• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Help Infected With ghost Trojan?

YoshiMoshy

Newbie
Jun 14, 2016
14
3
Yesterday i realized something was installing random apps and it KEEPS restarting my phone when i try to do anything on it. I tried to install Stubborn Trojan Killer but when it finishes installing it restarts my phone so it doesn't properly install .I cannot connect via usb either. Any ideas how i can delete those apps and the virus?I don't know if my phone is rooted or not and the apps are acting like they are system apps.
 
Stubborn Trojan Killer is a Cheetah Mobile product so maybe it's a good thing you weren't able to install it. Cheetah Mobile apps tend to have privacy issues. Maybe try using Malwarebytes instead, it has a better track record:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.malwarebytes.antimalware&hl=en
But note that installing any anti-malware/antivirus utility as a regular user won't help you in this case, as it will need root level permissions to clean out something like a system-level infected app.

Also, if your problem is a matter where some exploit has installed itself as a system app, a Factory Reset won't help. A Factory Reset wipes the user partition, where your data is stored, but it doesn't affect the protected system partitions. All you will be doing is deleting your personal data but the infected operating system will still remain that way.

In order to solve a problem like a compromised system app, you need to flash your phone with its factory original ROM. Can't find much online about the Stonex Evo model so hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in.
 
Upvote 0
Can you post the exact model number of the device and what country you are using it in? I can't find a lot of information on the device. It seems to be an Italian device but based on your response, it doesn't seem you are from Italy.

Hoping to find a firmware download for your model because if the malware made it's way to the system, the only way you will get rid of it is to reflash the system. As you've already discovered, a factory reset only wipes user data.

Also, just for information, I would assume that this device is having this issue because it is running such an old version of Android. There were several vulnerabilities discovered on Android: Heartbleed, Stage Fright, Master Key, etc that have subsequently been patched. Google now releases monthly security updates for Nexus devices but unfortunately with other devices you are at the mercy of the manufacturer as to when/if they ever release updates.

How old is this device anyway? Just curious if you've had it for a couple years with no updates or if it's a new device that comes with an old, vulnerable version of Android.
 
Upvote 0
Can you post the exact model number of the device and what country you are using it in? I can't find a lot of information on the device. It seems to be an Italian device but based on your response, it doesn't seem you are from Italy.

Hoping to find a firmware download for your model because if the malware made it's way to the system, the only way you will get rid of it is to reflash the system. As you've already discovered, a factory reset only wipes user data.

Also, just for information, I would assume that this device is having this issue because it is running such an old version of Android. There were several vulnerabilities discovered on Android: Heartbleed, Stage Fright, Master Key, etc that have subsequently been patched. Google now releases monthly security updates for Nexus devices but unfortunately with other devices you are at the mercy of the manufacturer as to when/if they ever release updates.

How old is this device anyway? Just curious if you've had it for a couple years with no updates or if it's a new device that comes with an old, vulnerable version of Android.
So im in romania right now. and how my mom works in italy she bought this phone i guess. So the exact model number is STX EVO.I have the phone for like 7 months
 
Upvote 0
I actually did it. Have a good day all of you :)
hi, dunno if it's ok to resume this but i'm in the exact same situation as you were, so i hope you can share your solution with me, since this thread is the only resource i could find on the entire web about this phone.
So my phone is infected with auto-installing apps, ads and so on. Uninstalling them wont work. I'm not sure about doing a factory reset, cause i found some comment about the keyboard disappearing after that. Also i found a rom on needrom, but it is for the mtk6592 version, and i have the mtk6591.
Thank you in advance
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones