Device downloading random SWF files while browsing

[R8a8idF]

Was browsing the web (duckduckgo) and noticed my Galaxy 8 device randomly doenloading SWF files. I did not click any downloadable media and when i tried to avvess the file it told me i didnt have the proper app. Downloaded a free SWF file player and tried to open the file but nothing came up. See screenshot for details.

Anyone know what this is and why my device would just download it without asking me first? Anyone else have this happen?

 

[ocnbrze]

here is an article i found on swf files
https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/software/how-open-swf-files-3690435/

never heard of them before. it has to do with adobe flash software. if you dod not download it, i would just delete it.

 

[R8a8idF]

here is an article i found on swf files
https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/software/how-open-swf-files-3690435/

never heard of them before. it has to do with adobe flash software. if you dod not download it, i would just delete it.

Thanks for coming through again ocnbrze!

 

[ocnbrze]

no worries. i find it a bit odd that something has randomly downloaded something onto your phone without your permission.

 

[R8a8idF]

no worries. i find it a bit odd that something has randomly downloaded something onto your phone without your permission.

As did i

 

[mikedt]

Maybe a misconfigured or malfunctioning ad server? The ones that might try to show video ads. Which is a very good reason to use a browser that can block ads.

 

[R8a8idF]

Maybe a misconfigured or malfunctioning ad server? The ones that might try to show video ads. Which is a very good reason to use a browser that can block ads.

Was using DuckDuckGo. Any better suggestions Mike?

 

[Hadron]

Brave has ad-blocking built in that seems pretty effective (doesn't stop everything, but seems as good as other browser solutions). You can get several ad-blocking add-ons for Firefox, and Edge comes with adblock plus these days. Sure there are many others, but those are some I'm familiar with.