There are a few reasons why some mobile devices may call Google a virus and prompt uninstall:
- False positives. Antivirus software can sometimes generate false positives, which means that it identifies a legitimate app as being malicious. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as if the antivirus software is using outdated virus definitions or if there is a similarity between the legitimate app and a known piece of malware.
- Conflicts between different antivirus programs. If you have multiple antivirus programs installed on your device, they can sometimes conflict with each other and cause problems, such as false positives.
- Bugs in the antivirus software. Antivirus software is complex software, and it is not uncommon for bugs to be introduced, which can also cause false positives.
- Malware disguised as antivirus software. There is a type of malware known as rogue antivirus software, which disguises itself as legitimate antivirus software in order to trick users into installing it. This type of malware can then display false warnings about viruses and malware in order to scare users into paying for a subscription.
In the case of the recent reports of Huawei devices calling the Google app a virus, it is believed that the issue was caused by a false positive in Huawei’s Optimizer app. Huawei has since released an update to the Optimizer app that fixes the issue.
If you see a notice on your mobile device calling Google a virus and prompting uninstall, you should take the following steps:
- Restart your device. This can sometimes fix minor software glitches that can cause false positives.
- Run a scan with a different antivirus program. If the other antivirus program does not detect any viruses, then you can safely ignore the notice.
- If you are using a Huawei device, update the Optimizer app to the latest version. You can do this by going to the Google Play Store and searching for “Optimizer” and then tapping on the “Update” button.
If you are still concerned about the notice, or if you are experiencing other problems with your device, such as slow performance or pop-up ads, you should contact the manufacturer of your device for further assistance.
