WhatsApp tips and tricks: How to disable blue ticks and hide last seen on WhatsApp

 We might love the popular instant messaging platform, WhatsApp for all the features it has to offer, but the blue tick marks and last seen notification is not preferred by everyone.

To the dismay of its users, WhatsApp introduced the 'read receipts' (Blue ticks) option in its app to display checkmarks next to each message you send. The feature lets people see precisely when the message is read. It works in a simple way. When the grey checkmarks turn blue that means the receiver has read your message but when the tickmarks remain grey - it just means that the message has only been delivered. 

Earlier, WhatsApp users could only see when the message was delivered but since the inception of the read receipts option, they get to know when you are ignoring them by not replying to their messages (you have already read). And that's when the problem arises.

Although it helps you in comprehending when a person -- you are sending texts to -- even after reading your messages is not replying, it brings you in trouble when you are the one not replying to someone else's messages. 

Apart from the 'read receipts' option, the 'last seen' notification on WhatsApp, similarly, is one of the features that give you no privacy. It let all your contacts know when you were last online and when their message reached you. With this feature, your contacts get permission to see and check when you were active on the app. 

We might love the popular instant messaging platform owned by Facebook for all the features it has to offer, but the blue tick marks and last seen notification is not preferred by everyone. 

Luckily, WhatsApp has an option to disable both these features and there are simple ways to avoid letting others know when you are reading their messages or when you were last online on the app. Here's a quick guide to help you keep your privacy on WhatsApp intact. 

How to disable blue ticks and hide last seen on WhatsApp

Before getting relieved of the annoying Blue ticks aka read receipts option, you must know that after disabling the read receipts you will no longer be able to see when the receiver read your message, in the same way, they will not be able to see when you read their message.

Likewise, once you disable the last seen option on WhatsApp, you too will not be able to check when your contacts were last online. So, if you have made up your mind then follow these five simple steps to disable blue ticks and hide last seen on WhatsApp.

STEP 1 : Open WhatsApp

Open the app on your smartphone to disable the option

STEP 2 : Tap on three dots

On the top right corner of the app, you will find three vertical dots. 

STEP 3 : Head to Settings

Now go to the 'Settings option and tap on the 'Account' then click on 'Privacy' 

STEP 4 : Disable Read receipts

A list of options will be displayed on the screen (like in the picture given below). Now uncheck the 'read receipts' option which will turn its button from green to grey. 

STEP 5 : Disable Last seen

Now tap on the last seen option and according to your preference click on any of three options - Everyone, My Contacts or Nobody

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All about the Aadhaar card update process

 Aadhaar is the largest biometric identification system in the world, where individuals are provided with a unique 12-digit number which is linked to their biometrics. It would not be an exaggeration to say that in future Aadhaar would become mandatory for availing the benefits of government schemes. 

Aadhar card serves as proof of address and identity as well. It is therefore essential that all your details and information in the Aadhaar card are accurate. Otherwise, you might not be able to receive the benefits of government schemes. If there have been any changes in your information or biometrics, you must go for an Aadhar Card Update immediately.

1. When do you need to go for an UIDAI Aadhaar Update?

There can be some situations that can require you to apply for Aadhaar card correction. Some of the most common scenarios being: –

• Change in your contact details (mobile number or address)
• Change in your name (after marriage or willingly)
• Clerical errors by the operator during the enrolment process
• Change in Biometrics due to an accident (Fingerprint, Iris)
• Change in the local language
• Quality of biometrics captured during enrolment not being up to the mark.
• Updating Aadhaar card with the age of a child (at the age of 5 years and 15 years)
• The demand for additional documents by UIDAI
• In case of multiple authentication failures

2. Documents required for an Aadhaar Card Update

The documents required for updating your Aadhar data vary according to the nature of the change required. The detailed list of documents could be checked at the official portal of UIDAI or by clicking on the following link: –

https://resident.uidai.gov.in/Resident-theme/pdf/valid_documents_list.pdf

3. Aadhaar Card Update Process

The Aadhaar card update process can be completed via two modes, i.e. through an online portal or enrolment centre.

