Manage scans on Mobile Security for Android devices

Scan your devices for malicious files and apps with the Scanner feature in Mobile Security. Scans detect ransomware, malware, adware, spyware, and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).

Run a scan to detect threats on your Android device

Start a manual scan to check for malicious files and apps on your device. 

1. On the Mobile Security Dashboard, under Scanner, tap Scan now. A progress indicator appears at the top of the screen.
   • Note: If it's your first time running a scan, grant storage access to scan both apps and files on your device.
2. Tap the Scanning... button to view additional scan information, and access the Stop scanning button.

Configure scheduled scans to run automatically

Access Scheduled Scans settings to configure when and how often scheduled scans take place on your device. This feature is available to paid and trial users. 

To go to the Scheduled scans settings screen, tap Settings from the Dashboard, then Security, and select Scheduled scans. Configure the following settings to determine when scheduled scans start:

• Scheduled scans: Toggle On to enable scheduled scans, and access frequency and time options. When this setting is disabled, the remaining settings are disabled as well. 
• Scan frequency: Tap to choose between Daily and Weekly options. 
• Days of week: when Weekly frequency is selected, tap to select the days of the week when scheduled scans run. Check the boxes to select the days of the week. When Scan frequency is set to Daily this option is disabled.
• Time: Tap to select the start time for scheduled scans. When scans are scheduled on run on multiple days, all scheduled scans start at the selected time.

Interpret and act on scan results

Once a scan completes, the Scan results screen displays the total number of apps and files scanned, and the scan time. Different colored icons are displayed depending on the result.  

• A green icon and the No items detected message means a scan was completed and no threats were detected. No action is needed.
• A red icon and the # items found message means a scan was completed, and threats were detected. Additional action is needed for each item detected. 

Each threat detected must be addressed. To take action on a detection:

1. On the Scan results screen, locate the detected item.
2. Next to the item's name, tap the menu icon .
3. On the action screen, select what you want to do:
   • Ignore once: Select this option to ignore a detection when you're unsure whether to delete it or add it to the Allow list. When another scan is run, the file or app will be detected again.
   • Always allow: Select this option to add the file or app to the Allow list, and exclude it from future scans. Only add items to the Allow list you know are safe.
   • Delete file or Uninstall app: Delete a malicious file or uninstall a malicious app to remove them from the device.

Exclude a trusted item from detection by adding it to the Allow list

The Allow list includes items considered trusted and safe after a scan detects it as a threat. Add a detected file or app to the Allow list to exclude it from being detected again during a scan. Only add files or apps to the Allow list that are reviewed and deemed safe and trusted. If you determine that an item in the Allow list is a threat, remove it from the Allow list and it will be detected in the next scan.

View all the items in the Allow list

1. On the Mobile Security Dashboard, under Scanner, tap Allow list.
2. The Allow list screen displays all added items.

Remove items from the Allow list

To remove single item from the Allow list:

1. On the Mobile Security Dashboard, under Scanner, tap Allow list.
2. On the Allow list screen, locate the item you want to remove.
3. Next to the item name, tap the menu icon .
4. On the action screen, tap Remove from Allow list.

To remove all items from the Allow list:

1. On the Mobile Security Dashboard, under Scanner, tap Allow list.
2. On the Allow list screen, tap Remove all from list. The Allow list cleared! message displays.

Configure Scanning settings to customize your scan

Access Scanning settings to configure scan options based on device status and events. Ensure that your device is scanned after specific events such as a device reboot or when a database update takes place, and preserve device battery by configuring battery and resource saving scan options.

To go to the Scanning settings screen, tap Settings from the Dashboard, then Security, and select Scanning. Configure the following settings to determine when scans take place:

• Scan after reboot: Toggle On to start a scan immediately after the device is rebooted. If disabled, no scans occur following a device reboot.
• Scan after update: Toggle On to start a scan after each database update. If disabled, database updates won't trigger scans.
• Use deep scanner during full scan: Toggle On to perform scans with additional deep scanning rules. Scan times are increased, but are able to detect additional items.
• Power saving scans: Toggle On to skip scans when the device's battery is low, or the device is in power saving mode.
• Change only scans: Toggle On to postpone scheduled and automatic scans when the device is charging.