Skip to main content

Does my phone have a virus?

No, chances are almost 100% that your phone does not have a virus, unless you using a Nokia Symbian OS, or Android, iPhone , Windows Mobile or even other smart phone operating systems. Even when you are running a smart phone OS, chances are almost nil that you have a virus on your phone, though probably it could have malware, which I will explain in my next post.

Question: So why do people keep saying that their phones have viruses, if the probability of the phone having a virus is almost zero?

Answer: Software Bugs

Other than smart phones, most phones such as Samsung and Nokia have custom manufacturer operating systems is software that has been written to run on that particular model of phone, or a group of models. The phone OS (OS is Operating System) is what enables you to call , message, surf or load Opera Mini on a java enabled phone.

If your phone starts having issues,  the biggest been hanging, inability to read memory cards, or drop calls- either refuse to accept a call or drop calls in the middle, network reception issues and other phone issues, the reason is either a problem with your phone OS or a hardware problem (physical component problem) with your phone.

Problems with your phone OS is what we are calling Software Bugs.

How do I know if the problem is my phone?

Easy, just check whether people on the same network have the issues you are facing. Also if possible, switch SIM cards or your memory card with a different phone. If it works properly, the problem then is your phone.

How do I know if its a Software Bug then?

If you know other people using the same model as yours and facing the exact same problems as you, and your phone had not been dropped or damaged physically, then its probably a Software bug. You can see if similar phones as yours have the same issue by searching on Google, eg. "PhoneModelName hanging surfing".

How do I fix a software bug?

Several phone manufacturers usually notice software bugs and release new updated phone OS for your model. This is then put on your phone through flashing. You can ask a geek or your phone repair centre to flash the OS for you.

At times, flashing the same version of phone OS may fix the issues as they may be due to problematic settings on your phone. You can also try "factory reset" and see if this helps. Be warned though that factory reset looses your messages, numbers in phone memory , internet settings and anything you stored on your phone (your phone goes back to the state it's old as when new").

Cheap phones (no internet or basic internet) usually require an expensive box to flash, so you may have to contact a repair person.

What causes software bugs?

Software bugs are normal for all programs. When a programmer codes a program, it usually has issues which result from maybe errors in writing the code or situations of usage that the programmer may not have considered, or those that are not considered 'normal' usage and require a lot of effort to correct.

Bugs are normally eliminated through extensive testing of a phone before its launched in the market.

However, the competitive nature of the mobile market nowadays means that fewer phone models end up been extensively tested. So the phones are released into the market without the manufacturer checking them well for problems. At times, the problem probably occurs after 6 or more months of use on many phones. It is almost impossible for a phone manufacturer to test the phone for 6 months as it needs to go to market as fast as possible.

How can I avoid phone software bugs?

You can do this by investing in a prominent manufacturer. Top manufacturers tend to test out their phones before releasing them in the market. However, I have also seen some models from the number one and number 2 world manufacturers (you can Google who they are) also having software bugs.

Invest in a smart phone to avoid software bugs

Alternatively, you can invest in a smart phone such as Android,iPhone, Nokia Symbian, Samsung Bada, Windows Phone 7 or HP Palm OS.

Why a smartphone OS? Smartphone Operating Systems tend to be well tested by their developers before inclusion in the phone. Furthermore, in case of any bugs, they tend to be updated to fix software bugs. So when using a smartphone, you can be pretty assured of good performance unless you phone has physical bugs.

In fact, most manufacturers such as Samsung and Motorola have realised its better to adopt a smart phone OS like Android in this case. They focus on making hardware and they know the software will perform well on their phone without giving them headaches fixing bugs.

Android is developed by Google.

Beware of Custom Android UIs.

When buying an Android phone, beware of phone manufacturers not running 'native Android' especially for lowcost - middle cost Android phones. These are manufacturers who customise the User Interface (UI - the skin(look and feel) of the software to give you one that is different from the one Android comes in.

These UIs mean that you are dependent on your phone manufacturer to customise your phones software when Android releases an update. This is usually costly to them and some manufacturer may avoid customising updates for their "old" models. So if the update fixes a bug, it's not fixed on your phone until your manufacturer releases your phones update. You may ask a geek for guidance or ask on Internet forums if a model uses "custom UI".

Also note that at times, the custom UI may introduce bugs that are not present in Android itself, hence another reason to avoid it.

Chinese Models

Note that many of the so called "Chinese phones" usullay contain bugs that are difficult to fix. However, the great thing is that newer Chinese phones now come with the native Android OS.

