Help Strange adware problem

[AeroSS_87]

Hello, all. I'm typically pretty good in figuring out little android quirks, but this one has myself and everyone I consult with stumped. About 6 weeks ago, I started getting these ads pop-up. First, the screen tints and a dancing android-like icon appears, then a "recommended for you" screen comes on. It's obvious adware of some sort, because one game it recommends, I already have. And, well, it's just obviously not a legit situation.

Anyway, I ran into problems with Sprint's data optimizer, as I suspected would happen someday. My phone lagged to the point of nearly useless til cured that. Strangely, it seemed these "ads" have decreased in frequency since clearing that up. Now it happens 2-3 times a day, where it used to be nearly 10.

Here are some screenshots.

 

[AeroSS_87]

I should add that this thing has yet to have been caught by avg, lookout, adaware, malwarebytes, and at least 3 others.

 

[KOLIO]

It's no doubt an app you've downloaded that's causing this.
If you've determined which app it is,try using/buying the PRO version of the app,if that is an option & the annoyance will likely disappear.
If not,then you've got a decision to make:
Keep the app & tolerate the pop-ups,or,uninstall the app.

 

[AeroSS_87]

I can't locate the app causing the issue. I've uninstalled every app downloaded since the problem started, with no luck. Any suggestions as to locate the app? Thanks

 

[KOLIO]

Try running in SAFE MODE:

http://support.sprint.com/support/tutorial/Access_Safe_Mode_LG_G3/52753-279

This disables user-installed apps until you use them.
By process of elimination,you should be able to determine the culprit.
If it turns out to be a SPRINT-installed app,SHAME ON SPRINT,however,I doubt/hope that SPRINT would pre-install something this intrusive.
Please keep us posted on your progress.

 

[AeroSS_87]

Thank you. I will not stop until the culprit is found.

 

[iteriwarren]

I, too, am having this issue. It's driving me crazy. Someone said it was Music Paradise so I uninstalled that app but it still happens to me about 3-4 times a day. I am willing to get rid of whatever app it is that is causing it, I just need help pinpointing which one it is!! Attached is a screenshot that pops up on me (sometimes the recommended game is different).

 

[Klotar]

These might be air push ads, although I've never seen any that look like that nor the dancing bugdroid. Perhaps try some of the air push detector apps in the Play Store -- nothing to lose at this point.

Air Push Detector, Ad Detector, Addons Detector, New Air Push Detector are a few. None of these actually removes the offending apps but they apparently tell you which apps are responsible (that is, if these are push ads you are seeing). Good luck.

Edit: I've read good things about Norton Mobile Security and finding malware. A random thought: do you have the Amazon equivalent of the Play Store installed? I've read that Amazon does this too (but you can turn it off).

 

[iteriwarren]

Air Push didn't find anything, after initial scan said I didn't need the app. Ad Detector found some apps that collect local info but didn't see anything serious. Still puzzled.

 

[Jdub333]

Hello, all. I'm typically pretty good in figuring out little android quirks, but this one has myself and everyone I consult with stumped. About 6 weeks ago, I started getting these ads pop-up. First, the screen tints and a dancing android-like icon appears, then a "recommended for you" screen comes on. It's obvious adware of some sort, because one game it recommends, I already have. And, well, it's just obviously not a legit situation.

Anyway, I ran into problems with Sprint's data optimizer, as I suspected would happen someday. My phone lagged to the point of nearly useless til cured that. Strangely, it seemed these "ads" have decreased in frequency since clearing that up. Now it happens 2-3 times a day, where it used to be nearly 10.

Here are some screenshots.

Wow! I have had the exact same problem and I'm on AT&T. (The recommended game was Clash of Clans.) I posted a screenshot to Google+ and no one was able to help me. Add Ons Detector, AVG, etc. didn't help me either. (iteriwarren, I do have a couple of those Free MP3 Download type apps, and I thought that might be the issue, but I didn't uninstall them yet.) It's not THAT big of a deal to me, but it is annoying not knowing what it is... **Edit** After looking into it a little more, I'm pretty sure that it's the MP3 Download apps that are causing the problem. But does anyone know if there is anything actually malicious going on, or is it just annoying?

Update: I looked into it some more, and I think the ads are from mobileCore. When I run Addons Detector it doesn't say there are any apps with push notifications or Call Screen Ads, but the MP3 download app uses mobileCore advertising. If you go to the MobileCore Google+ page or their website, you will see an example of this type of ad, called Stickeez, so I think it's coming from them. From their website: "
mobileCore Stickeez!
Stickeez are friendly, animated images that may pop up in the app and when tapped by a user, suggest other apps to download. You define when the Stickeez appear, and may incorporate your own in-app characters for a truly native ad experience or select a character from our gallery."

