Android ad annoyances - help

[TechLady]

I don't use Android as much as I used to and I can't figure this out for the life of me. I've got several customers that are getting bombarded with ads on their phones and I need to get it to stop.

On the left, the guy can't even make a call without getting that ad in his face. On the right, it's more of an annoyance but still completely unnecessary. I don't think it's malware...it feels like crap that was built in...but I don't know for sure. Anybody know how to disable these??

 

[phaZed]

It's one of the Apps.. usually it ends up being some Flashlight App (Looks fitting here) or Game they downloaded. It is certainly not that way stock.

 

[HCHTech]

Yep - flashlight apps - I hate 'em. I guess it was identified by the bad guys as something everyone wanted but no phone provided by default. Now, of course most all phones have this function built in. The one I recommended whenever I removed a bad one was called 'Privacy Flashlight', I seem to recall.

Once you get rid of the bad app, try a two-finger swipe down from the top of the screen to bring up the full list of switches, you might find 'flashlight' there.

 

[Krynn72]

Don't those subsidized phones from Amazon and the like have built in ads like this? Never seen one in person, but Amazon sells 'em cheap since they make the money back 10x over in ads.

But I'd guess they would look more professional than this.

EDIT: Also they probably advertise Amazon products... not "Unlimited for 30 days".
Unlimited what??

 

[GTP]

Go into Settings > Apps > All Apps and uninstall or disable everything you don't need.
Also install a good Antimalware as well.

 

[TechLady]

Thanks!

 

[Galdorf]

Android has ad blockers as well best one i found is Blockda

 

[GTP]

Android has ad blockers as well best one i found is Blockda

Blockda isn't in the Play Store.
I'd be a bit careful (and dubious) about installing from "unknown sources."

 

[Galdorf]

Blockda isn't in the Play Store.
I'd be a bit careful (and dubious) about installing from "unknown sources."

i always scan stuff like that before using it is well known your not safe downloading stuff off the playstore either.
http://www.zdnet.com/article/bankbo...nto-the-google-play-store-for-the-third-time/
http://www.zdnet.com/article/android-security-sneaky-three-stage-malware-found-in-google-play-store/
https://www.wired.com/story/google-play-store-malware/

 

[NviGate Systems]

Also if your clients keep getting targeted ads or the "virus" ad, you need to get Google to generate a new advertising ID, this will stop the tracking that happens with rogue ads.

 

[fencepost]

If it was a BLU phone I'd think it was related to this: https://threatpost.com/down-the-rabbit-hole-with-a-blu-phone-infection/128390/

Other than that, AVG's Antivirus Pro on Android is currently $5.99 (price swings some, "normal" price is 11.99 but it seems to usually be on sale. This is as low as it's been in the last 60 days). There's also a free level of AVG's app, but I don't recall what's included or not. LookOut has a free basic level (or perhaps that's carrier-subsidized?) but for more features wants a monthly or annual subscription that seems... overpriced to me.

 

[GTP]

Emsisoft Mobile Security (Bitdefender in a business suit) is only around $15.

 

[fencepost]

I know a remarkably high percentage of people who just don't want to pay for apps on phones, and even more (including me) who are leery of subscriptions. Besides, if I'm going to do that I'll just upgrade my Bitdefender subscription to include more devices and throw one of those onto my phone.

I'm actually not sure if the AVG I mentioned is a one-time or subscription price, I think they may have shifted it to subscription at some point but I bought it way back in the Eclair days on a Galaxy S.