Will Factory Reset Remove A Virus?

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When a lot of people here the word ‘virus’ what simply comes to their mind is a desktop infestation with malware. What many, however, do not know is that a Smartphone can also get infected with a virus. This can indeed be quite annoying especially as it would mean a slow-down of the operational function of your device. There is also the fear of Phishing among other concerns. However, the good news is that there is a solution to this situation depending on the route you opt to take. For some people, they simply format their phones while others go straight to factory reset. This brings us to our question of the day, ‘will factory reset remove a virus?’ We will find out this and more in this article.

Will factory reset remove a virus?

Yes. If you reset the manufacturer’s settings, it will help delete every data and along with with it all infections. It is, however, advisable that you back up your relevant data. However, the success of this is largely dependent on the operating system upon which your phone functions. Also, the type of virus that infected your phone matters a great deal as well as the depth of infestation. You may also want to know that a large number of Smartphones have been recorded to have some malware installed in them before being shipped; in this case, a factory reset may not work.

How Do I Know My Device Is Infected With A Virus?

There are times when we feel our device is virus infected and some of those times it’s simply something not as serious. For instance, if your phone crashes from time to time or you find it difficult to download stuff from the play store, it may not be a virus. There are a few questions you need to ask yourself when your device starts acting funny. First, did this problem begin soon after you downloaded a file online? Did you click on one of those regular pop-up ads on your screen? Did you download an application from a third-party source? If the response to the aforementioned is aforementioned, then chances are high that you are dealing with a virus.

What Is A Phone Virus?

A virus is simply software that gains access to and records information about your activities through your device without your consent. This can occur on your laptop, phone or desktop. Most of the time this malware is installed by tricking the user to visit a corrupted website after which the corrupted software is used to hack the person. Some of this malware can also be installed by someone who has access to your device within a short period.

Can An Iphone Device Get Viruses?

Yes, they can. However, the risks of getting a virus infestation on an iPhone device are quite low due to the hurdles involved. iOS devices are not known to be accommodating to many options and customization when compared with other options. It is a closed ecosystem and each of the apps on the Apple play store is usually vetted by Apple thoroughly.

How Can I Know If My Iphone Is Infested?

This may be quite difficult to detect due to several reasons. However, if you notice anything strange about your device, it is only wise that you attempt to investigate it. If you are convinced that your device is infected, you could carry out a factory reset to remove the infestation.

What Are The Risks Posed By The Virus?

There are different types of malware, and some of them are even installed by the manufacturer of your device. What some of these viruses do is to monitor your movements and online presence to give you targeted ads. However, such type of benign spyware does not have a direct consequence on you as a person.

Other categories of viruses on your device are the ones you should be concerned about. Such type of virus is usually designed to gain access to your information for malicious intent. They are usually used for identity theft and even credit card fraud.

Tips To Help You Prevent Your Device From Being Infected With A Virus

If you are looking to be free from the risk of virus infestation on your device, the first thing you need to do is avoid it. This may not always be possible, however avoiding a few things could go a long way in reducing the risks of your device being infected.

Basic steps such as avoiding public WiFi’s and certain links and attachments would help you evade the malicious onslaught of hackers. It is also important that you take the necessary steps to shield your device. If someone gets access to your device, it falls at their mercy and they can do whatever they like. In this case, ensure that you always secure your device with a phone lock or something of that nature. If you lose your phone, the thief will not have access to it.

When it comes to Android devices, you should know that they are quite open and it’s always possible that bad people may want to do terrible things against them. However, just as it is with computers, there are things you could do to keep your device safe. Most of these steps do not require you making much of an effort.

Here we will look at a few steps you can take to secure your device from harm’s way.

1. If it’s not a reputable source run away!

The internet is loaded with contents from a lot of sources. However, as it is with any other commodity, where you get it plays a huge role in determining the quality level. It is therefore advisable that you make use of the Google Play store for downloads and Amazon Appstore. Whatever you do, make sure you stay away from any random website on the internet. most of the time, these sites look too good to be true but simply end up exposing your device to viral infestation.

2. Go for trusted items

Curiosity is never really a bad virtue until it lands you in trouble. It is only reasonable that you treat your apps the same way you would treat the food you eat. Simply put; if you do not know who made it or where it is coming from, do not install it! It is normal to get messages with links describing an awesome app that could solve all your problems in life; however, you shouldn’t install such an application on your device.

3. Don’t ignore the permission

This can be quite difficult given the fact that we are always in a hurry these days. As difficult as this may be, we must go through the permissions that pop up when we are trying to install an application from your device. It does not matter if the source is Google play store or somewhere else, they are bound to declare permissions. What this permission simply means is that it is asking you to give it access to your phone. This could imply it having access to your internet, camera or a record of your keystrokes or location.

Each one of these attempts at access has a different agenda. For instance, whatever uses GPS should have access to your location per time while the keyboard apps will record your keystrokes. Also, if an app can make phone calls or send emails, it will certainly need to access your contacts.

It is only ideal for Google to shed more light on what it means by permission and why it is so important for the apps. This is where it becomes imperative for you as a device owner to be vigilant about the things you grant permission on your device.

4. Get a virus scanner

Getting an antivirus may not be a compulsory thing to do for your device, but it is certainly a safe way to go. The fact is that every application that goes through Google play store passes through a thorough vetting process. Every app on the platform is usually scanned to check for virus infestation. This may not be a hundred percent foolproof, hence the need to have an alternate vetting process. However, we recommend that if you must go for an anti-virus, go for the ones with a good reputation and track record.

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Conclusion

Now that you know the effect of factory reset on your device, it is also imperative that you adopt the tips we gave to prevent virus infection. The lifespan of your device is a function of the way you handle it. The things you allow access to your device also play a big role in determining its lifespan hence the need to restrict such. We believe that if you adhere to the tips outlined in this article, you should be as far away from the virus as possible.