, and upgrades. If you are using a smartphone, you need to have mobile security software installed. Mobile malware has come to stay, and unprotected phones are vulnerable to exploits. This takes setting your email spam filters to an appropriately high level, and some smartening up on your part. Every email program has spam filters. Hold it until the animation ends and your phone restarts.

Uninstall the suspicious app. Find the app in Settings and uninstall or force close it. This may not completely remove the malware, but it could prevent further damage to your device, or from it transmitting the malware to other devices on your network.

Look for other apps you think may be infected. If you think you can identify those apps, delete them immediately. Install a robust mobile security app on your phone. Tips to help protect your Android device against viruses and other malware Here are seven key steps you can take to help protect against future risks. Invest in and use robust security software to protect your Android device. Keep all operating systems and software updated with the latest versions. Use strong, complicated passwords or a password manager.

Never use unsecure Wi-Fi connections. Always use strong cyber safety protection on all devices that connect to the internet. Always install apps from trusted sources, such as the Google Play Store.

Read the fine print and permissions on the apps to understand how much access you are giving the app developers. Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you. NortonLifeLock offerings may not cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat we write about. Our goal is to increase awareness about cyber safety.