I accidentally tapped an advertisement while browsing in Chrome's incognito mode on my fully updated Samsung Galaxy S23. I closed the page almost immediately, before it appeared to finish loading. Could malware have been installed just from that brief click, and is there anything I should check to be safe?
2 Answers
That situation is very unlikely to install malware by itself. On a modern, updated Android phone, a website generally can’t install an app or make major changes without you approving a download or installation. Incognito mode doesn’t provide extra malware protection, but it also isn’t relevant to whether an app can install.
For peace of mind, run Google Play Protect: open the Play Store, tap your profile picture, choose Play Protect, and start a scan. You can also check Settings > Apps for anything unfamiliar and remove it if necessary. Keep Android and Chrome updated, and avoid opening or installing files from unexpected ads or pop-ups.
Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better. I didn’t download or approve anything.