Eight factors can explain fast phone battery drain, ZDNET said, with aging lithium-ion cells, power-hungry apps, settings, heat, hardware damage and charging habits often more likely than malware.
Three-year-old batteries naturally lose capacity, while bright screens, always-on displays, background syncing, GPS, Bluetooth wearables and wireless-charging heat can all shorten runtime.
Unfamiliar apps are a key warning sign because malicious software often hides in the background; users should check battery-usage menus, review app permissions, update software and delete suspicious apps.
Malware can also steal passwords, track activity and trigger premium calls or texts, making antivirus scans a next step and a factory reset a last resort for stubborn infections such as stalkerware.