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Ad infestation?

G

grande

Lurker
I've been using an Asus TF300 tablet for almost a year now. I admit I like to download a lot of free apps, some of which I rarely play. But now I have a problem because I see ads popping up randomly when I'm using the tablet, even on the home screen. My search engine even changed to something like goal.com even though google.com is selected in the browser settings. I suspect an app (or more than 1) is causing these issues.

A bad thing about Android is that for some strange reason I cannot control which apps are allowed to open automatically at startup and which are not, and I cannot even completely close an app I want to close. I know there are task killer apps but I've read it's not recommended to use them and many of them don't actually work anyway. I really don't understand why Android, which should be more of an OS for the tech-inclined, doesn't even give you the freedom to control these things, something Windows on the PC lets you do very easily. If this was possible, I could just disable almost every app I own from starting on its own and the ads would not keep appearing.

Now, rant aside, I have no idea what app is causing these adds to appear so my only option really is to uninstall almost every app I have, which isn't something I really want to do. I have even tried to download an app called Ad Detector which was supposed to help but didn't. Is there anything I can do to fix this rather than uninstall everything?

Also, I don't know if this is an issue with Android or with my tablet, but whenever I am downloading anything (for example updates for my apps) my whole tablet becomes the slowest piece of crap you can imagine. Even scrolling through the home screen becomes a nightmare. And this thing is supposed to have a quad core processor! Is there anyway I can fix this maybe as well?

Thanks.
 
Google have recently updated their rules, specifically forbidding apps from interfering with other apps' functions (such as browser/search settings), placing shortcuts on homescreens, etc. Developers have another couple of weeks to comply.

In the meanwhile though, there are a few different push advertising detectors suggested in this thread: http://androidforums.com/android-ap...s-unwanted-shortcuts-browsers-redirected.html. Give a few of them a try and see whether you find anything using push advertising.
 
Hadron said:
Google have recently updated their rules, specifically forbidding apps from interfering with other apps' functions (such as browser/search settings), placing shortcuts on homescreens, etc. Developers have another couple of weeks to comply.

In the meanwhile though, there are a few different push advertising detectors suggested in this thread: http://androidforums.com/android-ap...s-unwanted-shortcuts-browsers-redirected.html. Give a few of them a try and see whether you find anything using push advertising.
Click to expand...
Ok, thanks, I'll try them out and see if they fix my problem. The ads I'm getting aren't notification ads though. Sometimes an ad just randomly pops up, even in the home screen, blocking like half of my screen and then I have to manually close it.
 
grande said:
... The ads I'm getting aren't notification ads though. Sometimes an ad just randomly pops up, even in the home screen, blocking like half of my screen and then I have to manually close it.
Click to expand...
There might be a slight chance to catch the culprit app that caused that new kind of pop up ad if you'd use the ADB tool on your PC, running a logcat with USB debugging on your phone.

Wait until the ad pops up.
Run "adb logcat" on PC, then start the ad on your phone's screen.
Now on logcat you'd see the activity which has thrown the ad ... and activity should give away the name of the culprit app.

Note, I've not any experience with the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tool on PC ;) ... maybe someone could chirp in who knows about the usage of the APG tool.

Harry
 
Things just seem to be getting worse....un-removable bloatware on the phones, pop up adds one cannot stop, and no single app or program that overrides the defenses on the virus (yes, I'll label it a virus as it acts on ones device without the permission or desire of the owner) that make it almost impossible to remove...

Android developers need to develop a simple and working procedure to remove junk from the device whether or not the company infecting the phone wants it removed. Google simply cares more for their business partners than the folk who use the devices they sell. Until this changes we will continue to see service quality decline.

I would pay normal software prices and license renewal fees for an app that returned control of my devices to me and not to the businesses who profit from the junk on todays devices. An app remover that actually removed ALL apps not wanted. One that also prevented all unwanted pop ups and phone bloat. Why should the management of a tablet of phone be different than a PC...they are all computers only I have control of my PC and outsiders control my Android device.
 
