Modern smartphones Honor series have powerful protection, but no one is immune from the penetration of malicious software. Users often encounter intrusive advertising, rapid battery drain, or strange charges, which are a sure sign of activity. virusesThe model Honor 20working on Android requires careful attention to installed applications and sources of downloading files.
In this article we will analyze a step-by-step algorithm for identifying and removing threats. You will learn how to use the built-in system scanner, which third-party utilities are trustworthy, and how to find hidden threats manually if automatic tools do not help.
Using the built-in security scanner
Huawei and Honor have integrated a powerful security module into the EMUI (and later Magic UI) shell, which is often more effective than third-party solutions. To start checking, you need to find a system application, which is usually called Phone Manager or Phone Manager. It is preinstalled on every device and has access to deep layers of the system.
Launch the application and find the shield icon or inscription Antivirus. Clicking on this section initiates an automatic scan of all installed apps and system files. The process may take from one to five minutes depending on the amount of memory and the number of applications. The system checks file signatures against an updated threat database in real time.
If no threats are found, you will see a green icon and a message indicating that the device is secure. However, if the scanner detects a suspicious object, it will offer several options: delete, quarantine or ignore (if you are confident in the file). It is important to understand that the built-in scanner works best against known Trojans and adware, but may miss complex spyware.
⚠️ Attention: In some regions or firmware versions Access to antivirus databases may be limited without connecting to Google or Huawei services. Make sure that the device is connected to the Internet before starting the scan.
Regularly update the virus database in the built-in manager by clicking on the update button in the corner of the scanner screen, even if automatic updating is enabled.
Third-party antivirus solutions for Honor 20
When the built-in tools are not enough or you want To double-check the system with a “second opinion”, you should turn to specialized applications from the store Google Play or AppGallery. The market for mobile security solutions is huge, but not all apps are equally useful. Some of them themselves may contain advertising modules or unnecessarily load the processor.
Choose only trusted vendors with a high reputation. Companies that develop solutions for desktop systems are traditionally considered leaders in the field of mobile security. Their heuristic analysis algorithms are capable of identifying previously unknown threats based on application behavior.
- 🛡️ Kaspersky Internet Security —has one of the best detection engines and minimal impact on performance.
- 🚀 Dr.Web Light —effective against ransomware Trojans and banking viruses, has a convenient scanner.
- 🔍 Malwarebytes —specializes in searching for adware and spyware modules that other antiviruses often miss.
After installing the selected application, you must grant it all the requested permissions, including access to files and use of accessibility features. Without these rights, the scanner will not be able to check the contents of the internal memory and the operation of background services. Run a full system scan and wait for the process to complete.
Manual check of installed applications
Sometimes Malware masquerades as system processes or legitimate utilities, evading detection by automatic scanners. In such cases, a manual audit of the list of installed apps is required. Attackers often give applications misspelled names or use icons similar to system settings.
Go to menu Settings, then select section Applications and press again Applications. Please review the entire list carefully. Pay special attention to apps without an icon (with an empty white square) or applications with names like System Update, Wi-Fi Serviceif you did not intentionally install them.
If you found a suspicious object, click on it and select the Deletebutton. In some cases, the delete button may not be active. This means that the malicious application has gained device administrator rights. To fix this, you need to go to Settings → Security → Device Administrators and uncheck the suspicious app.
What to do if the application is not uninstalled?
If the delete button is inactive even after revoking administrator rights, try booting the phone in safe mode. To do this, hold down the power button, and in the menu that appears, hold down the “Turn off” item for a long time until you are prompted to switch to safe mode. In this mode, only system applications work, which will allow you to remove the virus.
Analysis of system and battery behavior
An indirect sign of the presence of viruses can be the abnormal behavior of a smartphone. Malicious scripts often work in the background, mining cryptocurrency, sending spam or transmitting data, which leads to overheating of the case and rapid battery drain. Honor 20 equipped with a Kirin 980 processor, which should not get very hot in standby mode.
