{"id":72206,"date":"2026-04-17T00:07:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T00:07:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/04\/17\/learn-how-to-protect-your-phone-from-viruses-and-other-threats\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T00:08:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T00:08:18","slug":"learn-how-to-protect-your-phone-from-viruses-and-other-threats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/04\/17\/learn-how-to-protect-your-phone-from-viruses-and-other-threats\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn how to protect your phone from viruses and other threats"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Our phones are no longer just tools for calling each other. For many of us, they are also the center of our online lives, main work tools and repositories of valuable photos and personal information. Cyber \u200b\u200battacks may occur steal this information<\/span><\/span> And we damage or switch off these essential devices, causing major damage to our personal and professional lives. According to CNET’s latest antivirus survey, over the past 12 months, more than half of laptop owners (54%) have experienced potential malware. It’s more important than ever to learn how to protect your phone from viruses and other threats.<\/p>\n

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We’ll show you several strategies you can use to protect your phone, from device-specific tactics like keeping your phone updated to broader internet security techniques like learning to identify phishing and other scams.<\/p>\n

How to protect your phone from viruses and other threats<\/h2>\n

Keep your device updated<\/h3>\n

Major upgrades to Android and iOS are released occasionally, with smaller patches released on a semi-regular basis throughout the year. These updates may include security fixes that can improve the security of your phone, such as fixing vulnerabilities. Most phones receive Update support for at least two years<\/span><\/span>Some received support from three to five. <\/p>\n

Most Android phones have automatic updates enabled by default, so each update is automatically installed the first time you connect to Wi-Fi after it’s released. You can confirm that it’s enabled by checking your device’s system settings. The software upgrade process varies slightly by device, but generally, you will need to Settings > Security & Privacy > Updates<\/strong>or a similar area of \u200b\u200byour phone’s Settings menu. <\/em>This area tells you whether automatic updates are enabled and when your device last installed an update. You can also manually check for updates here.<\/p>\n

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Android devices let you download updates easily. <\/p>\n

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If you are using an iPhone you will have to manually enable automatic updates. You can do this by going to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates<\/strong>.<\/em> You can then enable automatic installation, which completely applies updates for you, or automatic downloading, which downloads updates but requires you to manually install them. <\/p>\n

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Apple’s iPhones let you set them to automatically download and install updates as well as security responses and system files.<\/p>\n

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I recommend automatic installation for most people as it makes your life much easier. However, if you store essential information on your phone and want to make sure it’s backed up before updating, you may want to select automatic downloading. This ensures that your data is safe if an update causes problems with your phone.<\/p>\n

Install an antivirus app if you have special security needs<\/h3>\n
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Most people do not need antivirus protection for mobile devices. Both Android and iOS have built-in antivirus protection. Google Play Protect scans apps for malware and is the main layer of device protection on Android phones, some manufacturers offer additional security tools such as samsung device security<\/a>. <\/p>\n

iOS doesn’t use any specific antivirus software, but protocols like sandboxing \u2014 which keeps apps separate from your main operating system \u2014 and Apple’s strict app review process significantly reduce the risk of infection. These tools and protocols provide adequate protection for most people.<\/p>\n

If your phone stores important information, you regularly engage in risky activities on your phone or you are not the only one using it, you may want to install additional, third-party antivirus protection. Fortunately, most companies produce high quality antivirus tools for computer<\/span><\/span> Also offers apps for Android and iOS. I searched bitdefender<\/span><\/span> And norton apps<\/span><\/span> Particularly easy to navigate.<\/p>\n

Learn how to recognize phishing<\/h3>\n
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Phishing is a type of scam that involves fraudulent emails or text messages that are designed to appear as if they come from legitimate sources, such as your bank. While the purpose of phishing is usually to get you to share personal information, some of these scams trick you into installing viruses, spyware, or other malware. On Android, you can enable Safe Browsing in your Chrome browser to help you stay away from malicious websites identified for phishing or malware injection.<\/p>\n

There are several things you can look for to identify phishing and other scams.<\/p>\n