[SOLVED] Mobile Malware?

My phone (Samsung S7 edge) has recently started acting up. I will be trying to use some app when it takes a notion, opens a web advertisement followed in short order by the play store on some random app.

I gather some malware has got in. I install few apps, browse little and stay off social networks. I have no malware protection loaded. How should I go about getting rid of whatever it is.

I don't have an idea on malware scanners, other than kaspersky is typically one of the best for detection rates of malware, i'd recommend trying that and giving a scan.

Check what apps are installed through the playstore for a start. Some dodgy apps that have spam behaviour like that can simply be uninstalled, a friend had something like this once and we managed to find out it was a game he'd installed quite a long time ago, but never really played it - but the process was always running in the background for the purpose of giving random notifications in the form of ads.

If it's not pure evil malware (in the sense of avoiding detection/hiding itself), then you might have the luck of just being able to uninstall it once you find what app is causing that behaviour.

I use Sophos on my phone. AFAICS, it doesn't take up a lot of resources.

i never had that problem, but i use this app:
https://f-droid.org/packages/org.adaway/
and it has an extra feature that searches for malware apps. it once told me to uninstall an app.

that said, android is just as opaque to me as windows...

Thanks guys, I will try those 3 apps. I have installed nothing but play store apps. Some I can trust completely (JW Library, Netflix,mail.com, Firefox, For Browser, VLC, etc.) because they have huge userbases. The only game installed is Temple Minesweeper. A few utilities, & one movie downloader. Most I have on a tablet as well, and that is trouble free.

I will report back on viruses/malware

Right. Despite my poor security settings, kapersky found nothing. They also wanted me to pay them money, something that I object to. I gave them one month's worth, and there won't be a second month.

Sophos was free. It detected nothing, but fingered a few apps: Where's My Droid, Alert (An epilepsy monitoring app), Learn Muscle Anatomy, & Power Calc Pro. All have been installed for several months on two devices (phone & tablet) without issue.

The Alert is ransomware (you have to cough up so your choice of guy is notified if you throw a siezure) and I am not paying;I will reinstall all except the Alert. If the problem persists I will post again.

I seem to have got it. Something apparently attached itself to Movie Play Box app. This works fine on the tablet, but throws up ads on the phone. I stopped & uninstalled it, then powered off the phone. On powering up, the app was gone from the Play Store :-o.

This seems to be it. Thanks for the recommendations.

This is too annoying actually. My A7 2017 was infected by a adware few days ago. I am not a backdated in terms of mobile technology but I found no way to overcome it. Affected for about 3 days. I tried some good antivirus(I know most of them don't find any virus or malware), uninstalled most of the recent installed apps, reset phone, looked for online solution. But everything in vain. At last factory reset worked. I am not satisfied as I didn't find the solution.
Anyway my phone is okay now. So factory reset is one of the solution.

Originally Posted by business_kid Thanks guys, I will try those 3 apps. I have installed nothing but play store apps.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2018...-play-malware/
is an eye-opener.

https://www.androidauthority.com/adu...re-874970/amp/
https://www.androidauthority.com/bes...ndroid-687799/

USe a verified and licensed antivirus. Avast, Norton or Kaspersky should be among the first choice of any user. You can also take direct help from K7 Antivirus Customer Support anytime. But I think troubleshooting would be better as it will save your money and effort and also useful for further purposes.

I did buy a month of Kapersky, which found nothing and also installed Sophos, which likewise turned up nothing. Removing Movie Play Box was a guess that worked. Solved now.