You can check the energy consumption through system monitoring. Open Settings and go to section Battery. It displays a detailed graph of charge consumption and a list of applications that consume the most energy. If you see a app that you have not used, but it is at the top of the list, this is an alarming signal.
| Symptom of the problem | Possible cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Fast discharge in standby mode | Background mining or spyware | Check battery statistics |
| Pop-up ads on desktop | Adware virus) | Find and remove the last installed application |
| Spontaneous calls or SMS | Trojan dialer | Check the operator for details and remove the virus |
| Lock screen with a request money | Blocker banner | Boot into safe mode and remove the blocking |
It is also worth paying attention to outgoing traffic. In the Data Usage section you can see which applications are consuming the Internet. Viruses often transmit stolen data to remote servers, which creates abnormal traffic consumption even when the screen is off.
⚠️ Attention: If the phone gets very hot in the upper part of the case (where the processor is located) without active tasks, stop using it immediately and do a full scan. Prolonged overheating can damage hardware components.
Clearing cache and temporary files
Viruses and adware often leave behind temporary files, scripts and caches, which can reactivate the threat even after the main application is deleted. Comprehensive storage cleaning is a mandatory step in smartphone treatment. This step should not be neglected, as remnants of the code may continue to perform malicious functions.
Return to the application Phone Manager and select the tool Cleaning. The system will analyze the memory and offer to delete garbage, application cache and outdated files. Confirm deletion. For deeper cleaning, you can use the Deep cleaningfunction, which will find duplicate files and rarely used applications.
It is also recommended to clear the cache browser, as many viruses enter the system through malicious scripts on websites. Go to your browser settings (Chrome, Huawei Browser), find the section Privacy and select Clear history. Be sure to check the box next to the item Images and other files saved in the cache.
☑️ Complete cleaning checklist
Extreme measures: reset to factory settings
If none of the above methods helped get rid of the problem, and the phone continues to behave incorrectly, the last radical method remains - a complete data reset (Hard Reset). This procedure will return Honor 20 to the state it was in when purchased, completely removing all user data and, with a high degree of probability, viruses.
Before performing a reset, it is critical to create a backup copy of important data: contacts, photos and documents. Use a cloud service Google Drive or a app HiSuite on your computer. Remember that after a reset, it will be impossible to restore data without a backup.
To perform a reset, go to Settings → System → Reset → Reset phone. Press the button Reset phone and enter your screen unlock password to confirm. The device will reboot and begin the cleaning process, which may take several minutes.
⚠️ Attention: Resetting the settings deletes absolutely all data from the internal memory, including photos, videos and messages. Make sure that you have saved important information on an external storage device or in the cloud before starting the procedure.
Full reset is the most reliable way to remove viruses, but requires a preliminary backup of user data.
Is it possible to get a virus via Bluetooth on Honor 20?
Theoretically this is possible, but in practice Such cases are extremely rare for modern versions of Android. Viruses like Cabir, which spread via Bluetooth, are relevant for very old systems. However, keeping Bluetooth turned on in public places unless necessary is not recommended for reasons of general security and battery saving.
Why does the antivirus not remove the virus?
This can happen if a malicious application has acquired device administrator rights or has infiltrated the system partition. In such cases, you must first revoke administrator rights in the security settings or perform a factory reset.
Is it safe to use root access on Honor 20?
Obtaining root access (superuser rights) significantly reduces the level of security of the device. Many banking applications stop working, and the system becomes vulnerable to viruses that can take full control of the smartphone. It is not recommended to get Root unless absolutely necessary.
How to distinguish a system application from a virus?
System applications usually have an Android robot icon or a manufacturer's logo, and their names often contain the words System, Google, Huawei, Honor. Viruses can masquerade as them, but often have spelling errors in the name or an empty icon. If in doubt, search the name of the application on the Internet before deleting.