Help Android Phone constantly showing ADS and Nuisances

[Matthew Poblete]

Hi. I would like to ask for help on this.

This has been going since I downloaded an APK file from the internet. I installed it, yet I uninstalled it after feeling paranoid. A few weeks later, my phone started to open my browser (Mozilla Firefox, btw) and redirect me into an ad site. (I think it was clickads.com or so?) Then, my phone constantly turns on "Unknown Sources" in Settings. My antivirus program constantly tells me this and it is getting annoying.

Avast! (My antivirus), and Malwarebytes can't detect the virus in my phone. I tried removing my SD card to see if it came from there; no change. I tried installing other antivirus programs; no threats detected. I tried encrypting then resetting my phone twice already, and it came back just a few days ago.

My phone keeps installing an app called "My Apps", and after that it keeps showing fullscreen ads, browser ads, all that non-sense.

I really need your help. What should I do, and where did this virus come from?


*Specs:
My Phone MY27 - ANDROID OS 5.1
KERNEL: 3.10.65+

 

[AZgl1500]

Been there, done that, once only..... learned my lesson. stay away from apps from Unknown Sources.

your next big step now is save the message or other data you want to keep, photos, etc...

then go to Settings and Select FDR, to reformat the phone and start all over from zero.
until you do, you are wasting your time and energy.

 

[ianpoblete13]

Been there, done that, once only..... learned my lesson. stay away from apps from Unknown Sources.

your next big step now is save the message or other data you want to keep, photos, etc...

then go to Settings and Select FDR, to reformat the phone and start all over from zero.
until you do, you are wasting your time and energy.

Been there, done that. I've resetted my phone TWICE already. I even tried to encrypt my phone and then hard reset it to ensure a more effective reset, but nothing worked.

Also, it appears that it only happens when I am connected to the internet.

P.S. It's still me. Just created an account to reply and post.

 

[chanchan05]

Some apk have the ability to install ads as system apps, which cannot be removed even by resetting. You need to flash the device with stock firmware to remove it. The problem now is if there is any image of the stock firmware for your device available.

 

[mikedt]

Some apk have the ability to install ads as system apps, which cannot be removed even by resetting. You need to flash the device with stock firmware to remove it. The problem now is if there is any image of the stock firmware for your device available.

That sounds like what happened. Downloaded app from untrusted source, it had malicious payload with ability to root the phone and install itself as system.

Think going to have to re-flash the phone with original manufacturer's firmware or an appropriate custom ROM. And if that's not possible, be buying a new phone probably.

One of these is it?
myphone.com.ph/product/my27

 

[ianpoblete13]

Thank you. I'll be sure to take note of those.

 

[ianpoblete13]

That sounds like what happened. Downloaded app from untrusted source, it had malicious payload with ability to root the phone and install itself as system.

Think going to have to re-flash the phone with original manufacturer's firmware or an appropriate custom ROM. And if that's not possible, be buying a new phone probably.

One of these is it?
myphone.com.ph/product/my27

Yes, it is. I'll try flashing my phone. I have some of the necessary files for flashing. I'm downloading the other necessary files as well.

 

[chanchan05]

Basically, next time just download from either Play Store or Amazon. You're from the Philippines, I'm guessing because of myphone. Just use your load credits to pay for apps. I know it's tempting when you see pirated apps, but this incident is just one of the problems you see when going that route.