Your android device will never give you the control you get on a PC unless you root it which removes a layer of security.
Also, in fairness to android. You choose to install these apps and their permissions are (usually) available to you before hand. And there are apps on Play that will vet an app for adware during download and before installation :thumbup:

P.s. i havent heard of a case where these ads still get pushed after the app causing them has been uninstalled but im sure there are exceptions.
Not so much a "virus" more like paying for a "free" app by being nagged
 
My Verizon Droid Razor Max came with scores of unwanted apps that it refuses to let me remove...an unsat situation for a device I 'own'....
 
JIMV said:
My Verizon Droid Razor Max came with scores of unwanted apps that it refuses to let me remove...an unsat situation for a device I 'own'....
Click to expand...

Yeh "own" is the word. As it was more than likely subsidised and is locked to Verizon, it's not really yours, not until you finish your contract commitment. You could always root it, remove the unwanted carrier stuff and that would make it truly yours.
 
mikedt said:
As it was more than likely subsidised and is SIM-locked to Verizon, it's not really yours.
Click to expand...
Verizon are CDMA, so the network control is deeper than with GSM (where it's just the SIM that links the phone to a particular network). By reputation they are the worst for bloatware, and the most root-hostile of the US networks.

But for many people they also provide the best coverage.
 
Hadron said:
Verizon are CDMA, so the network control is deeper than with GSM (where it's just the SIM that links the phone to a particular network). By reputation they are the worst for bloatware, and the most root-hostile of the US networks.

But for many people they also provide the best coverage.
Click to expand...

China Telecom are also CDMA, but their phones take a UIM(which basically functions in the same way as a SIM and looks like a SIM). But then any locking or whatever is irrelevant here, they're the only CDMA network.
 
Harry2 said:
There might be a slight chance to catch the culprit app that caused that new kind of pop up ad if you'd use the ADB tool on your PC, running a logcat with USB debugging on your phone.

Wait until the ad pops up.
Run "adb logcat" on PC, then start the ad on your phone's screen.
Now on logcat you'd see the activity which has thrown the ad ... and activity should give away the name of the culprit app.

Note, I've not any experience with the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tool on PC ;) ... maybe someone could chirp in who knows about the usage of the APG tool.

Harry
Click to expand...
That sounds like a little too much hassle for me but if I get annoyed enough I might give it a shot, thanks.
 
funkylogik said:
Your android device will never give you the control you get on a PC unless you root it which removes a layer of security.
Also, in fairness to android. You choose to install these apps and their permissions are (usually) available to you before hand. And there are apps on Play that will vet an app for adware during download and before installation :thumbup:

P.s. i havent heard of a case where these ads still get pushed after the app causing them has been uninstalled but im sure there are exceptions.
Not so much a "virus" more like paying for a "free" app by being nagged
Click to expand...
Yes I choose to install the apps, but the permissions never say that the app will cause ads to popup randomly while using my device. All I want is to be able to choose which apps open automatically at startup, and a way to close an app or stop a process whenever I want, without having to download any 3rd party apps which claim to do these things but actually don't.

I really don't see why Android, being a pretty open OS, doesn't give you the freedom to do these basic things.
 
JIMV said:
Things just seem to be getting worse....un-removable bloatware on the phones, pop up adds one cannot stop, and no single app or program that overrides the defenses on the virus (yes, I'll label it a virus as it acts on ones device without the permission or desire of the owner) that make it almost impossible to remove...
Click to expand...

The defining quality of a virus is that it is contagious, spreading in secret. What OP has is bundled adware -- software that was installed along with what he installed, which displays obtrusive ads.

JIMV said:
My Verizon Droid Razor Max came with scores of unwanted apps that it refuses to let me remove...an unsat situation for a device I 'own'....
Click to expand...
...and that's bloatware. I hate bloatware. Bloatware was probably my biggest motivation for rooting.

mikedt said:
Yeh "own" is the word. As it was more than likely subsidised and is locked to Verizon, it's not really yours, not until you finish your contract commitment. You could always root it, remove the unwanted carrier stuff and that would make it truly yours.
Click to expand...

