Bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE last night and have already got a virus

Well someones in a helpful mood today....

OP- Try installing a trusted anti virus app from the play store and see if it detects anything. Have you tried rebooting the phone? Maybe a factory reset would work.

It's highly unlikely that you'd get a virus just by using the chrome app. Are there any other apps on your phone that you don't recognise?

Thanks for your reply.

I've been researching trusted anti virus apps for the last hour, but there are so many options and also lots of articles saying that anti virus apps are a waste of time!

There are loads of apps on the phone that I don't recognise, but that's because the phone came with loads of apps pre-installed. I bought it from a legitimate retailer in a mall, so it hasn't been tampered with by anyone else.

Reboot/factory reset may be my only option if I can't figure out what to do. I'll be gutted though because I've spent sooo long making new folders for images, saving new contacts and birthdays etc.

I honestly can't believe how upset I am by this, haha! It's definitely taken off the initial sheen of "Brand new phone!" To now know that I have to be aware and vigilant of possible viruses etc is a tad annoying.

wavejockglw · 19-01-2014, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGS4SnakeRulez

I've spent sooo long making new folders for images, saving new contacts and birthdays etc.

Calendar, contacts and pictures can be stored on-line so you don't have to input them again. If you have signed up for a Google account your S Planner will probably have all your details saved in the cloud. It's easy to do the same for photos and other files with Dropbox, Amazon Cloud storage, Google Drive or SkyDrive (or whatever they have renamed it as).

MGS4SnakeRulez · 19-01-2014, 15:39

Don't install any app from anywhere but the play store. Install AVG and if (big if) there's a virus it will find it. I used android phones for years and never once had a virus.

mred2000 · 19-01-2014, 15:41

Quote:

Don't install any app from anywhere but the play store. Install AVG and if (big if) there's a virus it will find it. I used android phones for years and never once had a virus.

Ditto that only I was going to suggest Avast

This does seem very unusual, though. As above, I've used Android since 2009 and never encountered a virus or malware. Doesn't mean they don't exist, of course...

omnidirectional · 19-01-2014, 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGS4SnakeRulez

Don't install any app from anywhere but the play store. Install AVG and if (big if) there's a virus it will find it. I used android phones for years and never once had a virus.

Same here. It's surprising to hear of someone picking up a virus so soon, just from installing reputable apps from the Play store and visiting the Daily Mail website. Hopefully AVG will give the all clear as I think it's highly unlikely to be a virus from the store or the Mail's website.

victor mel · 19-01-2014, 15:44

Sounds more like intrusive ads rather than a virus.

jabbamk1 · 19-01-2014, 15:51

Quote:

Thanks for your reply.

I've been researching trusted anti virus apps for the last hour, but there are so many options and also lots of articles saying that anti virus apps are a waste of time!

There are loads of apps on the phone that I don't recognise, but that's because the phone came with loads of apps pre-installed. I bought it from a legitimate retailer in a mall, so it hasn't been tampered with by anyone else.

Reboot/factory reset may be my only option if I can't figure out what to do. I'll be gutted though because I've spent sooo long making new folders for images, saving new contacts and birthdays etc.

I honestly can't believe how upset I am by this, haha! It's definitely taken off the initial sheen of "Brand new phone!" To now know that I have to be aware and vigilant of possible viruses etc is a tad annoying.

Does it happen every time you open the internet. Have you tried going into the task manager and closing the apps/rebooting the phone before trying to re open the internet browser?

Like others have said, it's highly unlikely to be a virus but just download an anti virus app to make sure.

Btw you shouldn't need to be aware of viruses on android tbh, it's highly unlikely to get viruses.

And like others said as well, if you set up a google account or samsung account then most stuff should be backed up there.

Quote:

Sounds more like intrusive ads rather than a virus.

Could be this. Have you tried pressing the back button or menu button?

alan1302 · 19-01-2014, 15:51

Quote:

Sounds more like intrusive ads rather than a virus.

Just what I was thinking - just sounds like a pop up ad

Stiggles · 19-01-2014, 15:53

Quote:

Sounds more like intrusive ads rather than a virus.

Indeed. It's not a virus. Same would have happened on the iphone. Just check to see if the pop up blocker is on.

chuck_wippl · 19-01-2014, 15:54

Thanks for everyone's continued replies!

Yes, I only used the Play Store to download my apps, and as far as I can tell, I only downloaded legit "official" apps that I recognised from what I used to have on my iPhone.

Thanks wavejockglw for the tip on the online storage thing. I will make sure all of that is on there as I have done everything though my Google account, and I signed up for a Samsung Account too as I wanted to test the "Find my Phone" function.

Will definitely have a look at AVG and Avast now. It's good to hear that my case sounds quite unusual and they are Android users who, like me with my old iPhone, have never encountered a virus or anything. God only knows what I've done to get this. I swear I've been really careful and like I say, have only downloaded apps I know and only done so through the Play store.

chuck_wippl · 19-01-2014, 15:56

Quote:

Could be this. Have you tried pressing the back button or menu button?