 

[AeroSS_87]

I've been free of the problem for 5 days now. Turns out the culprit was this mp3 downloader from idrisyou. Thanks all, for the help. Now if only I could fix how laggy my g3 is ever since, I'd be in Paradise.

 

[Saltycaptain1]

Hello, all. I'm typically pretty good in figuring out little android quirks, but this one has myself and everyone I consult with stumped. About 6 weeks ago, I started getting these ads pop-up. First, the screen tints and a dancing android-like icon appears, then a "recommended for you" screen comes on. It's obvious adware of some sort, because one game it recommends, I already have. And, well, it's just obviously not a legit situation.

Anyway, I ran into problems with Sprint's data optimizer, as I suspected would happen someday. My phone lagged to the point of nearly useless til cured that. Strangely, it seemed these "ads" have decreased in frequency since clearing that up. Now it happens 2-3 times a day, where it used to be nearly 10.

hello everyone. i redid my phone & then re-did each app 1 by 1. it is not just 1 app doing this. i did download an app called "adware" by kerby. a couple of times it has crashed. uninstall & reinstall. i did the scan & this is the only app out of many that has caught all of this google play popups. the app is a red circle with a slash thru it. believe me, this app works. some apps that it detected weren't as bad. alot of the permissions don't tell you everything when you download. oh, by the way, on paid versions of apps i have gotton, this app also caught some small stuff. maybe it could have something to do with it, maybe not. another good thing about this app is you can click on the ! point & it tells all on what is going on & who is pushing ads really bad. i am using the free version & yes, @ the bottom of the screen are ads. you can buy the full version also. take care all. just wanted to give a heads up on this

 

[Saltycaptain1]

hello everyone. i redid my phone & then re-did each app 1 by 1. it is not just 1 app doing this. i did download an app called "adware" by kerby. a couple of times it has crashed. uninstall & reinstall. i did the scan & this is the only app out of many that has caught all of this google play popups. the app is a red circle with a slash thru it. believe me, this app works. some apps that it detected weren't as bad. alot of the permissions don't tell you everything when you download. oh, by the way, on paid versions of apps i have gotton, this app also caught some small stuff. maybe it could have something to do with it, maybe not. another good thing about this app is you can click on the ! point & it tells all on what is going on & who is pushing ads really bad. i am using the free version & yes, @ the bottom of the screen are ads. you can buy the full version also. take care all. just wanted to give a heads up on this

thank you

 

[ricktheruler1991]

I should add that this thing has yet to have been caught by avg, lookout, adaware, malwarebytes, and at least 3 others.

So how did you fix the problem? Did you just Uninstaller the app?

 

[Kokomeau]

I have the LgG3, and every time I go to the Play Store and download an app, I get a pop up that covers half the screen and pops up and down saying "These apps may suit your taste." I don't know where it came from or how to disable it. I've attached a screenshot and would sure appreciate some answers:

 

[Saltycaptain1]

yes, i redid my phone 4 times and then i got this app called "adware". i ran it & it shows what the problem is. i have included 2 snapshots showing what it is on my phone. the apps you see in the snapshot are okay because on the "nfl & slacker", those are bloatware that came on the phone so i have disabled those on my phone & for "sams club", i use that alot but it is not just 1 app on your phone that does it but many apps. also, after buying an app for adfree, you have a 15 min time frame to get your money back. during the 15 minute, run the "adware" app" & it will show you that an ad or ads are still connected. if i still see it, i get my refund back within the 15 min time frame. the "adware" app you want to get looks like a red circle with a slash thru it. i got the pd version. hope this helps

 

[Kokomeau]

What I'm concerned about is this pop-up that comes whenever I download an app ... and if I touch the actual app, it goes away, then it pops up again. Very tricky, because where it says what was installed correctly, 'cancel' and 'open' ... if you try to open the app and time it wrong, you've clicked on the pop up. No one else is getting this???

 

[Salvi]

Hey guys, I came upon this when this happened to me on my Galaxy S5. It was ridiculous, every time I opened the case, or turned the screen on, or even in the middle of doing something (unforgivable) a full screen ad would pop up in google play, complete with video at the top, and also all kinds of notifications with a bell type icon on the top left would show up and refuse to go away unless clicked on (no swiping away). Anyhow, I installed all kinds of malware and adware stuff, Malwarebytes, Ad Detector etc., but what did it in the end was the toolbox that a previous poster talked about. Anti Adware was great, but it failed to fix this (its great for other things, tells you everything about an app). But finally, the toolbox with the ad-on did the trick, my phone is back to the way it was without having to reset or anything, perfection!