While the demographic information can be updated through any of the above two modes, updating biometric data is possible only through the enrolment centre.

Here is the detailed stepwise guide to help you with the UIDAI Aadhar update.

1. Aadhaar Card Correction through the online portal

If you want to change or update the demographic data in your Aadhar such as Aadhaar card mobile number update or address update online, you can log-on to the self-service portal of the UIDAI and follow the steps mentioned below for any Aadhaar card correction online.

a. Log-on to the official UIDAI website at https://ssup.uidai.gov.in/aadhaar-home/.

b. Locate the section titled “Update Your Aadhaar ” and then click on the link “Update your address Online.”

c. On the next page, enter your Aadhaar number and type in the captcha code and click on the button “send OTP”.

You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number. Type in the OTP when prompted. This will take you to your Aadhaar update portal.

d. Here, you can select the demographic information that you want to update such as name, address, mobile number etc.

e. Now, enter the updated information as updated on the screen. Make sure that you enter the correct and up to date information. Also, check if every other information in your Aadhar data is accurate. If you need to change any information regarding the pin code, district, post office, state etc. you must contact the UIDAI help desk at help@uidai.gov.in.

f. After you are satisfied with the details, click on the “Submit” button. This will generate a URN. Note down the URN at a safe place as it will be required to check the Aadhar card update status later on.

g. You will now be given the option to select a BPO for your request. Select any of the given BPO and click submit.

Now on the next page, you will be asked to upload scanned and self-attested copies of the approved documents as mentioned at  https://resident.uidai.gov.in/Resident-theme/pdf/valid_documents_list.pdf

1. You can now download the copy of the acknowledgement.
2. It usually takes a few working days for the information to be updated. You can check the status of your update request using the URN on the portal.
3. If your request is approved, you will receive your updated Aadhar card through mail at your address. If the request is rejected for any reason, you will need to re-apply for the same.

2. Aadhaar Card Correction through Enrolment Centre

If you do not have access to internet and computer, or need to update your biometric details, you can visit your nearest Aadhar enrolment centre. Steps involved in changing the Aadhaar details through an enrolment centre are:-

Find out the nearest Aadhaar enrolment centre through the UIDAI portal.

1. You are not required to make any prior appointment and can visit the permanent enrolment centre as per your convenience.
2. Make sure you take the original copies of all your documents that have been mentioned against the respective change of information option. You can access the list of documents at  – https://resident.uidai.gov.in/Resident-theme/pdf/valid_documents_list.pdf
3. The operator would verify your details and if your documents are in order, and then the operator will proceed with the Aadhaar card correction online.
4. The operator would enter all the details in the software, take your biometrics (if required) and scan the copies of your documents.
5. Once the process is completed, you will get an acknowledgement receipt which will have the URN.
6. You can track the status of the update request against your Aadhaar through the UIDAI portal.
7. If your documents are in order, you will receive the updated copy of Aadhar at your address in a few working days.

Getting the information in your Aadhaar Card is extremely important otherwise you might lose out on several benefits that you are entitled to. With the help of the online portal as well as a permanent enrolment centre, the process of the Aadhar card update has become conveniently easy. If you also need to get your Aadhaar data updated, you must act soon and complete the process through the appropriate online channels.

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If your phone’s battery does not run much, then do this setting, it will work

 Everybody now uses smartphones instead of mobile phones. Although smartphones have more features than normal phones, but no solution has yet been found regarding their battery life. Due to multifunction, their battery runs out quickly, which keeps users worried. But there is no need to worry because we are telling you about such settings by which you can save your smartphone battery from running out quickly.

Screen timeout
Setting the screen timeout in the smartphone means that you are not using your handset. Upon making this setting, the handset’s screen automatically locks. If you do this setting in the phone, then your phone battery will not drain quickly. You can select in it yourself that the vocabulary should be turned off after seconds / minutes.

Keep GPS Off
Nowadays GPS is being used more. The location can be detected from this. If you do not use GPS, then you offer it. Due to its continuous on, it costs more than the battery of the phone.

Power saving modes
Now in most of the smartphones, the power saving mode option has started defaulting if your phone does not have the option. However, if your phone does not have this feature, download it from the Google Play Store and keep it on forever.

