Windy Weather app: Malware?

[RhP]

Hey,

I have the Galaxy S2. I was searching through Setting -> Applications in order to delete apps I no longer use, and I discovered two live wallpapers: Ocean Weather and Windy Weather that I'm unable to delete.

I don't recall downloading them (although I may have done), but either way the fact that I can't get rid of them suggests to me that they might be malware. My two questions are

1. Does anyone know about these apps. Are they harmful?

2. How the hell do I get rid of them?!

Thanks for your anticipated help

 

[Hadron]

Hi RhP, and welcome to AF

Is it possible these came pre-installed on the phone? If they have been installed to system (as most pre-installed stuff is) you won't be able to remove them without rooting.

 

[limyengchuan]

Yes, these 2 app appears out of the blue today on my Samsung note.

They are not visible on applications page

but can be located by going into settings, applications (from settings), While locating them there, they look ominously like malware as all the tabs are darkened.


I only discovered their existence after I downloaded "Apps Share", and they were in the list of applications that can be shared.

They look really suspicious. Can someone help?

 

[jefboyardee]

Make sure they’re unchecked in Settings > Location and security settings > Select device administrators. I don’t know from wallpapers, but other stuff hangs up in there.

 

[Hadron]

If a wallpaper has installed as a device administrator that would make me suspicious!

Apart from that I don't know how you can block uninstallation of an installed app, esp on an unrooted phone.

A web search dug up several references to "secret" wallpapers on several galaxy devices, but not in what way they were secret. Windy Weather was mentioned in one though. Don't know if this is relevant.

 

[jefboyardee]

If a wallpaper has installed as a device administrator that would make me suspicious!

Oops.

 

[Andima]

First install lookout mobile security free app and scan your phone. Sometimes you may added that app to the device admin. If so first remove it from admin ( settings > security > device admin)

 

[Hadron]

Oops.

No need to oops - a live wallpaper is an apk, so I don't think it's impossible, but it would be very wrong if it were an administrator.

 

[Roadie1015]

Yeah they are just live wallpapers, windy weather came preinstalled on my s3. I think it's kind of cool actually, it will change depending on the weather outside and also night/day. I just question it's battery and data usage.

If it's preinstalled you can't get rid of it without root, can you not disable apps on the s2 like you can on the s3?

 

[Destravlr]

So, after 8 years on this forum, no one has actually answered the question.

Looking at the 2012 posts, I still don't see an answer for uninstalling Windy.

I'm most concerned that it downloaded an unwanted search engine that took over Chrome.
I followed a Youtube recommendation and seem to have overcome the unwanted search engine. Still think Windy is not what I want on my machine.

 

[psionandy]

So, after 8 years on this forum, no one has actually answered the question.

(apart from the person who did in 2012)

 

[Moataz]

I found this post on :
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone
You will get the right answer - I followed the steps as mentioned there and successfully uninstalled many apps which came pre- installed in the phone - but first it must be rooted.
Hope that help who still want to do this