Help Weird virus, please help!

CrimsonToker · May 31, 2016

Every time I unlock/wake up the screen, the phone is directed to a random app in the play store. I've literally had this phone for three days. the only thing I've done with it is root with kingo, which I have now uninstalled. that didn't stop the issue like I had hoped. I have lookout premium, but it doesn't detect any malicious apps. Should I just factory reset?

mikedt · May 31, 2016

Kingo, "free" Chinese rooting app, probably put some adware in system. That's how it's monetized, by giving you root but you end-up with ads. Iroot, also "free" Chinese, has been known to have ads as well.

You'll have to flash the phone with the original Samsung S4 firmware or a custom ROM.

An S4 can be rooted quite easily anyway without using any of these Chinese "instant root" adware/spyware tools.

Plenty of good info here... :thumbsupdroid:

http://androidforums.com/forums/root-samsung-galaxy-s4.3110/

dontpanicbobby · May 31, 2016

Try wiping your phones cache partition 1st. Ironass made these easy steps to follow:

Step #1 Turn your phone OFF.

Step #2 Boot into Recovery Mode:- Press and hold, simultaneously, the Volume UP + Power + Home buttons until you see some small, blue, writing appear in the top left hand corner of the screen and release immediately.

Step #3 You will then see the small, stock, Recovery menu. Using the Volume UP and DOWN buttons, navigate to the menu item, "wipe cache", or, "wipe cache partition", depending on your model.

Step #4 Once the option is highlighted you can use the Power key to enact the wipe and reboot your phone.

If that doesn't help do waht mikedt says.

CrimsonToker · May 31, 2016

It won't load recovery mode for some reason. I used flashify to flash the most recent twrp I could find for this phone, and afterwards (instead of going into recovery) it loaded into a screen that said "could not load normal boot; downloading now"

I am guessing my recovery is now screwed. so it looks like flashing unrooted firmware is needed... That would require Odin and a computer, I assume?

Jfalls63 · May 31, 2016

What model S4 do you have?

CrimsonToker · May 31, 2016

Sgh-1337 unlocked and on Metro pc's.

Jfalls63 · May 31, 2016

The i337 is AT&T version and has a locked bootloader. No way to install a custom recovery. Do you know what Android version you were on, 4.4.2 or 5.0?

CrimsonToker · May 31, 2016

4.4.4

that explains it. I didn't realize the bootloader was locked. So it can't be unlocked, I take it? Thank you for the help, btw. I will probably take it into the shop, I'm sure they will be able to fix it. I still want to learn more about this though, so I don't make a similar mistake again.

Jfalls63 · May 31, 2016

If you have access to PC and get phone into download mode,you may be able to unbrick.
Look at this thread. Scroll down to the note section and look at note 4.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...-to-update-to-i337oc3-5-0-1-keeproot-t3075814

AT&T started locking bootloaders on their branded devices after the S3. They don't like to release their firmware either.

CrimsonToker · Jun 1, 2016

Well the phone isn't bricked, I just can't get into recovery. I've never used Odin, so I don't know how to flash anything with it. if I'm reading the link right, the first part is done on the phone itself, right? I only need computer and Odin for the last part?

Jfalls63 · Jun 1, 2016

Note(4) was for a Odin file to unbrick or downgrade to be able to use Towel Root. Im not sure if you followed the guide to update and keep root using the FlashFire method will work but might be worth a try.
You will still need to use Odin to flash the OK2 bootloader in step (7).
I would flash the Odin tar in note (4) to return to stock and remove all traces of KingoRoot first.
Odin not difficult to use but up to you.

I can look for a stock recovery zip file that you may be able to flash with Flashify since that seems to be all you need. If I find anything, I will post a link.

CrimsonToker · Jun 1, 2016

Thank you! I am going to read up on Odin and give it a try

Jfalls63 · Jun 1, 2016

My search for a stock recovery zip turned up empty. Only way I can find to get your stock recovery back is to use Odin to flash the stock firmware.
Sammobile only has 4.2.2 available for the i337.
The firmware in the XDA link (note 4), I believe is 4.3
You can use Towel Root with it and not get any unwanted junk installed in system.

Help Weird virus, please help!

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