Original charger

When we go out somewhere, we forget to take our Charger with us, in such a situation, we charge our phone with another Charger, which ends the battery life of our phone very soon. Keep in mind that you should never charge your Smartphone with Duplicate Charger or any other Mobile Charger. Charging Point of the Mobile gets deteriorated when Charging with Duplicate Charger, and the battery soon deteriorates.

Do not use Fast Charger

In today’s time, you will find many such Fast Chargers that will make your Smartphone Full Charge in some time, but users forget that this can ruin the battery of your Smartphone, so as much as possible with such Charger Try to save your Smartphone.

Do not leave Charge at night

Being a person has made it a habit that when he sleeps at night, he leaves the phone on Charging, which keeps the phone charging all night, whereas it is better to charge the Smartphone continuously for at least 2 or 3 hours. It is, if you also leave your phone on the Charge overnight, then change this habit now so that the battery life of your Smartphone can last longer.

Avoid Full Charging

Your Smartphone should not charge 100%, this reduces your battery life, the phone should be charged up to 80% only after which the phone starts heating up and its effect on the battery’s capacity.

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How to enter your home or shop name address on Google map?

 Do you also want to learn how to enter your home, shop or any famous place on Google Maps. So believe me, this post today is only for you. It is very easy to put your address location on Google Map. Which you will know after reading this post.

Let me tell you that along with putting your name and address on Google Map, you can also add a photo, website and business card of that place. However google verifies the information you entered. Only then the details you enter are added to google map. It takes 24 to 48 hours.

Especially those who do business. They want to reach the name and address of their shop to as many people as possible. In this case, if they add their name and address on google map. So the customer can easily reach their address.

To add your location on Google Map, you just need three things. First Smartphone, second Internet and third gmail id, if you have these three things. So you can enter the name and address of your house or shop in Google Maps.

So, without delay, let us now know that how to put your name and location in Google Map? To put your address location on Google Map, you just have to follow some simple steps mentioned below.

First of all, let us know that wherever you want to add the address on google map. If possible, you should sit in the same place and follow this procedure as mentioned below. Because by doing this, your location on Google map will be a perfect ad. So let’s know how to put location on Google map?

Step 1: First of all you open Google map app in your smartphone and login by entering gmail id, password.

Step 2: Now tap on the menu button in the top left side of the app.

Step 3: Here below you will see the option of Add a missing place, tap on it.

Step 4: In this page you have to fill up and submit the complete details of your address location.

1. Name: Here you enter the name of your shop or place. Which you want to appear on google map.
2. Category: Here you select your address category. For example, if you want to add your shop, then you select the shop. The same if you are adding the address of a temple. So select Temple in category. It means to say that you are adding the address of any place. Select the category according to that thing.
3. Location: Here you select your place. The place you want to appear on Google map. To do this, you turn on your phone’s gps and then click on the button of update location on map. After doing this, your address will come automatically.
4. Add others details: Now you can click on this button to add your phone number, hours, website, opening date and photos. As soon as you click, options will come in front of you to interconnect them.

Add hours: enter hours here. That is, your shop remains open for how many days a week, from how many hours to how many hours.
Add phone number: Here you enter your phone number so that the customers direct can talk to you.
Add website: If you have a website. So you enter the URL of your website here.
Add opening date: Leave this option as is.
Add photo: Here you can add a photo of your shop or place.

Step 5: When you fill up all the details well. Then you tap on the arrow mark given in the top right side. So that all your details are submitted to Google.

After the details are submitted, Google will verify the information you entered. If you have filled up the correct information. So your address will start showing on google map within 24 to 48 hours.

Note: If you think you have entered the wrong name, place or address. So you can correct it by editing it. To do this, you have to go to the three line menu option again and tap on Your Contribution and go to Edit.

How to know if the location added on Google Map is approved or dis-approved?

The detail you have added on Google Map. To check its status, you can find out by following some of the steps mentioned below.

Step 1: Google has approved or dis-approved your details. To know its status, first of all you open Google Map and go to Menu option.

Step 2: Here you will see the option of your contribution, you select it.

