Push Advertising - Spam - has appeared in my Notification Bar

Forums › Android › Push Advertising - Spam - has appeared in my Notification Bar

Dingbatt

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#87322 25-Jul-2011 21:48

Random advertising for Gameloft games has begun appearing on my Notification Bar recently. I have one Gameloft App - Asphalt5. It has been on my phone for at least 6 months and the push advertising has only started in the last few weeks.
The notification states I can opt out at xapush.com. Looking at the site it expects me to download an 'Opt out App ' or provide my phone's IMEI. I'm not really keen on either option.
A web search brings up some threads about 'Airpush'.
Has anyone else struck this?
Will uninstalling the game remove the spam? I have my doubts and it is a paid for app that I enjoy.
Are there any ways to block it?

Phone is a Desire HD running stock 2.50.405.2

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

freitasm

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#497772 25-Jul-2011 21:50

Is this an official app or download from a dodgy source?

johnr

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#497778 25-Jul-2011 21:58

Remove the App

Dingbatt

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#497789 25-Jul-2011 22:26

johnr: Remove the App

Yes but which App?
I thought it would be the game.
After my initial post I continued searching and found an App on the android market called ' Airpush Detector' which identifies but doesn't remove the offending app. It wasn't the game itself but an SPL Meter App that was recently updated. The developer states in the update changelog that he has done away with banner ads and gone with airpush. Serves me right for not checking before allowing the update. However serves him right too, because I have uninstalled his app.

The Airpush opt out app is also in the market.

Now it is a waiting game to see if the spamming has gone.

I hope by raising this it stops others falling into the same trap

Edit: And sorry Mauricio, I don't do ' dodgy' downloads. All the apps are from the Android Market, although that in itself is a little bit of a wild frontier it would appear.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

lokhor

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#498195 26-Jul-2011 19:25

Wow, I read about Air push a while back and thought it would be disgusting if developers started using it.

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wonderferret

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#499320 29-Jul-2011 11:17

Try this searching the market for airpush detector.

It will tell which apps are using airpush.

freitasm

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#499324 29-Jul-2011 11:19

He's already using AirPush Detector.

wonderferret

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#499330 29-Jul-2011 11:22

Ooops I missed that bit. :-(

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Dingbatt

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#499960 31-Jul-2011 10:25

Almost a week since uninstalling the offending app and no push marketing has appeared on my notification bar. I am more careful with updates to installed apps now.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

turnin

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#500758 2-Aug-2011 12:42

This is bad news, I don't like the idea of airpush for a start but as a developer it opens up a huge door.

michaelmurfy

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#500772 2-Aug-2011 13:44

I hate advertising.
If there is a subscribe function to remove ads, I subscribe.
If there is a way to buy the product I buy.
If there is another way to get rid of the ads, I do that, assuming I can't buy / subscribe.
If I can't do all of the above, I uninstall.

That's why I am a subscriber on Geekzone, I don't want to rip Mauricio off by just blocking ads, and don't mind spending the money for his Burger King and Beer every now and then.

But, it will piss me off if somebody did this with a app I used.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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turnin

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#509125 19-Aug-2011 17:52

Intrusive ads are no ones friend, there are some out there that dont quite get that yet.
It seems the web web ideas and app ideas get so smothered in ads that don't appeal.
I have trouble believing that the ad companies dont target the ads better. I buy quite specific stuff off the net yet never gets ads for the topics im interested in.

freitasm

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#509133 19-Aug-2011 17:58

Ads can be very specific and some people complain about it. I don't mind.

Before going to Vegas for the HP Discover conference earlier this year I visited The Venetian web site to check how to get parcels held for me before my arrival, and for the three days after that I got ads for other casinos, hotels and restaurants in Vegas.

They do a good job of targeting, but it depends on the advertisers wanting to spend the extra cash needed to pay for the feature.