Honor 9X is a popular smartphone with powerful hardware, but even it is not immune from virus attacks. Suspicious activity, rapid battery drain, or sudden advertising may indicate an infection. In this article we will look 7 proven methodshow to check Honor 9X for viruses, remove threats and prevent re-infection.

Many users mistakenly believe that Android devices do not need antiviruses. In fact, viruses for Honor 9X can penetrate through third-party APKs, phishing sites, or even legitimate applications with vulnerabilities. It is important not only to detect, but also to correctly remove malware so as not to damage the system.

We tested all methods on Honor 9X (models HONOR 9X Pro, 9X Lite) with EMUI 9.1/10.0 and Magic UI 3.1 firmware. If your smartphone runs on a different version - check antivirus compatibility in official stores.

1. Signs of virus infection on Honor 9X

Before checking your phone, determine whether there are real symptoms of infection. Viruses are often disguised as system processes, but they are revealed by indirect signs:

🔹 The battery is discharged in 2-3 hours during normal use. Miner viruses (for example, HiddenMiner) load the processor at 100%, even when the screen is off. Check the flow rate in Settings → Battery → Battery usage. If there is an unknown application with a consumption of >20%, this is an alarming sign.

🔹 Advertising pops up in games, the browser or on the desktop. Even after closing all applications. Most often, this is the work of adver viruses (for example, Shuanet or HiddenAds), which load banners through background processes.

🔹 SMS or calls are sent without your knowledge. Some Trojans (for example, FakeBank) steal money by sending paid messages to short numbers. Check your history Settings → Applications → Permissions → SMS —there should be no unknown apps there.

🔹 The phone overheats without load. If the case Honor 9X heats to 45-50°C in standby mode, check the active processes through Settings → Phone Manager → Performance. Viruses often disguise themselves as system services (com.android.system or google.play.services), but consume an abnormally large amount of resources.

⚠️ Attention: Some symptoms (overheating, rapid discharge) can be caused by battery wear or cache overload. Before checking for viruses, reset the cache in Settings → Memory → Clear cache.
  • 📱 Unexpected applications in the menu that you did not install (for example, "Super Cleaner" or "Fast Booster").
  • 🔄 Redirection in the browser to strange sites (especially with domains .xyz, .club).
  • 💰 Money debits from the account without your actions (check bank notifications).
  • 🔒 Screen lock demanding payment ("Your phone is blocked by the FBI!").
📊 Have you noticed any of these symptoms on your Honor 9X?
Yes, the battery drains quickly
Yes, advertising appears
Yes, the phone gets warm
No, everything works fine
Difficult to answer

2. data-i="91">to scan for viruses Honor 9X to scan for viruses

The manufacturer has integrated several utilities into EMUI/Magic UI for basic security checks. They will not replace a full-fledged antivirus, but will help identify obvious threats.

🔹 Phone Manager is a standard application on Honor 9Xthat scans the system for viruses, optimizes memory and closes background processes. To run the scan:

  1. Open Phone Manager (umbrella icon).
  2. Go to the tab Security.
  3. Click Scan for viruses → Start scan.
  4. Wait for completion (takes 2-5 minutes).

🔹 Google Play Protect — built-in protection from Google that scans installed applications. It is activated automatically, but it can be activated. run the scan manually:

  1. Open Google Play Market.
  2. Tap on your profile avatar → Play Protect.
  3. Select Scan device for threats.

🔹 Safe Mode — allows you to start the phone without third-party applications. If the symptoms of infection disappear in this mode, the problem is definitely in one of the installed APKs.

  1. Turn off Honor 9X.
  2. Hold down the power button until the logo appears Honor.
  3. Release the power button and immediately press Volume downhold until boot.
  4. The message appears at the bottom of the screen Safe Mode.
⚠️ Attention: Built-in scanners often miss rootkits and spywarethat are disguised as system files. If suspicions remain, use third-party antiviruses (section 3).
Tool What it checks Efficiency Scan time
Phone manager Installed APK, system files Low (basic threats) 2-5 minutes
Google Play Protect Applications from the Play Market Medium (does not see rootkits) 1-3 minutes
Safe Mode Influence of third-party applications High (diagnostics) —
Manual permission check Suspicious rights access High (for experienced) 5-10 minutes

3. The best antiviruses for Honor 9X (free and paid)

If the built-in tools did not find any threats, install a specialized one antivirus. We have selected 5 proven solutionscompatible with Honor 9X EMUI/Magic UI.

🔹 Dr.Web Light - lightweight antivirus (weight ~5 MB) with minimal impact on performance Scans:

  • Installed and system applications.
  • Files in the device memory (including SD card).
  • Network activity for suspicious connections.

