An embodiment of the invention provides a method and a device for clearing malicious power consumption applications, and a user terminal. Background work power consumption of applications running in the user terminal is periodically counted, the applications with the background work power consumption not lower than a power consumption threshold value are determined as the malicious power consumption applications, wake lock holding time of each application running in the user terminal with a screen closed is periodically counted, if a certain application with the holding time not shorter than a set time threshold value is a background work application, the application is determined as a malicious power consumption application unreasonably occupying resources in background, the applications with high power consumption but normally used by a user are not malicious power consumption applications, the malicious power consumption applications can be accurately positioned and detected, unnecessary power consumption of the user terminal is avoided while usage experience of the user is ensured, electric energy is saved, and the battery life of the user terminal is prolonged to a certain degree.