G DATA Mobile Security Android (MSA)

Running a virus scan

Running a virus scan manually

This is how you run a virus scan manually:

①

By default, the virus scan only checks the installed applications (App scan). If you want to run a virus scan that also checks the non-installed applications (System scan), go to Settings > Scan Type and change the radio button from App scan to System scan.

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②

To scan your Android device for viruses now according to your setting, go to Start Scan in the overview.

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③

The result of the scan will be displayed to you.

If a virus was found, you should uninstall this particular app.

To do this, tap the virus in the Scan Result and then tap Uninstall.

You can find more detailed instructions in chapter

→ Deleting a virus from your Android device.

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Setting up a regular automated virus scanning

MSA already automatically runs a virus scan on your Android device once a week by default. Here you can learn which default settings G DATA Mobile Security uses to run the virus scan if you do not change the settings, and how to change the setting if needed.

Opening the overview:

Default setting

How you can change the default setting

Screenshot

The virus scan runs automatically every 7 days.

  1. In Settings > Periodic scan > tap Interval.

  2. Select a number of days by scrolling up or down.

  3. Save your selection by tapping Set.

The virus scan will then run in the interval you selected.
Screenshots:

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The virus scan also runs when the battery is low.

In Settings > Persiodic scan > in the Battery saver entry, tap on the toggle switch to enable the function.

Then the periodic virus scan will not run when the Android device has a low battery level.
Screenshot:

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The virus scan runs even if the device is not loaded.

In Settings > Periodic scan >tap While charging entry to enable the function.

Then the periodic virus scan will run only when the Android device is connected to a charger.
Screenshot:

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The virus scan runs an app scan and not a system scan.

Background information:

  • App scan: only installed apps are checked

  • System scan: Installed and non-installed apps are checked

In Settings > Scan Type, tap System scan.

Then the periodic (and manual) virus scan on the Android device will check not only the installed apps, but also the uninstalled ones.
Screenshot:

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Signatures are updated once a day.

Background information:

With MSA you can check if and where there are viruses on your Android device. Virus checks are performed based on virus signatures. The more up-to-date the virus signature, the greater the likelihood that all viruses will be found on the device. That’s why your Android device is connected to a cloud with the latest virus signatures for virus scanning.

If you are ever not online during regular or manual virus scanning, virus scanning cannot be performed with the virus signatures in the cloud. In this case, the virus scan will be performed with the virus signatures that are local to your Android device. So, for this case, it is recommended to update the virus signatures regularly. By default, the virus signatures are updated once a day, because this interval is recommended.

  1. In Settings > Signature update > tap Interval.

  2. Select a number of days by scrolling up or down.

  3. Save your selection by tapping Set.

The signature updates are then run in the interval you selected.
Screenshots:

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