In short, I haven't run any tools yet mentioned from Remove Pop-up Ads, Redirects, or Virus from Android Phone (Help Guide) on the Android Guide. I un-installed one app a month ago - 'Messenger lite' offered by facebook. I had re-installed it for a brief couple of weeks in January from my library in the Google Play store. It was backed up in my library from my previous old phone. After un-installing it, I still received at two or three adware pop up's. I still have Reddit installed.
The device does not appear to have any malicious apps pre-installed when I purchased this device brand new from the manufacturer. I checked all installed apps in settings and I don't see any malicious looking apps. Since the purchase of the device in Dec. 2018, I've only installed two apps - 'Messenger lite", and Reddit. Both were installed from the Google Play store.
I've seen maybe five different types of Adware pops-ups appear starting in late Dec 2017 / early Jan 2018. The last one occurring Super Bowl night 2018 that spoofed Amazon. In settings, I've had pop ups blocked (except third party), do not track turned ON, and privacy settings in Chrome (enabled) for safe browsing. I checked to be sure those settings were enabled immediately when I set up the phone in December. Reddit that I installed does not appear to be causing the issue because I had at least two adware pop up's occur even before it was ever installed. I received at least one adware pop-up before Messenger Lite was ever installed.
I haven't installed Zemana or Crap Cleaner yet. I am familiar with those, but I'm more familiar with the MalwareBytes tools than these others. The Guide for Android on MalwareTips doesn't mention using MalwareBytes (I don't know why).
Questions
1).Any idea on where the adware was installed on this phone?
2). What are the best recommended tools to remove Android adware?
3.) What other (optional) steps can I do ? (besides re-setting my router to factory setting)
4). Could (maybe) some of the tools and steps in the Windows Guide also be useful for Android too?
5). Should all backed up apps in my library (Google Play) be deleted ? Not certain if apps might be infected
I've only used Chrome for web searching on this device since set up. (Chrome current ver 64.0.3282.137).
Short background about this start up company - 'Essential'. This flagship device is 'bone' stock Android software - no bloatware. All apps came pre-installed with basically no permissions allowed.
The device does not appear to have any malicious apps pre-installed when I purchased this device brand new from the manufacturer. I checked all installed apps in settings and I don't see any malicious looking apps. Since the purchase of the device in Dec. 2018, I've only installed two apps - 'Messenger lite", and Reddit. Both were installed from the Google Play store.
I've seen maybe five different types of Adware pops-ups appear starting in late Dec 2017 / early Jan 2018. The last one occurring Super Bowl night 2018 that spoofed Amazon. In settings, I've had pop ups blocked (except third party), do not track turned ON, and privacy settings in Chrome (enabled) for safe browsing. I checked to be sure those settings were enabled immediately when I set up the phone in December. Reddit that I installed does not appear to be causing the issue because I had at least two adware pop up's occur even before it was ever installed. I received at least one adware pop-up before Messenger Lite was ever installed.
I haven't installed Zemana or Crap Cleaner yet. I am familiar with those, but I'm more familiar with the MalwareBytes tools than these others. The Guide for Android on MalwareTips doesn't mention using MalwareBytes (I don't know why).
Questions
1).Any idea on where the adware was installed on this phone?
2). What are the best recommended tools to remove Android adware?
3.) What other (optional) steps can I do ? (besides re-setting my router to factory setting)
4). Could (maybe) some of the tools and steps in the Windows Guide also be useful for Android too?
5). Should all backed up apps in my library (Google Play) be deleted ? Not certain if apps might be infected
I've only used Chrome for web searching on this device since set up. (Chrome current ver 64.0.3282.137).
Short background about this start up company - 'Essential'. This flagship device is 'bone' stock Android software - no bloatware. All apps came pre-installed with basically no permissions allowed.