My Virgin Mobile no-contract phones came with plenty of bloatware (and not plenty of space). Granted, I've heard that they are subsidized, just not the same as a contract phone, almost as if Virgin puts them out there like major loss leaders and merely hopes that you'll activate them.
 
grande said:
Yes I choose to install the apps, but the permissions never say that the app will cause ads to popup randomly while using my device. All I want is to be able to choose which apps open automatically at startup, and a way to close an app or stop a process whenever I want, without having to download any 3rd party apps which claim to do these things but actually don't.

I really don't see why Android, being a pretty open OS, doesn't give you the freedom to do these basic things.
Click to expand...

The freedom is taken away by listening too intently to the Kool-Aid pushers on forums. Don't drink the Kool-Aid. You have a problem that you'd like to solve and the recommended solutions aren't working for you. Go ahead and try task killers. If you're worried about approval from those who may withhold further assistance in the future, use a task killer only as a diagnostic tool to ferret out the guilty app, then remove the task killer along with the implicated misbehaving app. Use one with lots of good reviews so you know it works and won't bring along further bundled adware. There should be plenty of free ones like that.

Note to the closed minds: Don't worry, I don't use a task killer. I merely advocate freedom to try one and see what the results are. Sorry guys, results speak louder than concepts.

There may be a couple other process of elimination techniques you could use instead, though.
- In Settings -> Applications -> Running Services you can stop various services...I don't know if they'll stay stopped though.
- With some app management apps like link2sd and Titanium Backup, and probably plenty of others, you can "Freeze" an app. I don't know if freezing requires root though. ...ok I just looked it up, it does require rooting. On the upside I did also notice this app which may be a good alternative to the other two I mentioned for freezing: AnTek App Manager. No idea if it's any good.

For all the warnings of security issues with rooting, and even though as a linux systems administrator I know exactly what the security implications are, it seems to me that on Android you've got less security unrooted than you do rooted. When rooted you are prompted for each app that wants root access, like UAC in Windows Vista/7/8, and you should only grant access to those apps that you trust. When not rooted you end up at the mercy of apps that do whatever they want with less ability to fight them. When rooted you can use ad-blocking software/techniques and more fully integrate security/antimalware software. IMO, the only security that suffers from rooting is the security of various companies' revenue streams when you gain control of your device.

Ok, got the ranting off my chest. Honestly the logcat thing sounds like a decent idea.
 
divinebovine said:
The freedom is taken away by listening too intently to the Kool-Aid pushers on forums. Don't drink the Kool-Aid. You have a problem that you'd like to solve and the recommended solutions aren't working for you. Go ahead and try task killers. If you're worried about approval from those who may withhold further assistance in the future, use a task killer only as a diagnostic tool to ferret out the guilty app, then remove the task killer along with the implicated misbehaving app. Use one with lots of good reviews so you know it works and won't bring along further bundled adware. There should be plenty of free ones like that.

Note to the closed minds: Don't worry, I don't use a task killer. I merely advocate freedom to try one and see what the results are. Sorry guys, results speak louder than concepts.

There may be a couple other process of elimination techniques you could use instead, though.
- In Settings -> Applications -> Running Services you can stop various services...I don't know if they'll stay stopped though.
- With some app management apps like link2sd and Titanium Backup, and probably plenty of others, you can "Freeze" an app. I don't know if freezing requires root though. ...ok I just looked it up, it does require rooting. On the upside I did also notice this app which may be a good alternative to the other two I mentioned for freezing: AnTek App Manager. No idea if it's any good.

For all the warnings of security issues with rooting, and even though as a linux systems administrator I know exactly what the security implications are, it seems to me that on Android you've got less security unrooted than you do rooted. When rooted you are prompted for each app that wants root access, like UAC in Windows Vista/7/8, and you should only grant access to those apps that you trust. When not rooted you end up at the mercy of apps that do whatever they want with less ability to fight them. When rooted you can use ad-blocking software/techniques and more fully integrate security/antimalware software. IMO, the only security that suffers from rooting is the security of various companies' revenue streams when you gain control of your device.