Pros: does not require root, there is a Russian language, a free version without unnecessary water.

Cons: no real-time protection in the free version.

🔹 Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus - one of the most reliable scanners with a signature database updated hourly. Features:

  • Check for spyware And banking trojans.
  • Blocking phishing sites in the browser.
  • Anti-theft (remote phone blocking).

Pros: high efficiency, minimal false positives.

Cons: paid subscription for full functionality (~1500 rub/year).

🔹 Malwarebytes - specializes in removing adware viruses and potentially dangerous apps (PUP). Suitable if annoying advertisements have appeared on Honor 9X annoying advertising appeared.

Pros: free 14-day trial period, no background activity.

Cons: scanning takes up to 10 minutes.

🔹 Bitdefender Mobile Security —uses cloud scanning without loading the processor Honor 9XDetects even new viruses thanks to technology Machine Learning.

Pros: minimal impact on the battery, protection against fraudulent calls.

Cons: free version is limited to manual scanning.

🔹 Avast Mobile Security —a popular antivirus with additional functions (VPN, garbage cleaning). Attention: some users complain about intrusive advertising intrusive advertising in the free version.

⚠️ Attention: Do not install antiviruses from third-party sources (APK files). Download only from Google Play or AppGalleryto avoid fakes.

Close all applications|Connect to Wi-Fi|Battery charge >30%|Disable power saving mode|Download antivirus from the official store-->

4. Manual removal of viruses (without an antivirus)

If the antivirus fails or you do not want to install it, try removing viruses manually. This method requires caution - wrong actions can damage the system Honor 9X.

🔹 Step 1: Checking installed applications

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Applications.
  2. Sort the list by installation date (⋮ → Sort by: Installation date).
  3. Uninstall suspicious apps (for example, with names "Super Clean", "Fast Charge", "System Update").

🔹 Step 2: Checking device administrators

Some viruses receive administrator rights, which prevents their removal. To revoke rights:

  1. Go to Go to Settings → Security → Device Administrators.
  2. Uncheck unknown applications.
  3. Go back to the list of applications and delete them.

🔹 Step 3: Clearing the cache and browser data

Viruses often penetrate through the browser (for example, Chrome or Huawei BrowserTo remove malicious scripts:

  1. Open Settings → Applications → Browser.
  2. Click Storage → Clear cache and Clear data.
  3. Reboot your phone.

🔹 Step 4: Removal via ADB (for advanced users)

If the virus is not removed by standard methods, use Android Debug Bridge (ADB)Connect Honor 9X to the PC and run the commands:

adb shell

pm list packages | grep "suspicious_name"


pm uninstall -k --user 0 package name

⚠️ Attention: Removing system applications via ADB can lead to phone malfunctions. Do not delete packages with prefixes com.huawei. or com.honor..
List of known virus packages for Honor 9X data-i="231">com.sec.android.app.launcher (fake)

com.system.update.fake

com.android.clean.master

com.sec.android.app.launcher (fake)

com.google.play.store.fake

com.qualcomm.thermalservice (clone)

5. Checking for viruses through the computer

If Honor 9X is heavily infected and does not respond to commands, connect it to the PC for a deep scan. This method is effective against rootkits and spywarethat block scanning on the phone itself.

🔹 Method 1: Using Dr.Web CureIt!

  1. Download Dr.Web CureIt! to PC (free utility, does not require installation).
  2. Connect Honor 9X via USB in mode File transfer (MTP).
  3. Run CureIt! and select scan the connected device.
  4. Wait for completion (may take up to 30 minutes).
  5. Remove or disinfect the detected threats.

🔹 Method 2: Scan via Total Commander

  1. Install Total Commander on PC.
  2. Connect Honor 9X and open its memory in the app.
  3. Go to folders: 
    /system/app/

    /data/app/
    

    /sdcard/Download/

  4. Delete files with suspicious names (for example, Method 3: Using HiSuite (official Huawei utility) synchronization. update.apk, flash_player.apk).

🔹 Method 3: Using HiSuite (Huawei official utility)

  1. Download HiSuite from the official website.
  2. Connect Honor 9X and wait for synchronization.
  3. Go to the Security → Virus scan tab.
  4. Follow the app instructions.
⚠️ Attention: When connecting to a PC, disable USB debugging v Settings → For developers, if it was enabled earlier. Some viruses spread through this channel.
💡

Before connecting to a PC, disable it on Honor 9X option "Install from unknown sources" in Settings → Security. This will prevent automatic installation of malicious APKs from the computer.

