McAfee Total Protection 2024 | 1 Device, 1 Year | Antivirus Internet Security Software | PC/Mac/Android/iOS | Email Delivery

5 signs that your device may be infected

Depending on the type of malware, your device may exhibit varying behavior. For example:

• Screen takeover – a screen filled with a matrix of numbers or skull-and-crossbones accompanied by ransom instructions are consistent with being infected by ransomware.
• Spikes in data usage – if your data usage is increasing but you’re not sure why, malware may be to blame. It’s possible that a program is running in the background and transmitting your sensitive information to cybercriminals.
• Browser pop-ups – while in general pop-up ads are just annoying, if you’re seeing these ads when your browser is closed, you could be dealing with malware.
• Overheating – phones and computers are high-performance devices, but if your device unexpectedly gets hot while idle, it’s possible that malware could be stealing performance from that device and using those resources for cryptomining.
• Faster battery drain – similar to overheating, if your battery life becomes unexpectedly short, it could be because malware is running in the background and draining your power.

With all the advances in phishing attacks and malware, bad actors no longer need physical access to your devices to wreak havoc. For example, an intruder could sign into your accounts as you, spam your contacts with phishing attacks, add new mobile lines, and even request new credit cards. The good news is that many of these attacks can be avoided with strong security software that can prevent these intrusions before they can cause any harm.