Ok, got the ranting off my chest. Honestly the logcat thing sounds like a decent idea.
Click to expand...
I did try a lot of task killers (the high rated ones as well). Sure you can close any app you want with a task killer, but that same app will start up on its own a short while after (sometimes even just a few seconds after). i also tried apps which disabled apps from opening on startup, but they just didn't work. The apps kept opening automatically.

As for rooting, the main reason I don't want to do it is because of warranty.

I'll try the suggestions you provided though, thank you :)
 
I see. Sorry if the rant was overdone, but it really irks me when people are so scared off from harmlessly taking control of running apps that they can't even accomplish basic diagnostic strategies.

Without rooting I think you're probably limited to logcat or just uninstalling apps until it stops.

This app can batch-uninstall apps:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nalic.app.installer

You could set it to sort by install date, tap the checkboxes for all the apps dating back to before you first saw the obtrusive ads, batch-"export" them which saves the APK on your SD card, and batch-uninstall them. Then you could either reinstall them one at a time (from the saved APKs or from the Play store), or you could do a binary search as follows:
  • Batch-install half of the APKs using appasst.
  • If the ads are back, batch-uninstall half of the ones you just installed.
  • If the ads are not back, batch-install half of the remaining apps.
  • Keep drilling down, half at a time, until you find the offending app.
You would need to start by uninstalling far enough back to be sure the ads are gone first, otherwise you could get all the way through the search only to find it was one of the older apps that you ddn't consider.

If you do that, keep in mind that you'll probably lose all data/settings for those apps.
 
mikedt said:
Yeh "own" is the word. As it was more than likely subsidised and is locked to Verizon, it's not really yours, not until you finish your contract commitment. You could always root it, remove the unwanted carrier stuff and that would make it truly yours.
Click to expand...

That is a very scary idea....I completely lack the skill and cannot afford to replace the phone if bricked. It is a lot like buying a PC but being forced to keep all the junk programs on that device. Buyers would not stand for it but we lap it up on our phones. An even better analogy...You buy a car that has a radio that you MUST keep and it only plays the stations that the car manufacturer gets kickbacks from...
 
JIMV said:
That is a very scary idea....I completely lack the skill and cannot afford to replace the phone if bricked. It is a lot like buying a PC but being forced to keep all the junk programs on that device.
Click to expand...
There are sometimes subsidized PCs, though probably not with bloatware that can't be removed (only way they could manage that is if the service that they're selling with it gets cut off if you remove the bloatware).

An even better analogy...You buy a car that has a radio that you MUST keep and it only plays the stations that the car manufacturer gets kickbacks from...
Click to expand...

OnStar. It's not music but it's very similar to what we're talking about.

Subsidized crap with vendor lock-in is as old as commerce itself. It was made popular on a small scale with minor consumer goods with the "Gilette model" -- give customers the handle and they'll have to buy the blades at whatever price.

Think inkjet printers. What a racket. Ink is so expensive, unless you want to fool around with generic refilled cartridges or refilling them yourself -- but then manufacturers added what is effectively a DRM chip to cartridges that make them stop working when they've printed enough, regardless of how much ink is in them.

Then there's propane for home heating. You don't buy the tank. You choose a propane provider and they come and install a tank. I'm not talking about a 100 gallon tank; the kind used for heating are huge, may require a concrete slab poured, and of course requires lots of professional work to connect to your house. Just like phones if you have a bunch of capital and want to be able to choose your provider you can buy your own tank but most people don't.

Oh, and car stereos? I bet if the aftermarket car stereo industry wasn't huge and able to defend itself, the car stereo situation would be just like your proposal. As it is they include various integrated functions, and some make the dash look funky if you don't keep the OEM model.

Man, I guess I'm really in a ranting mood today.
 
