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Help Virus?

D

DWFII

Well-Known Member
I am new to cell phones, android and these forums, so please excuse any mis-steps.

I have a Samsung Galaxy SII 4G running Android 4.1.2

Today I received a text from my son-in-law (or it seemed to come from him).

It said simply:

message size: "703KB Expires 11:32 PM July 12" and then there is a button that says "Download."

I also received a similar message from an unknown phone number. The only difference was the message size and time of expiration (one minute later, one day later).

Naturally, I did not respond or hit the download button...I suspect this is bogus and either a virus or a scam.

Can someone please give me some insight, feedback or advice in this regard?
 
Hi

Yes, probably/possibly malicious or a scam. I suggest 3 things:

Go into your settings, security and check that "unknown sources" is disabled (in case you lose presence of mind and click on "download" next time)

Delete the text/mms

Suggest that your son-in-law runs an anti malware app on his device. "Malwarebytes" from Playstore would be my choice.

This may, or may not be as sinister as we imagine, but its not worth risking!
 
Thank you.

I use malwarebytes on my computer.

Addendum: he said he sent me a photo last night (just had a baby) but why would it come in the format I mentioned above instead of a photo?

And why would I get almost the same message from another number I don't recognize.

PS. He sent me the photo this morning and it came in as a photo.
 
It could have been a software glitch of some sort, either in your phone or your network. I remember in the very early days of MMS (i.e. then 2G data was all there was) they sometimes come as a message with a link to download. But if there was a problem with your phone (e.g. the APNs being wrong) I'd not expect it to spontaneously fix itself, so maybe it was the network's MMS server that was playing up.

But my first thought when I read your post, before I got further down the thread, was that it sounded like an MMS, so it clearly rang a bell from somewhere (the "expires in a week" bit and the size of the file sounded like MMS to me).
 
What does MMS mean?

It sounds like a protocol in your first paragraph and some sort of malware in your second PP.
 
OK...what's an APN setting and how do I correct them?

Simple explanations, please...

(I read the wiki entries on SMS, MMS and APN. While I understand the words and some of the concepts, it's not coming together...not creating a mental image... for me.)
 
The Reader's Digest condensed version ... ;)

And SMS will deliver text using the voice component of your cellular network, Since it has limited bandwidth, only a short burst of ansi characters can be transmitted. If you include a larger chunk of data such as a picture or an audio file it will use the data portion of your network connections to transmit the file and text, so if you have incorrect data settings for MMS messages they can be delivered. MMS transmission requires cellular data (not WiFi data) to be active to deliver the message to your app. If it's not active but you have data through WiFi it will provide a link that you may or may not be able to download. I've never really had any success with retrieving failed MMS messages this way.

APN (access point name) is how your phone identifies which data connection to use with your specific cellular network. If you are using a network reseller like Cricket or Straight Talk, even though they may be using Sprint's or AT&T's networks, the APN settings will be different. Sometimes a phone will try to use the major carrier's APN settings and it needs to be changed, either by you or your provider. If you let us know who you are using for cellular service, we can look those setting up for you.
 
SavageRobot said:
What network are you on? If you Google "(network name) APN settings" will come up what they should be set too.
Click to expand...

"should" is right. We've recently seen a lot of APN settings that supposedly work but don't, or, multiple settings from the same carrier with no real way to tell which one you should use. A quick call to the carrier clears that up. Some even have online forms to get that information.
 
lunatic59 said:
"should" is right. We've recently seen a lot of APN settings that supposedly work but don't, or, multiple settings from the same carrier with no real way to tell which one you should use. A quick call to the carrier clears that up. Some even have online forms to get that information.
Click to expand...

True, I answered a question earlier with regarding APN for AT&T and saw tablets and phones have different APN settings, learn something new.
 
I'm not sure if the carriers are trying to limit access or somehow only allow access to grandfathered devices to old APNs, but it is getting confusinger. ;)
 
Well, after many years of resisting cell phones (rots the brain :p ), my daughter gave me an old Samsung Galaxy SII 4G. It was locked to Virgin Mobile. So that's the service I have I have.

Again, I need to emphasize that this is the first time this has happened. Ordinarily photos come in with text messages just fine.

I still haven't deleted the messages (just two) or tried to download whatever is in them. But I did run a Malwarebytes full scan and it found no problems.

I suspect the problem is a one-off and may never be repeated but if there is some setting that will insure against this happening again, I'd like to know it.

PS...where/how do you correct or revise APN settings?
 
Virgin UK, US, somewhere else?
I wouldn't say it sounds malicious, just sounds like it's failing to download the message either due to poor signal or incorrect APN or something.
 
Check
Settings>Data>Mobile Networks>APN
have a look if your Virgin settings match this;

Virgin Mobile APN settings
Name: Virgin Mobile
APN: Sprint
Proxy: <Not Set>
Port: <Not Set>
Username: <Not Set>
Password: <Not Set>
Server: <Not Set>
MMSC: http://mmsc.vmobl.com:8080/mms?
MMS proxy: 205.239.233.136
MMS port: 81
MCC: 310
MNC: <Not Set>
Authentication type: <Not Set>
APN type: default,supl,mms
APN Protocol: iPv4
Bearer: <Not Set>

Source:https://www.androidpit.com/us-apn-settings

Just also make sure your "preffered Network Type" is 3/4G
 
^ Don't have (or can't find) that screen. I get into settings and "Data" is nowhere to be found.
 
You'll find it under settings>wireless & mobile networks>cellular networks>access point names

It's there, but depending on the version of Android and TouchWiz you have it could be a little different on your screen.
 
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