Here you will know that your details (name, address, location) have been added on Google map. It has been approved or dis-approved.

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Is egg veg or non-veg? Scientists have found the answer

 Method

Often, the question arises in the minds of people whether the egg is a wedge or a non-veg? At the same time, some people believe that it comes in non-veg category because it gives it to chicken. Scientists have found the answer to your question, while there are some people who are not accepting this theory as correct.

So milk would also be vegetarian

Vegetarian people believe that the egg has come from the chicken, so if the chicken is non-veg, then the egg is also non-veg, but let us tell you that science says that milk also comes from the animal, so how did it become vegetarian?

Eggs found in the market are unfertilized

People think that the egg comes out of chick, so it is non-vegetarian whereas all the eggs found in the market are unfertilized. That is, chickens never come out of these eggs. Scientists have also tried to answer this question through science to clear the misconception of this. According to him, the egg is vegetarian.

It turns out that the egg is vegetarian

Eggs have three layers. The first is the yolk on the skin, the second the white and the third egg yolk. Yoke means yellow part. According to a research done on eggs, only egg whites contain protein. No part of the animal is present in it. Therefore technically egg white is a white wedge.

Non-vegetarian happens

Like egg white, egg yolk i.e., yolk also contains a good amount of cholesterol and fat along with protein. The egg comes only after coming into contact with the chicken and the chicken. They contain gamet cells which make it non-vegetarian. Whereas nothing like this happens in marketed eggs.

Then how does a chicken hatch an egg?

The hen starts laying eggs after 6 months. She lays eggs every 1 or one and a half days, but please tell that it is not at all the case that the hen must come in contact with any hen. These eggs are called unfertilized egg. Scientists claim that chickens can never come out of them.

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What happens to those who die, their Facebook account?

 Any person can be a victim of any untoward at any time. Is it or not? In such a situation, you have thought what will happen to your Facebook? Will he stay like this all his life? Have you ever thought what can you do to the old Facebook account of someone close to whom you have lost with great grief?

Legacy contact

Keeping a ‘legacy contact’ is the best option to maintain your account on Facebook. Your legacy contact can manage your account after your death. They can change your profile picture, post ‘pin’ on your timeline and reply to friend request. However, they are not allowed to post anything or see your messages.

What does Facebook do with the account of dead people?

Facebook memorializes the accounts of the dead. That is, their account is not deleted. Rather, people can save the memories of the dead person, so keeps their posts and photos saved.

In the memorialized account, ‘remembering’ is added in front of the person’s name. That means they are being remembered. If the dead person has kept his timeline open for people’s posts, then people can also post on their timeline.

The memorialized accounts do not appear in ‘People You May Know’ or Friend’s Appearance, nor do people present in their friend list get the notification of their birthday. If the dead person has created a page of which he is the only admin, then the page is deleted as soon as the news of the death is received. the dead person has set a ‘legacy contact’, then he can change the account.

If you want your account deleted after death?. Then go to the option with legacy contact and select ‘Request Account Deletion’.

How to report the death of someone to Facebook?

When you are on a page with a legacy contact, at the end of the page, Facebook asks you if you want to give information about a dead person to Facebook. By clicking on it, you reach a form, which you have to fill before the account owner is declared dead.

But it is not that you make anyone dead. Death certificate of the dying person has to be uploaded. Only after verifying that, Facebook will declare that person dead.

a good thing

Even after your death, Facebook will not share your message with anyone in any way. Neither will you give your login details to anyone. According to the privacy policy of Facebook, this is a crime. And they don’t do that at all.

It is our wish that you live a hundred years and be perfectly healthy. But be aware that if something untoward happens to you or someone close to you, no one can misuse your Facebook.

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Why are most hotel bed sheets white?

 Ever wondered why bed sheets are white in most hotels? We almost never buy white bed linen for home but it charms us at hotels, right? Talking about this on our visit to Tree House Jaipur, Abhinav and I have been curious to find out. The black and white of it seems obvious: white stands for cleanliness. But is there more to it? We asked people from hospitality industry & here’s what we got:

1. White is bright: Change your bedroom linen to white and notice the difference. White makes everything in the room look more bright. Designs and patterns become more visible against white than any other colour. “White as a colour enhances both natural and artificial light in a room. Since different colours are incorporated in the curtains and upholstery, beds with white linens are placed in the centre of the room to break the colour scheme,” avers Shilpa Kosambia– Executive Housekeeper, Sofitel Mumbai BKC.

