I've been having some serious issues with my phone recently and I suspect it might be infected with malware. A few months back, I was using third-party Spotify APKs, and I think that could be where the trouble started. My storage is out of control – it says I have about 100GB of apps, but I really don't! Every time I try to delete apps or move them to my SD card, the number never drops below 100GB, and before I know it, it's back up to around 109GB within an hour.
I've tried to check all my apps for anything suspicious, but I'm not very tech-savvy and a lot of the names are strange to me. I sorted the apps by date to look for recent downloads, but when I googled them, I saw they're often labeled as essential system components, so I'm too scared to remove them.
There are two apps I really suspect, but finding current and clear information on them is tough. I've looked up info in safe mode, but I'm at a loss. The storage is causing my phone to crash and slow down to the point where I need help! Factory resetting isn't an option for me because I've got too much data that I can't back up safely, and I'd rather not face the consequences from my parents. Can anyone give me advice on how to tackle this situation without going down the factory reset route?
3 Answers
If you can't do a factory reset, maybe you could try using apps like SD Maid Pro to find out what’s using so much space. It helped me clean up over 20GB of hidden junk. Also, if you can, take your phone to an expert who might help fix the malware issue without needing to reset it; just be ready for a service charge.
What apps do you have in mind that you're suspicious about? It might help to get more details on those specific ones before you delve deeper.
I totally get that you don’t want to factory reset, but sometimes it’s the best way to get a clean slate. You might want to consider a backup plan for your data in case of a future issue. It's always a bit of work up front, but it pays off down the road to avoid these headaches!
I understand, but given my current situation, a reset feels like the worst-case scenario.
I managed to get some help on Discord, but I appreciate your input!