I recently received an alarming email from my company's internet provider saying that my device, a Samsung Galaxy S24 I bought in January 2025, was found to be infected with a virus called 'Badbox 2.0.' The email indicated that my phone may have attempted to connect to suspicious servers while using the company Wi-Fi and potentially engaged in unwanted activities like clicking ads in the background. I'm not sure how this happened, especially since I transferred data from my old phone. I've already taken steps to address the issue, including running scans with Malwarebytes and Bitdefender (both of which didn't show any issues), doing a factory reset, and changing all my passwords. My main questions are: was the factory reset enough to completely remove the infection, and what other steps should I take now to ensure my phone is safe? I've searched online for more information about this virus, but I couldn't find any solid removal instructions. Let me know if you need more details! Thanks for reading!
2 Answers
A factory reset is a strong step in clearing out software issues, including malware. However, if the virus was present in any apps or files you transferred from your old phone, it could potentially resurface. To be extra cautious, consider reinstalling your apps from the Google Play Store and avoiding anything you had on your old device, especially if it's not from a trusted source. Also, keep an eye on your phone's behavior for any suspicious activity after doing this.
To make sure your device is clean, I'd recommend using a reputable antivirus tool to do a thorough scan again after the reset. If it's still acting weird or if you notice strange notifications, it may be a good idea to completely wipe everything again and start fresh, making sure only to add trusted apps back on. Staying clear of unknown apps is key!
I agree! Avoid apps that aren't from the Play Store or that sound too good to be true. And definitely keep monitoring your phone over time.
Good point! Also, make sure you keep your OS and apps up-to-date after reinstalling them. Security patches are crucial for keeping malware at bay.