JIMV said:
That is a very scary idea....I completely lack the skill and cannot afford to replace the phone if bricked. It is a lot like buying a PC but being forced to keep all the junk programs on that device. Buyers would not stand for it but we lap it up on our phones. An even better analogy...You buy a car that has a radio that you MUST keep and it only plays the stations that the car manufacturer gets kickbacks from...
Click to expand...

Now if you were willing to pay the full unsubsidised price for a non-carrier phone you wouldn't have to put up with carrier bloatware.

Would you be willing to pay $2,000 for a car rather than $20,000? But with the $2,000 car the radio only plays the stations that the manufacturer gets kickbacks from, and can only use gas from one company.
 
mikedt said:
Now if you were willing to pay the full unsubsidised price for a non-carrier phone you wouldn't have to put up with carrier bloatware.

Would you be willing to pay $2,000 for a car rather than $20,000? But with the $2,000 car the radio only plays the stations that the manufacturer gets kickbacks from, and can only use gas from one company.
Click to expand...

Outside of Nexus/GPE devices, unbranded phones don't really exist. Every phone whether you pay full retail or not is going to come loaded with bloatware.
 
mikedt said:
Now if you were willing to pay the full unsubsidised price for a non-carrier phone you wouldn't have to put up with carrier bloatware.
Click to expand...

Though manufacturers, and even Google themselves, include a lot of stuff that's bloat to some or many users (HTC Stocks, I'm looking at you - or was until I used root to remove you ;))
 
jhawkkw said:
Outside of Nexus/GPE devices, unbranded phones don't really exist. Every phone whether you pay full retail or not is going to come loaded with bloatware.
Click to expand...

I was referring specifically to carrier bloatware, sponsorship type things. Like Sprint phones come with a load of NASCAR stuff, that can't be removed without rooting. You shouldn't find stuff like NASCAR or NFL on say a generic non-carrier Samsung or HTC. The manufacturer might add their own stuff of course, but it shouldn't be affiliate or sponsorship crap. I bought a non-carrier Samsung recently, it only came with the Samsung stuff, like Samsung Apps. There was certainly no sponsorship or kickback crap on there. I know subsidised phones from Vodafone in the UK used to come with a load of Man United junk on them. But that was the price we had to pay for having a phone at very heavy discount or subsidy. Not sure what their sponsoring now, but Vodafone was one of the worse offenders for carrier junk AFAIK. Of course Vodafone a major shareholder in Verizon Wireless.
 
mikedt said:
I was referring specifically to carrier bloatware, sponsorship type things. Like Sprint phones come with a load of NASCAR stuff, that can't be removed without rooting. You shouldn't find stuff like NASCAR or NFL on say a generic non-carrier Samsung or HTC. The manufacturer might add their own stuff of course, but it shouldn't be affiliate or sponsorship crap. I bought a non-carrier Samsung recently, it only came with the Samsung stuff, like Samsung Apps. There was certainly no sponsorship or kickback crap on there. I know subsidised phones from Vodafone in the UK used to come with a load of Man United junk on them. But that was the price we had to pay for having a phone at very heavy discount or subsidy.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I mean to say they don't exist in the US. Non-Carrier Samsung or HTC's have to be imported and may not always support all the frequencies for the US carriers because there's so many different ones.
 
jhawkkw said:
Sorry, I mean to say they don't exist in the US. Non-Carrier Samsung or HTC's have to be imported and may not always support all the frequencies for the US carriers because there's so many different ones.
Click to expand...

Suppose it's worse if you're on a CDMA carrier. Because there's probably very few imported or generic CDMA phones. I bet that many people don't really want to pay $700-$900 upfront for a top-end phone either. Carriers market basically, and they'll do what they can with their kickbacks and sponsoring. So people just have to live with it. Unless they're tech savvy enough to root and remove the junk. Many people might not even come across a forum like AF, let alone know what "root" means and what it does. They buy their phones from carriers, they come with NASCAR or NFL or Man United or whatever, and they just think that's how it is.
 
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