2. The Colour Psychology: According to colour psychology, white stands for purity and perfection. Imagine a clean room but with red or blue bed linen. Can you be sure of its cleanliness? Abhinav and I will certainly be suspicious (well, we are paranoiacs anyway!). Other colours can mask dirt, white is pure. There you go. “White symbolizes purity. It is clean and untouched. Also, the sight of a clean bed, to a tired traveller, adds  to the visual appeal,” says Aashu Bhatnagar, Senior Director of Sales at Nidra Hospitality. Agrees kosambia, “White symbolizes purity and also marks new beginnings, hence is the ideal choice of colour for most hotel beds..

3. Maintenance: Geetha Sudesh, Director of Service, Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre and Courtyard by Marriott Hyderabad explains this point in detail. She says, “The quality of linen we use for hotels and the multi-prong step that we use for maintenance is the reason for the crisp white bed sheets at hotels. We use standard 300 thread count bed sheet, a cotton and polyester blend (50:50). The reason hotels use a blend of cotton and polyester is because it combines the best of both fabrics: while cotton is a water-loving fabric and absorbs up to a third of a gallon of water per pound when wet while Polyester is called ‘scavenger fabric’ as it easily picks up and holds on to dyes and soils. The strict process that we as hotels adopt, help maintain our linen in top condition.

4. Replacement: Other colour shades may vary but white is the easiest colour to replace. Well, black too but then black linen wouldn’t be so appeasing, right?

Also read

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Trick to double mobile sound

 In today’s time, we are all aware of the important role that smartphones play in the life of every human being. And in today’s time, people are taking these smartphones not just for the needs but also as a trend. People are also getting more attracted towards these smartphones because along with the works, they have also become a good means of entertainment.

But with the increasing technology, in today’s time the list of Android Smartphone is at the top today. Due to the great features of Android platform, people are getting attracted to these smartphones. Today you can work in these smartphones and can entertain yourself.

Today with the increasing technology, due to these smart phones, we can listen to music on these and also watch movies and videos. But among all these tasks, the most problem comes from the volume of smartphones.

Smartphones are giving us everything from good screens to good features, but the problem of volumes in these smartphones continues. Many people are worried about the problem related to the volume of the smartphone, so today we have come up with a solution to these problems.

After this method mentioned by us, now no smartphone user needs to worry about the problems related to the volume of the phone, because after the method we are going to tell you today, the volume of the smartphone will increase twice.

So let us tell you in detail about this Volume Increase trick:

• To increase the volume of your mobile phone, you must first download and install an app from Google’s Play Store. The name of this app is Speaker Boost which you will get for free at playstore. Now when you accept all permissions then you will be able to open the app. After this you will have the option of Boost Control Panel. With the help of this you can increase the volume. But yes, remember that never do full volume in one go or else the speaker can also go. You have to increase it a little bit. Now after this you will get a lot of Warning messages, which you just have to accept by Yes. Speaker Boost Warning Messages You will be able to increase the volume of your phone only when you complete the options for the volume given in this app. But it is also very important to follow the Warning messages that have come in the midst of all this. Its body whenever you can increase the volume of your phone very easily. You can do this through the option of Volume Boost Control Panel. In this way, we can increase the volume of our Smartphone in a very simple way.

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Use 5 Tricks while uploading photos on Facebook, see more like

 1: Upload Your Photos in High Resolution

By default, your Facebook photos are uploaded in relatively low resolution -- a maximum of 960 x 720 pixels. That’s fine if someone’s viewing your photos on a computer monitor or smartphone screen,

However, if someone wants to download your photos for printing, Facebook’s default resolution simply isn’t good enough. You shot your photos using a multi-megapixel camera; why not have all those pixels available to interested friends and family?