6. Resetting to factory settings is a last resort

If none of the methods help, remains Hard Reset. This will delete all data from Honor 9X, including viruses, but will also be erased:

  • Photos, videos and music (if not saved on SD card).
  • Contacts, SMS and call log (if not synced with Google).
  • Installed applications and their data.

🔹 How to reset:

  1. Back up important data (via Settings → System → Backup or manually on a PC).
  2. Go to Settings → System → Reset.
  3. Select Reset settings → Reset all settings.
  4. Enter the PIN code and confirm the action.
  5. Wait for the reboot (takes 5-10 minutes).

🔹 If the phone is locked by a virus:

  1. Turn off Honor 9X.
  2. Hold Volume up + Power until the logo appears.
  3. In the recovery menu, select Wipe data/factory reset (button control volume).
  4. Confirm your choice and wait for completion.
⚠️ Attention: After resetting do not restore data from a backup copy, created before infection, viruses can be saved in the backup and activated again.
💡

Resetting to factory settings is the only way to remove rootkits and system virusesthat are not detected by antiviruses.

7. How to protect Honor 9X from viruses in the future

To avoid re-infection, follow these rules:

🔹 Install applications only from official stores

  • 📱 Google Play i AppGallery check APK for viruses before publishing.
  • 🚫 Avoid sites like apkpure.com, apkmirror.com —even there are infected files.

🔹 Set up Google Play Protect

  1. Open Google Play Store → Profile → Play Protect.
  2. Enable the options: 
    Scan device for threats

    Improve malware detection

🔹 Update firmware and applications

  • 🔄 Regularly check for updates in Settings → System → Software update.
  • 🛡️ Updates close vulnerabilities that viruses exploit (for example, Stagefright or DirtyCow).

🔹 Use VPN on public Wi-Fi

  • 🌍 In cafes, airports and hotels, connect via VPN (for example, ProtonVPN or Windscribe).
  • 🔒 This will protect against MITM attacks (traffic interception) and phishing.

🔹 Disable unnecessary permissions

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions.
  2. Deny access to SMS, Contacts and Microphone for suspicious apps.
📊 What security measures do you use on your smartphone?
Antivirus
I update the firmware
I don’t install APK from the Internet
I use a VPN
I do nothing

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about viruses on Honor 9X

Can Honor 9X become infected with a virus via Bluetooth?

Theoretically, yes, but such cases are extremely rare. Most viruses are spread through:

  • Third parties. APK files.
  • Phishing sites (fake login pages for social networks/banks).
  • Vulnerabilities in outdated firmware.

Bluetooth attacks (for example, BlueBorne) require special conditions and usually do not affect ordinary users. However, turn off Bluetoothwhen it is not needed.

How to check if I am being spied on through a microphone or camera?

Signs of spying activity:

  • 🎤 The microphone or camera turns on by itself (the indicator lights up).
  • 📱 In Settings → Battery an unknown application is using the microphone/camera.
  • 🔊 Extraneous noise during calls.

To check:

  1. Open Settings → Applications → Permissions.
  2. See which apps have access to Microphone and Camera.
  3. Remove suspicious ones or revoke permissions.

For deep scanning, use antiviruses with the function scanning for spyware (for example, Kaspersky or Bitdefender).

Is it possible to remove a virus without resetting the settings?

Yes, in most cases. Try:

  1. Scan your phone two different antiviruses (for example Dr.Web + Malwarebytes).
  2. Remove suspicious applications manually (section 4).
  3. Clear cache and browser data.

Reset is needed only if:

  • Virus built into system files (rootkit).
  • Antiviruses do not detect the threat, but the symptoms remain.
  • Phone locked ransom demand.
How to restore data after removing the virus?

If you made a backup to infection, restore the data via:

  • Settings → System → Recovery and reset → Recover data (for Huawei/Honor backups).
  • Google Drive (contacts, photos, notes).
  • HiSuite (official backup utility).

If there is no backup:

  • 📸 You can try to restore photos/videos via DiskDigger or Recuva (on a PC).
  • 📞 Contacts are sometimes restored through Settings → Accounts → Google → Synchronization.

Important: Do not restore data from a backup created after infection - the virus may return.

Does turning off the Internet help stop the virus?

Partially turning off mobile data and Wi-Fi:

  • ✅ Stop network activity of the virus (sending SMS, downloading advertisements).
  • ✅ Will interrupt communication with the control server (for botnets).
  • ❌ Will not remove the virus itself from the phone.
  • ❌ Will not interfere with local threats (for example, ransomware).

Use this method as temporary measurewhile you download an antivirus or prepare for a reset.