These are the apps most likely to ruin your phone

November 5, 2019

By Kim Komando

A new phone can be a wondrous and empowering thing. Fresh out of the box, it’s a wonder to behold — until you start bogging it down with apps. Not long after, your phone is sluggish and it can’t seem to hold battery life.

This is becoming more and more common with the release of so many different apps, some of which contain hidden malware and adware. Smart phones quickly become consumed by these unnecessary and often harmful apps that not only take up storage space, but can affect your device’s battery life and overall performance. Tap or click for more malicious app information.

The Google Play store has recognized this issue and has now set its sights on apps that cause users more harm than good. We’ve taken the liberty of pointing out a few of these apps and the effects they can have on your phone. We’ll also cover which apps lower your phone’s performance and drain its battery.

Infected apps from Google Play

Google is doing their spring cleaning a bit early this year. We’ve seen a plethora of developers and applications already blacklisted from the Play Store after questionable ad practices and shady software runs. There have even been quite a few bloatware and memory-saving apps that seem to do more harm than good. Some of these apps even come pre-installed on our phones.

Here are just a few of the hundreds, if not thousands, of apps that are littered with adware and malware, and have since been removed from the Google Play Store:

Over the past year or so, Google has been consistently removing apps and malware that are in violation of their developer terms and conditions agreement. While the company does its best to weed out the bad eggs, it’s up to users to stay vigilant and create their own security policy while shopping and downloading from the Play Store.

As we’ve pointed out time and time again, it’s strongly advised that you stick to reputable developers or apps suggested by Google. Malicious apps are responsible for everything from viruses to battery drains and a decline in overall performance, but they’re not the only ones. Tap or click here to see how to avoid bad apps in Google Play.

Surprising apps responsible for bad performance and battery drains

Let’s be honest, streaming, shopping and social media apps are great. They’re convenient, they save us time and they give us instant entertainment wherever we are. Everything is right at our fingertips. What’s not to love?

Well, if you put anything under a microscope, you’re bound to find a few flaws. These apps are no different. Numerous studies reveal apps like Snapchat, Netflix, Amazon and Outlook are a few of the biggest offenders when it comes to battery drainage, memory usage and a decline in overall performance. How? Let’s break each one down:

1. Snapchat

This app is probably the worst of the bunch because it consumes the greatest amount of battery life and mobile data, and it tends to stay active in the background, even when you’re not using it.

It’s worth considering only using Snapchat while you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network, and block it from using mobile data. This will mitigate its consumption of your phone’s life, memory and other key resources.

2. Netflix

In a game of virtual hungry hippos, Netflix seems to be the one with its mouth always open. This app needs all the power, memory and battery life it can hold and it won’t hesitate to eat through every last bit in a blink if you’re not careful.

Most users assume the power drainage comes strictly from downloading and playing shows. Technically speaking, that’s true, but there’s another part of your phone that’s giving out a massive amount of power, and Netflix inhales every ounce of it.

Your phone’s display takes up a ton of your device’s power, which is why you constantly hear people say you should turn down the brightness of your screen. This case is no different. When you’re using Netflix, you should consider watching with the brightness turned down or risk draining your battery faster.

3. Amazon Shopping

Although you wouldn’t think it, Amazon Shopping is actually a stealthy little battery drainer because of its subtle, unassuming nature. The app needs to stay up to date with latest deals and promotions, so it remains active in the background. This may seem like a viable excuse, but it really takes it toll on your phone’s performance.

If you don’t use Amazon Shopping as a large part of your online shopping routine, you might want to think about scrubbing it from your device altogether. Your phone will appreciate it.

4. Outlook

This app is another hungry hippo. It eats through any power source it can get its jaws around, and you’ll notice its affects in your phone’s performance over time. Whether you’re checking it too often or the email sync frequency is too high, the Outlook app is a serious threat to your power.

Try using the default Android email app to retrieve your emails. There’s no reason to have more than one email app installed on your phone. One is all you need to manage all of your accounts. This helps save battery and storage, which helps optimize your device’s performance. Tap or click here to learn how Kim manages her emails.

https://www.komando.com/news/android-apps-most-likely-to-ruin-your-phone/