Fortunately, Facebook offers an option to upload your photos in high resolution for a better download experience. Uploading in high resolution – what Facebook dubs the High Quality option – creates a version of your photo up to 2048 x 2048 pixels, considerably more detailed than the default 960 x 720 pixel version.

When you select the High Quality option, Facebook creates two versions of your photo on its servers. There’s the 960 x 720 pixel (max) version for online viewing, and the new 2048 x 2048 pixel (max) version for downloading. Note that uploading in High Quality does not affect the quality of pictures displayed onscreen; the High Quality version is only accessed when someone opts to download your photo.

To upload a higher-resolution version of a photo, check the High Quality option at the bottom of the photo upload page. When you select High Quality for an entire photo album, all photos you upload to that album will be at the higher resolution.

Note that High Quality uploading takes longer than uploading standard-resolution photos; there’s more detail to upload. The extra upload time is worth it, however, if you want your friends to be able to download and print good-looking versions of your photos.

2. Map Your Photos

You may already know that you can add a location to any photo you upload to Facebook. Just click the Add Location icon beneath the picture thumbnail and enter the name of the location into the Where Was This? box; it’s that simple. You can add the location when you first upload the picture, or at any subsequent time by editing the photo.

When you add a location to a photo, it appears on the map that’s displayed when someone selects Places on your Timeline page. The map has pins for each place you’ve either checked into or taken a picture at. Click a pin to see a panel for updates and photos; click the left and right arrow to cycle through all photos at that location.

If you want to add more photos to your map, simply display the map page then click the Add Places button. This displays a reel of your untagged photos. Click a photo and then enter the location where it was taken. It will then automatically be added to your map.

3. Share Different Photo Albums with Different People

Another good reason to organize your Facebook photos into albums is that you can set different privacy levels for each album. That lets you select who can see which photos -- and effectively hide certain types of photos from certain people.

Think of it this way. You may have a ton of photos of your kids or grandkids that your family wants to see but are of little interest to your co-workers or neighbors. You may have photos of your local activities that your neighbors want to see but distant family isn’t interested in. And you may have work-related photos of interest to your colleagues that your family and neighbors would find boring.

The solution is to first create relevant photo albums, and then set the appropriate privacy levels for each album. You do this by clicking the Privacy button on the photo album page and making a selection from the drop-down list.

4. Tag People in Your Photos

Most photos you upload to Facebook have people in them -- friends and family members, in most cases. Facebook lets you tag those people who appear in your photos, so that the photos will also show up in those folks’ Facebook photo pages.

In fact, Facebook uses facial recognition technology to suggest who to tag when you upload a photo. Facebook compares faces in your photos to faces of its users, and suggests those names for you to tag. It doesn’t always get it right, but it’s a place to start.

When you upload a photo to a photo album, Facebook puts a box around each face in the photo. Click the face or box to display the tagging box, then enter the name of that person into the box. If that person is one of your Facebook friends, you’ll see a list of matching names as you type; select a name from this list to tag that person.

5. Share a Friend’s Photo On Your Own Timeline

Sometimes a friend or family member might post a photo that your Facebook friends could be interested in. Fortunately, Facebook lets you share your friends’ photos on your own Timeline, and in your own News feed, so your friends can view them, too.

If the photo you want to share is in a friend’s status update, click the Share link beneath the photo. To share a photo that a friend has uploaded to a photo album, open the album and click the photo to display it in a lightbox, then click Share.

This opens the Share This Photo dialog box. Make sure On Your Own Timeline is selected, then enter a text message to accompany the photo. Click the Privacy button to determine who can view this post, then click the Share Photo button. Voila! The photo is now posted to your Timeline and News feed.

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How to Remove Any Virus from an Android Phone in 4 Steps

 This week, Google removed the popular CamScanner PDF creator app, which has been downloaded more than one million times, from the Google Play store because the app recently started delivering malware. Unfortunately, when it comes to mobile malware, Android phones have the dubious distinction of attracting more than their fair share, and that malware can range anywhere from annoying popup ad delivery services to sophisticated mobile spyware that allows a hacker to spy on your every action. So if you think you have a virus on your phone (see the 5 Signs below), you definitely want to take these steps to remove it. 