Everything around he box is dulled out so I can't click on anything. I'm going to try and upload a couple of screen shots so you can all see what I'm dealing with.

jabbamk1 · 19-01-2014, 16:02

Quote:

Everything around he box is dulled out so I can't click on anything. I'm going to try and upload a couple of screen shots so you can all see what I'm dealing with.

Sorry, i meant the physical back button or menu button found at the bottom of the phone.

http://cdn.androidbeat.com/wp-conten...5/menu-900.jpg

chuck_wippl · 19-01-2014, 16:25

^^ Oh right. Yep, just tried that and the box will go away for 2 seconds, then re-appear again. I've done it about 3 or 4 times now, and I've even got a new message to add to the collection

" The page at ads.blueads.com says:

Mobogenie - Play NOW! "

Someone mentioned a pop-up blocker. Is there one built into the phone? If so, where can I find it? Or if it's an App, what's it called?

Stiggles · 19-01-2014, 16:34

Quote:

^^ Oh right. Yep, just tried that and the box will go away for 2 seconds, then re-appear again. I've done it about 3 or 4 times now, and I've even got a new message to add to the collection

" The page at ads.blueads.com says:

Mobogenie - Play NOW! "

Someone mentioned a pop-up blocker. Is there one built into the phone? If so, where can I find it? Or if it's an App, what's it called?

What site is this that does it?

jabbamk1 · 19-01-2014, 16:34

Quote:

^^ Oh right. Yep, just tried that and the box will go away for 2 seconds, then re-appear again. I've done it about 3 or 4 times now, and I've even got a new message to add to the collection

" The page at ads.blueads.com says:

Mobogenie - Play NOW! "

Someone mentioned a pop-up blocker. Is there one built into the phone? If so, where can I find it? Or if it's an App, what's it called?

That's really really weird. That really should not happen at all. Do you know if you got that before you installed any apps? It could be that the phone came like that tbh. I know you said you got it from a reliable seller but i've honestly never seen that happen.

To block pop ups-
1. Open the Browser
2. Open "Advanced" Menu
* Note that on Chrome, you need to go to "Content Setting"
3. Mark "Block Pop-ups" button (For Android Default browser, find it under "Page Content" section

Stiggles · 19-01-2014, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiggles

That's really really weird. That really should not happen at all. Do you know if you got that before you installed any apps? It could be that the phone came like that tbh. I know you said you got it from a reliable seller but i've honestly never seen that happen.

To block pop ups-
1. Open the Browser
2. Open "Advanced" Menu
* Note that on Chrome, you need to go to "Content Setting"
3. Mark "Block Pop-ups" button (For Android Default browser, find it under "Page Content" section

I have. It's simply pop ups on a website. This site does it sometimes just with full page bloody ads.

jabbamk1 · 19-01-2014, 16:42

Quote:

I have. It's simply pop ups on a website. This site does it sometimes just with full page bloody ads.

Yes but the OP is seeing ad after ad after ad non stop. He can't actually use the browser at all because there are just ads popping up.

That is far from normal.

Stiggles · 19-01-2014, 16:46

Quote:

Yes but the OP is seeing ad after ad after ad non stop. He can't actually use the browser at all because there are just ads popping up.

That is far from normal.

It happens on many sites. Its just ads targeted to mobile devices. It happens on iOS as well.

They haven't said if they went back to the same page they went to in the first place after restarting chrome. After seeing it happens with the stock browser as well, im inclined to think they are going back to the same page.

Mark in Essex · 19-01-2014, 16:50

Could it be an app with spam popups?

There are detectors on the Play Store for free:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...tgo.addetector

AlecR · 19-01-2014, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiggles

Sounds more like intrusive ads rather than a virus.

This.

I get this quite often too, is there actually a solution when using Chrome? I'm rooted if that helps...

chuck_wippl · 19-01-2014, 18:27

Quote:

What site is this that does it?

dailymail.co.uk, 9gag.com, digitalspy.co.uk

Haven't tried any more yet as they're pretty different to each other and this whole time I've been trawling through other forums and stuff to try and find a solution to my problem.

Quote:

That's really really weird. That really should not happen at all. Do you know if you got that before you installed any apps? It could be that the phone came like that tbh. I know you said you got it from a reliable seller but i've honestly never seen that happen.

To block pop ups-
1. Open the Browser
2. Open "Advanced" Menu
* Note that on Chrome, you need to go to "Content Setting"
3. Mark "Block Pop-ups" button (For Android Default browser, find it under "Page Content" section

Thanks for these instructions. Just had a look an that option is already selected. Grrr! Getting frustrated now, haha!

And P.S. everyone, I downloaded both AVG and Avast, scanned with both apps, and I certainly do not have a virus. It's something else. Just don't know what. Pop Up Ads seems the most likely answer, but why is it not responding to the fact that I've got the blocker on?

Is it worth going into the Samsung shop tomorrow? Maybe they'll have a "Samsung Genius" who can tinker around it and fix it for me.

jabbamk1 · 19-01-2014, 18:29

Quote: