[SOLVED] What should I do with a Note8 phone with malware if I'm sure if I reset it I won't receive security updates anymore?

derezion · 07-27-2023, 10:45 AM

The phone is from 2017 and I think it's been infected with malware because of some pop-up windows mentioning Obamacare and Obamacare was misspelled. I also think I had a problem when my Twitter app which I wasn't signed into notified me about a login attempt with some cryptic username. I don't know much about that.
As far as those pop-up windows, I did click on a link in them. I don't remember what happened.

I'm sure if I do a factory reset of this Samsung Galaxy Note8 phone, I won't be able to download security updates again. Samsung stopped supplying security updates for this phone some time ago.

teckk · 07-27-2023, 12:19 PM

If you have malware, then you need to get of it. The phone is no use to you the way that it is.

You may be able to find an up to date ROM for it.
https://lineageos.org/
Or a half dozen other ROM sites.

I think that the whole smartphone industry is a planned racket. The whole thing is made to encourage you to buy a new phone every 2 or 3 years. Unlike a desktop where you can continue to update for 10-12 years or so.

business_kid · 07-27-2023, 12:21 PM

I'm surprised to see a (Samsung, I presume)Note 8 out there. The Galaxy S8 was recalled over battery burn-ups. My S7 Edge also died of spontaneous combustion - the battery again. I wasn't charging it at the time. It was doing nothing. If you have a short recharge time of around 30 minutes, and you decide to keep it, be careful and use a puny charger.

I wouldn't presume a factory reset will clear malware. The malware you know about may well have added others. Lineage OS beckons, if only to clear the ram out reliably. Get a professional to wipe & reinstall. Malware can be incredibly persistent. It woul;d help if you learned what you were up against, and how it behaves. So do the research.

derezion · 07-27-2023, 12:31 PM

Okay thanks. Installing a ROM may be the best solution. It's just that right now, I don't know how to install one and I'm not willing to use one. Again, thanks.

derezion · 07-27-2023, 01:04 PM

business_kid, Why wouldn't you presume a factory reset will clear malware? I thought that did the job most of the time on other OSs like Windows.

business_kid · 07-28-2023, 11:32 AM

Malware has got quite sophisticated at surviving resets, downloading extra stuff. There's State actors writing malware these days, and good tricks are copied. It may succumb to a factory reset, it may not.

teckk · 07-28-2023, 12:59 PM

That's a fact. Let me look that up if I can find what I'm thinking about...

Here it is if anyone wants to watch these:
https://www.pbs.org/video/global-spy...part-1-knbyuj/
https://www.pbs.org/video/global-spy...part-2-m4mr4c/

And the videos would be at:

960x540

Code:

ffmpeg -i "https://ga.video.cdn.pbs.org/videos/frontline/2a3b5eab-e512-4cc7-8614-0cf64b086e59/2000331265/\
hd-16x9-mezzanine-1080p/00004108-hls-16x9-1080p-540p-2000k.m3u8" -c:a copy -c:v copy Pegasus1.mp4

ffmpeg -i "https://ga.video.cdn.pbs.org/videos/frontline/2e2b0526-5ec9-48e1-97d5-2d660f944485/2000333420/\
hd-16x9-mezzanine-1080p/00004109-hls-16x9-1080p-540p-2000k.m3u8" -c:a copy -c:v copy Pegasus2.mp4

Those are probably 800MB each.

If you want a smaller video using less bandwidth...

640x360

Code:

https://ga.video.cdn.pbs.org/videos/frontline/2a3b5eab-e512-4cc7-8614-0cf64b086e59/2000331265/hd-16x9-mezzanine-1080p/00004108-hls-16x9-1080p-360p-730k.m3u8

https://ga.video.cdn.pbs.org/videos/frontline/2e2b0526-5ec9-48e1-97d5-2d660f944485/2000333420/hd-16x9-mezzanine-1080p/00004109-hls-16x9-1080p-360p-730k.m3u8

enigma9o7 · 07-28-2023, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derezion

Okay thanks. Installing a ROM may be the best solution. It's just that right now, I don't know how to install one and I'm not willing to use one. Again, thanks.

Well the first problem, not knowing how to install custom ROM, can be alleviated.

But not willing to use LineageOS? You'd rather use a version of android that's not providing security updates anymore, that you believe is infected with malware, than a more secure version that still gets updates? What is that about? Why unwilling?!@ That seems odd.

business_kid · 07-29-2023, 06:25 AM

In the past, I used the predecessor of Lineage, Cyanogenmod. It was the best Mobile OS at the time by far. Some new exploit came out and Cyanogenmod had it patched within days while Google and of Course Apple were still scratching their backsides.

With only one hand working, I'm not for rooting a phone either. But nearly anyone who repairs phones will load it for you.

derezion · 08-04-2023, 10:31 AM

I watched part 1 of that PBS documentary and I'm in the middle of part 2.
I chickened out of installing Lineage OS on my Note8 phone. I didn't have a laptop I felt comfortable using to do that anyway. Apparently you can use a laptop to do that.
My solution?: Factory reset and buying a new phone.

I'm about to mark this thread as solved unless anyone else has anything to say.

business_kid · 08-04-2023, 01:33 PM

Your choice. The guys repairing phones who sound cool about rooting a phone usually have done it themselves, or aren't afraid of it. They'll get up a step-by-step guide and do it. I've rooted a phone and installed Cyanogenmod. I wouldn't try with one hand, but ask a few guys and judge by their reaction.

I wouldn't like to trade in a phone with a virus still on it. At least check your virus is gone. Also plug the leak. How on earth did you pick up that virus? Bad security. Fix that fault, or owning a phone could be expensive.

derezion · 08-04-2023, 03:35 PM

business_kid, what does trying with one hand mean? Btw I didn't trade in the old phone, but I may sell it. I agree with the part about plugging the leak.

business_kid · 08-05-2023, 04:22 AM

I rooted my first phone. The instructions were messy, but it went fine. I had the use of two hands then. I only have the use of one hand now, so I wouldn't try those 3-button presses that are used to reboot the phone.