Galaxy 8 unwanted adv received randomly during normal use. Is there any fix?

Forums › Android › Galaxy 8 unwanted adv received randomly during normal use. Is there any fix?

Sportflight

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#242361 24-Oct-2018 14:06

Dear Community,
Since I bought this mobile, 1 year ago, I had this problem receiving unwanted adv about games or other topics. I tried many solutions but nothing is actually working. Maybe these adv are sent directly by Samsung as they have always same layout and style, and maybe there is no solution other than install a new ad-free firmware.

Before to proceed with any suggestion please have a look on the attached actual screenshot of some of the adv I receive.

Thank you very much.

Screenshots:

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2113231 24-Oct-2018 14:09

Go through all your apps and uninstall anything you don't use - including "device cleaners" or "antivirus" bollocks.

mrgsm021

1471 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2113232 24-Oct-2018 14:12

Try doing the following:

Go to settings -> Google -> Under services go to Ads ->turn off "Opt out of Ads Personalisation"

MadEngineer

4291 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2113234 24-Oct-2018 14:24

Classic android. :D

My sons tablet did this once. Was caused by an innocently named so called system service iirc, came pre-installed. AVG free removed it.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

gehenna

8510 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2113237 24-Oct-2018 14:28

Have you got many free android apps? Lots of them are adware and malware vectors.

Sportflight

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2113243 24-Oct-2018 15:04

Thank you guys I really appreciate your prompt feedback!

@ chevrolux

Thank your reply, I do not have any antivirus or device cleaner installed as I always use the device optimization which is available in the mobile settings.

@ mrgsm021

Thank you, I found the option "Opt out of ADS personalisation" already off.

Yes, unfortunately I have many apps installed, so I should remove everything? On your knowledge is there any trusted app which can intercept the malware or identify the problem so that I can uninstall only the app that create the problem?

Thank you.

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#2113246 24-Oct-2018 15:11

Post a list of your installed 3rd party apps, and we might be able to help identify the culprit.

I know a couple that do this.

Offtopic: 42 meters per second is pretty quick, fast enough to have your license suspended.

dan

1134 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2113247 24-Oct-2018 15:15

i have a note 8, never once seen a ad like that.

try clicking the app switcher icon on the left of the home button when it pops up and see if its a actual, the name of the app should be in the title bar in the app switcher

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

KrazyKid

1238 posts

Uber Geek

#2113255 24-Oct-2018 15:33

I was getting annoying ads from ES explorer (a file manager) on my phone once. Took me ages to work out that this was the app causing the crap.
Once deleted problem was solved.

I too would expect it to be an app.

I'd start by removing any apps you no longer use.
Free apps are probably more likely to be the cause.

Posting some screen shots for the community to review may also suit you since people have kindly offered to help.

An extreme approach would be to remove all apps, and then add them back at say 1-3 a day - this would help you narrow down the cause.

MadEngineer

4291 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2113259 24-Oct-2018 15:52

Honestly, just use avg.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

tripp

3848 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2113260 24-Oct-2018 15:56

Yes, I have also seen this before (on a friends phone, never had it on mine). It will be a random app doing it which would have the access right of something like "Display over other apps" or "draw over other apps"

This tends to be found in the "Special app access" area.

Go to the Device Settings
Tap "Apps"
On the top right, tap the gear icon
Under Advanced, chose "Draw over other apps"
Find <app> in the list and tap it
Toggle "Permit drawing over other apps" to ON.

Look in that setting and display anything that looks dodgy, i.e. games, tune up apps, cleaners etc.

This should give you a good idea what might be doing it anyway. Otherwise you might need to start removing apps 1 by 1

Sportflight

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2113288 24-Oct-2018 16:55

Thanks everyone for the time you found to help me with this little but annoying problem!

I have installed AVG Free that could not find anything wrong on my phone.

Then I tried the advice of dan which actually fixed the problem!!! (hopefully).

Just 5 minutes ago, I received another random adv and instead to cancel it, as usual, I kept the adv on the screen and I tapped on the left icon at the bottom (the app switcher) and I could see 3 or 4 processes running at that moment. There was also the adv and on the title bar I could read the name of the app which send these adv's!!! Awesome trick dan and thank you very much for your fix!

The application is Bestie! (Screenshot below)

It was a "beauty" selfie installed by my partner which I have now uninstalled immediately.

If someone wants to install it... think about it!

May you guys have a great day!

ShaunCB

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#2113302 24-Oct-2018 17:12

I had the same issue, in my case it was a perfectly innocent mobile game running in the background and causing the pop-up adds. To see if this is the case for you when an add pops up close it, open play store, go to my apps and games, then on the installed tab sort by last used and the app causing the adds should appear at the top.

dan

1134 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2113305 24-Oct-2018 17:15

Sportflight:

Thanks everyone for the time you found to help me with this little but annoying problem!

I have installed AVG Free that could not find anything wrong on my phone.

Then I tried the advice of dan which actually fixed the problem!!! (hopefully).

Just 5 minutes ago, I received another random adv and instead to cancel it, as usual, I kept the adv on the screen and I tapped on the left icon at the bottom (the app switcher) and I could see 3 or 4 processes running at that moment. There was also the adv and on the title bar I could read the name of the app which send these adv's!!! Awesome trick dan and thank you very much for your fix!

The application is Bestie! (Screenshot below)

It was a "beauty" selfie installed by my partner which I have now uninstalled immediately.

If someone wants to install it... think about it!

May you guys have a great day!

no worries.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79294 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2113506 24-Oct-2018 22:09

Parents-in-law have a smartphone each now. Every day there are new pop-ups saying "the phone is full, only 2% available"... I looked and sure enough one of them is using 20GB out of 128GB. Hunt for apps, find a few but get the "I never installed these". Sure...

On their Windows laptop everything is locked down and they're standard users. Not so much on smartphones.