How to Check for Malware on My Phone?

You might want to consider doing a factory reset on your device. It’s a bit drastic but can totally wipe any potential malware.

Thanks for the tips! I ran Malwarebytes, and it came back clean. I plan on emailing IT to ask for clarification on what they detected.

Try out the Malwarebytes app from the app store as a first step. Run the app, start the free trial, and then opt out of the live protection when prompted. You can use it to scan your phone for malware for free! It’s a solid approach before spending any money.

Your college IT probably saw something unusual, and they might be right about it. College networks deal with a ton of malware-infected devices. I’d recommend running Malwarebytes and if you want that extra peace of mind, factory reset. Alternatively, just reach out to the IT department and ask what they found instead of heading to the bookstore. You could also spoof your MAC address if you're in a hurry, but that's a bit sneaky!

It’s possible this is just a mistake, especially if you haven’t done anything suspicious. Sometimes networks flag devices incorrectly, maybe because of a VPN or something similar. Just know that MAC addresses are pretty permanent, so you might end up needing to visit the bookstore anyway, but you can change it in some cases to avoid charges.