So what is phone malware

Look out for my next post on probability of your phone having malware and what it does.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

RE: Appointment as Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to The United States of America

Image: South African marriage courtesy The Telegraph ( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/6237922/South-African-man-marries-4-women-at-same-ceremony.html  ) Dennis Kioko, Address Pending. President to-be-elect, Republic of Kenya, Address Pending, Again. Dear Sirs/Madams, RE: Appointment as Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to The United States of America  I would like to draw your attention to news reported across various sections of the press (way behind your daily portraits on the front page) that several Missions to the country are equivalently vacant with the duty of appointed high commissioners having expired. This includes Kenya's High Commission to the United States of America. Among your first duties, having assumed duty as Kenya's president, duly elected or otherwise, will be to appoint commissioners to these missions. It is in this regard that I highly invoke you to consider me as a likely appointment to the

Nairobi's Top 4 Texas Brisket Places Reviewed and Ranked

Brisket on a bed of roast vegetables with barbecue sauce at Texas Brisket, Kikuyu  This review has been updated after a number of you suggested I try the brisket at County2County.  What's the best place to have Brisket in Nairobi? What's even brisket?  Brisket is one of the toughest cuts in a cow, from around the belly. It is so tough that it has to be smoked for about 16 hours to tenderise. But that there, is the catch.  12 to 16 hours later, it is the most flavourful and softest cut you will ever have. So full of flavour and so soft you can pick it apart with your fingers.  However, due to the long cooking time involved, only a few places offer brisket in Nairobi.  The best so far is Texas Brisket which is located within Kikuyu Railway station.  They do the meat for a proper 16 hours, and will usually have a fatty or non-fatty portion. The fatty portions are more tasty. A 500 gram serving goes for KSh. 900 and a 1 KG order comes with a serving of free fries. Their brisket has

Beers in Kenya: A sober opinion

Note: This is a dated post and has since been mostly passed by events. SAB Miller beers including Castle and Peroni are no longer widely available in Kenya after their exist. Sirville Brewery was bought out by Brew Bistro before being permanently shut in a tax dispute. Kenya is a land of milk, honey, beaches and taxes. I have penned, or is typed, a newer post here .  Peroni - One of the best beers in Kenya. Did a taste of canned and bottled Italian, and bottled Tanzanian I like the tangy flavour and body in Tanzanian Peroni. The can is close. Heineken drinkers will like the Italian one.  I have had a short beer swigging stint in my life. It has however been long enough for me to share my opinion of Kenyan beer. Interestingly, over the course of sharing such opinions with other drunkards connoisseurs,  I have found that we all have different views as to what beer is the best, which one makes you too drunk, or which one gives one free, extra hangover for every hangover you get

Kenyan products: The art of punishing your consumer

This post was written in 2011. Facts may have and indeed have changed - but the conclusion has not.  Dormans instant coffee tastes better than Sasini instant coffee. Ramtons electronics are manufactured for Kenya's Hypermart Limited, yet maintain a high product quality Peanut butter used to taste so good, but you could not afford it on the pocket money that you got back in school. A few years later, you have your first real job and your first "disposable" income. You buy your first real tub of peanut butter, probably the first in your life. You feel proud that Dominion peanut butter is manufactured in Ruiru, a town that you visited in your campus days to withdraw your pocket money, it was the nearest bank ATM to your campus.  This was before Equity bank became a mainstream bank and decided to open an ATM in your campus, and before M-Pesa meant that you

Lusaka and Livingstone Zambia to Namibia By Road

Zambia is a pretty large country,  an exciting one and with no shortage of potholes.  For instance, take the direct route from Lusaka - Livingstone to Namibia through the Sesheke - Katima Mulilo border crossing. Typically, roads are either good or tend to have potholes here and there. However, the last 120 kilometres of the Livingstone to Sesheke/Katima Mulilo route are best described as potholes dotted by some road here and there for the just thirty kilometres past Kazungula town, which is also the Zambia - Botswana border crossing.  Trying to drive to Sesheke is so bad it will take you anywhere between 4 hours to 6 hours to navigate those 100 kilometres. You may or may not have your dignity at the end and your vehicle may be in more than one piece.  If you really must use the Sesheke - Katima Mulilo crossing as of December 2022, then take the 900 kilometre longer detour from Lusaka to Mongu then back to Katima Mulilo. It doesn't guarantee you absence of potholes, but at least the