Engadget Guide Explains How to Find and Remove Spyware on Android Phones

Engadget lists several warning signs. They include unexplained slowdowns, overheating, faster-than-usual battery drain, a spike in mobile data use, and storage space vanishing without new installations. Persistent ads, random browser redirects, suspicious text messages, unfamiliar apps, and apps that suddenly request or gain access to the camera, microphone, or location can also point to spyware. The guide cautions that none of these signs proves an infection on its own, because an aging battery or phone can cause similar problems. But if several issues appear together or the device's regular behavior changes suddenly, Engadget says it is worth investigating.

The guide says spyware can be installed by someone with physical access to a phone, but the most common infections happen remotely. Phishing scams trick people into clicking malicious links or downloading fake attachments. Sideloading apps from outside the Google Play Store is risky because those apps skip Google's vetting process. Engadget adds that even the Play Store is not completely immune to rogue apps, although Google Play Protect catches most of them before they cause damage.

For removal, Engadget recommends running a Google Play Protect scan by opening the Google Play Store app, tapping the profile icon, selecting Play Protect, and tapping Scan. It says users can also install a trusted antivirus app, naming Bitdefender Mobile Security and Malwarebytes as commonly recommended options that may detect threats a manual check misses. The guide advises checking device administrator permissions under Settings > Security & Privacy > Device Administrators and revoking access for any suspicious app. If suspicious apps cannot be removed, Engadget says to boot the phone into Safe Mode by holding the power button and pressing and holding Power Off until the Safe Mode option appears. Safe Mode temporarily disables third-party apps, making malicious apps easier to delete. If spyware persists, the guide says to perform a factory reset.

To prevent spyware, Engadget says Android is a secure operating system by default as long as users install apps from Google Play and follow basic online safety rules. The guide recommends sticking to the Google Play Store for app downloads and not installing just any app even there. Users should look beyond star ratings, check the developer profile to confirm it comes from an established company, review the Data safety section to learn what information an app collects and whether data is encrypted, and analyze permission requests. A PDF reader, for example, should not ask for location data or SMS access. Engadget also advises against allowing installation from unknown sources in security settings, regularly checking installed apps and deleting unfamiliar or unused ones, installing system updates as soon as possible to patch known vulnerabilities, and using strong passwords with two-factor authentication.

The article says Android's openness is part of what makes it flexible, but it also attracts bad actors. Engadget's guide says users can keep their devices secure by relying on Google Play, scrutinizing app permissions, and maintaining basic security habits.