Is My Motorola Phone Hacked? How to Check and Remove Malware

Phones usually get hacked through phishing messages with malicious links or attachments, fake websites that download malware, or fake apps pretending to be real ones. If your Motorola phone is acting strangely, use these checks to find and remove the problem.

Quick steps: Settings → Security & privacy → More security & privacy → Security scan. Then check battery and data usage, remove unknown apps and run a Play Protect scan.

Warning signs your phone may be hacked

  • Poor battery life or unusually high battery use
  • Apps you didn’t install appearing on your phone
  • Unusually high mobile data usage
  • Strange pop-ups and ads, even outside apps
  • Apps or the phone itself crashing often

Scan your phone for malware

  1. Screens showing Settings, Security & privacy, More security & privacy and Security scan on a Motorola phone
    Step 1

    Run a security scan

    Go to Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy > Security scan. Your phone scans for malware and tells you if it finds any potential issues.

Check the warning signs

  1. Screens showing Settings, Battery and Battery usage with app list
    Step 1

    Check battery usage

    Go to Settings > Battery > Battery usage. Look for unknown apps or unusual activity using a lot of power.

  2. Screens showing Settings, Apps, All apps and an app’s Uninstall button
    Step 2

    Remove apps you don’t recognise

    Open Settings > Apps > All apps. Scroll through the list and uninstall anything you don’t recognise or want. Only apps downloaded from the Play Store or other sources can be uninstalled.

  3. Screens showing Network & internet, Mobile data and App data usage
    Step 3

    Check mobile data usage

    Go to Settings > Network & internet > Mobile network > App data usage. No unknown app should use several gigabytes (e.g. 5 GB) a month. If an app looks suspicious, tap it and uninstall it.

  4. Step 4

    Ignore strange pop-ups and ads

    Never tap suspicious pop-ups or ads. If they appear, close your browser completely and restart your phone.

  5. Screens showing the Play Store, profile menu and Play Protect scan with no harmful apps found
    Step 5

    Scan with Google Play Protect

    If apps or the phone keep crashing, open the Play Store, tap your profile icon, then select Play Protect > Scan.

Last resort: factory reset

  1. Screens showing the app list and Settings with Passwords, passkeys & accounts highlighted
    Step 1

    Prepare before resetting

    A factory reset erases all data. First back up your data, and make sure you know your Google account username (Settings > Passwords, passkeys & accounts), your Google account password, and your screen lock PIN, pattern or password. You’ll need them after the reset to prove the phone is yours.

    Tip: If you recently changed your Google password, wait 24 hours before resetting the phone.

  2. Screens showing Settings, System, Reset options and Erase all data (factory reset)
    Step 2

    Erase all data (factory reset)

    Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset). After the reset, enter your security information to restore your data and verify ownership.

    Tip: When setting the phone up again, choose Set up as new and reinstall apps one at a time, using the phone for a while after each, to find any app causing problems.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Motorola phone has a virus?

Common signs are fast battery drain, high data usage, apps you didn’t install, constant pop-up ads and frequent crashes. Run Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy > Security scan and a Google Play Protect scan to check.

Does a factory reset remove hackers and malware?

Yes, a factory reset erases all apps and data, including malware. Set the phone up as new and reinstall only apps you trust from the Play Store. Change your Google account password from a safe device too.

Can my Motorola phone get hacked by opening a message?

Most attacks need you to tap a malicious link, open an attachment or install an app. Don’t open links or attachments from unknown senders, and keep your phone software up to date.

Still having problems? It may be a hardware fault. Check the Motorola spare part prices for your model, or compare battery and display replacement costs.

Related Motorola guides

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Steps and screenshots based on Motorola's official Hacking, Malware & Virus attacks tutorial. Steps can vary slightly by model and Android version.