Help Possible Spyware/Virus on Thunderbolt

[leist22]

I believe my HTC Thunderbolt may have spyware or some sort of virus. My applications (Pandora, Angry Birds..etc) have begun to show advertisements at the top and bottom while I'm in the app. Most of these ads are relevant to my location as well. I also found some advertisement pictures in my photo gallery that I did not put there.

What is the best way to clear my phone of this virus. I've downloaded a few free apps that have not worked, and I'm reluctant to make a transaction on the market due to my phone having a virus. Would resetting my phone work? Any tips and advice would be appreciated.

 

[WormDoes]

You don't have a virus or spyware. There are currently no virus' or spyware on any version of Linux, which Android is based on.

Most apps, if not paid apps, have ads in them. That's the upside of supporting the developer and buying his/her app, no more adds.

As far as them being location relevant it's because of the Google location services and GPS.

Don't worry about this, it's not a big deal. If you are really concerned and worried download Lookout Mobile Security and run a scan

 

[Joewoowoo]

I believe my HTC Thunderbolt may have spyware or some sort of virus. My applications (Pandora, Angry Birds..etc) have begun to show advertisements at the top and bottom while I'm in the app. Most of these ads are relevant to my location as well. I also found some advertisement pictures in my photo gallery that I did not put there.

What is the best way to clear my phone of this virus. I've downloaded a few free apps that have not worked, and I'm reluctant to make a transaction on the market due to my phone having a virus. Would resetting my phone work? Any tips and advice would be appreciated.

I would download lookout from the market and let it scan all your apps. It should find everything that may be spyware. If it finds nothing and you still believe your phone may be infected do a hard reset, it will bring your phone back to out of the box condition. Make sure you back up your contracts with google and make a list of all the apps to want to download again.do not reload apps from a back up or you may be reinstalling your bug. You will lose Al data within All apps. Hope this helps.

 

[k4df4l]

I had the same thing happen with the spam galleries and it was words with friends that was dropping those picture galleries on my phone ....uninstalled that POS and the problem went away

 

[Frisco]

You don't have a virus or spyware. There are currently no virus' or spyware on any version of Linux, which Android is based on.

Most apps, if not paid apps, have ads in them. That's the upside of supporting the developer and buying his/her app, no more adds.

As far as them being location relevant it's because of the Google location services and GPS.

Don't worry about this, it's not a big deal. If you are really concerned and worried download Lookout Mobile Security and run a scan

+1 .. more info on the virus vs linux issue:

Can A Linux OS Get Infected By Viruses,

 

[SolidOrange]

if you are rooted, you can get rid of the ads with this app. previous posters are right in that you do not have a virus, but the ads are annoying none the less.

AdFree - Android Market

 

[BigRedGonzo]

Although the virus comments made above are correct, recently (past couple of months) I read an article (sorry couldn't locate it) about Google pulling some apps because they were designed to do more than the description indicated. As I understand it, they were designed to send personal information back to whomever. Of course, this isn't a virus or traditional malware and would be difficult for a virus scan to pick up, unless the software itself was marked in the virus database. Lookout has a privacy advisor function in the paid version that will look for this type of thing (I think.)

Just my $0.02 worth,
BigRedGonzo

 

[tbolt72]

Download a app called Air Push Detector. And uninstall the apps that show up. Works great.

 

[Yeahha]

Although the virus comments made above are correct, recently (past couple of months) I read an article (sorry couldn't locate it) about Google pulling some apps because they were designed to do more than the description indicated. As I understand it, they were designed to send personal information back to whomever. Of course, this isn't a virus or traditional malware and would be difficult for a virus scan to pick up, unless the software itself was marked in the virus database. Lookout has a privacy advisor function in the paid version that will look for this type of thing (I think.)

Just my $0.02 worth,
BigRedGonzo

The apps that are pulled are then added to the moble security's database and marked as malware. Lookout has actually informed google of apps doing just what you described before. Of course I am an advocate for not needing a antivirus on any android device as IMO the best antivirus is a well educated consumer

 

[BigRedGonzo]

The apps that are pulled are then added to the moble security's database and marked as malware. Lookout has actually informed google of apps doing just what you described before. Of course I am an advocate for not needing a antivirus on any android device as IMO the best antivirus is a well educated consumer

I don't necessarily care about the av on an Android device, but the locate phone and scream features of lookout work really well. My daughter actually has the Thunderbolt, I have a Bionic. Sometimes she takes off with her friends and although I try not to spy on her, I use the locate feature to make sure they go where they say sometimes. My wife, who has a Droid 3, has a tendency to misplace her phone and the scream feature is very handy. All of these functions can be done from either of our phones.

BigRedGonzo

 

[Yeahha]

I don't necessarily care about the av on an Android device, but the locate phone and scream features of lookout work really well. My daughter actually has the Thunderbolt, I have a Bionic. Sometimes she takes off with her friends and although I try not to spy on her, I use the locate feature to make sure they go where they say sometimes. My wife, who has a Droid 3, has a tendency to misplace her phone and the scream feature is very handy. All of these functions can be done from either of our phones.

BigRedGonzo

I am aware of those features but I don't have a need for them, my oldest child is 4 and doesn't have a phone to lose (nor does my 2 year old) and I don't pay for my wife's phone, nor do I know or care where she is so that doesn't matter. The person who uses the other phone on my plan may use lookout but I have no need to track her and if she loses the phone then I'm just out a poorly running D2G so I don't really care

 

[LoBatt]

Download a app called Air Push Detector. And uninstall the apps that show up. Works great.

Yep, I started getting the notification bar spam and found out about the Air Push "feature" that allows apps to spam you in the notification bar. +1 on Air Push Detector.