1. Uninstall any suspicious apps

Spotting an app you don’t remember downloading can be a red flag. And other apps, especially free apps from small developers, may contain adware. So if you see apps you don't need, uninstall them, just to be safe.

To uninstall apps, head into Settings > Apps and Notifications > All Apps then click on the app in question. This should bring up its dedicated screen with an uninstall button, which might be enough to remove the malware. However, if the uninstall button is greyed out, the app may have gained admin access, making it trickier to remove.

In this case, head to Settings > Security & location > Advanced > Device admin apps, and check if any apps are in that list that shouldn’t have such deep access. If so, you can tap on the app to deactivate it, which should allow you to uninstall it from the Apps & notifications menu.

2. Run an antivirus scan

The most certain means of confirming malware on a device is to run an antivirus scan. Mobile antivirus can automatically scan downloads and warn about apps that might leak personal information, allow pop-up ads on your device, or drain your phone battery.

Major security software providers such as Kaspersky, Avast, Norton and AVG also have Android apps, some of which are paid-for, but all offer a free option. There are also well-regarded mobile-only providers, such as Lookout Security. Whatever you do, don't just download some random security app from Google Play, many of these apps do nothing and some can even create security issues of their own. 

Head into your antivirus app and select a scan, which should then flag the exact apps that are presenting a threat to your device. You may be able to remove the malware directly from the app, or you may need to manually uninstall it from Settings > Apps & notifications. If the first scan doesn't find anything, you may want to download a second antimalware app, since we have found that security programs can vary in which virus apps they detect.

(It’s worth noting that antivirus apps can also eat up a lot of phone battery, especially if you enable a continuous scan feature.)

3. Factory reset the phone

If uninstalling the suspicious app(s) doesn’t stop your phone from popping up annoying messages or worse, you may need to take the nuclear option of performing a factory reset, which will clear your phone of all data.Make sure you have your photos and media backed up, and any messages you may want to save, then head to Settings > System > Advanced > Reset options > Erase all data.

4. Stop the malware from being re-installed

Once your phone is clear of malware, it’s a good idea to be wary of what you download and where you download from. Always download apps from Google Play or other trusted sources and only download apps you really need and know are safe – even then, keep a sharp eye on whether you’re really downloading that popular game you keep reading about, or only a clever fake.

Signs your Android phone is infected with malware

While your phone may display clear symptoms of a malware infection, often, malicious apps lay dormant on the phone. Instead, the damage shows up as a charge on your bank card or a phone bill with unusually high data charges.

“Everyday users don't usually discover something's wrong until it’s too late, as it’s difficult to detect malware with a non-armed eye, especially in the case of sophisticated malware that might, for instance, hide SMS notifications or work only when the device is charging [so that the user doesn’t notice],” says Alexey Firsh, malware analyst at Kaspersky Lab.

That said, many forms of less sophisticated malware will produce symptoms in an infected phone. 

Decreased battery life. If you’ve inadvertently downloaded a cryptocurrency miner, it’s likely your phone’s battery life will drop far quicker than normal, Firsh says. Though there can be many other causes of Android battery drain.

Phone functions more slowly. Malware that is constantly sending information back to a mothership may hog your phone’s processing power, resulting in its general performance slowing down.

Higher data usage. Similarly, information-stealing apps as well as data miners can use up a lot of data – so check your settings to see how your monthly allowance is doing. Other malware that might reveal themselves in bandwidth usage include apps that secretly harness your device for use in distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks to freeze other sites, Firsh notes.

Suspicious notifications from banks and unknown services. If banking malware steals your details, it might result in your bank – or another financial institution – notifying you of charges or even new accounts opened in your name. SMS malware might also reveal itself in premium text services sending you notifications of the fees you’ve just paid.

Pop up ads. Seeing a lot of pop-ups while you browse the mobile web? You may have been infected with adware. “Popups can mean that malware has installed itself within the OS and has a trigger for a popup based on common ways that users would operate their phones,” Galindo says. The idea is to engage users when they’re most likely to click on an ad or offer, thereby downloading another bit of malware that has the potential to cause greater damage to their device or data.

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