Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Message

Alan H · #141 Post by **Alan H** » April 17th, 2016, 11:01 pm

Latest post of the previous page:

Running QuickTime for Windows on your PC? You should uninstall it. NOW.

Dave B · #142 Post by **Dave B** » April 19th, 2016, 11:05 am

Ring, ring.

"Hello?"

"Hello [in an Asian accent], this is Alex from Microsoft, how are you today?"

"Fine, thank you for asking, goodbye."

Dave B · #143 Post by **Dave B** » April 30th, 2016, 10:35 am

My main Android mobile is now useless. I turned it off last night to stop it receiving emails (don't ask) and on switching back on it said there was an Android upgrade, was not able to refuse this.

"Upgrade" installed "Apus"- browser and two porn sites into basic OS!

Even doing factory reset does not eliminate these, switch off WIFI and it switches back on, games etc apps constantly trying to load themselves, every visit to web means constant ads from Aldi, M&S - no chance to go to any other site . . . Counter productive for advertisers if people have to dump fone and never see them! Constant warning notices from Google . . .

Tried uninstall instructions from Android Central (looked for it on tablet), did not work.

Good thing it was only a cheap copy of a Samsung. Avast security no use here.

Alan H · #144 Post by **Alan H** » April 30th, 2016, 11:12 am

Dave B wrote:My main Android mobile is now useless. I turned it off last night to stop it receiving emails (don't ask) and on switching back on it said there was an Android upgrade, was not able to refuse this.

"Upgrade" installed "Apus"- browser and two porn sites into basic OS!

Even doing factory reset does not eliminate these, switch off WIFI and it switches back on, games etc apps constantly trying to load themselves, every visit to web means constant ads from Aldi, M&S - no chance to go to any other site . . . Counter productive for advertisers if people have to dump fone and never see them! Constant warning notices from Google . . .

Tried uninstall instructions from Android Central (looked for it on tablet), did not work.

Good thing it was only a cheap copy of a Samsung. Avast security no use here.

Oh dear! Although they have come in for criticism for tightly controlling their Apps store, there's a lot to be said for vetting all apps before customers can download them...

We do have a small Android tablet, but I rarely use it, so can't really help, but if it would help to disconnect it from the Wifi, you could change the password so it can't connect - or just switch off your modem temporarily? Perhaps removing the SIM card (if it connects to the mobile network) would let you at least uninstall stuff? I'd have thought a factory reset would have got you back to normality...

Dave B · #145 Post by **Dave B** » April 30th, 2016, 11:36 am

SIMs out
SD card out
WIFI turned off, turned itself back on
Router switched off (phone searched for any other connection)
Battery out/replaced, made no difference
Tried deleting rogue apps, they are resident in OS and not deletable
Tried disabling, they re-enabled themselves
Tried factory reset . . .

... normally after factory reset I have to register myself again, as with a brand new device, then hook up to email, Google etc. Not so this time, all old settings - and problem - remained.

Can only assume the Android "upgrade" installed a totally rogue, hacked, system. Can't find any way to cure so far. Google trying to do its job, constantly blocking apps, which means I have to constantly tell it "OK", but ads still get through. Combination means web totally unuseable.

Alan H · #146 Post by **Alan H** » April 30th, 2016, 12:23 pm

It does sound like you have a hacked OS. Is there no way to connect it to a PC and get it to install the original software?

Dave B · #147 Post by **Dave B** » April 30th, 2016, 1:30 pm

Alan H wrote:It does sound like you have a hacked OS. Is there no way to connect it to a PC and get it to install the original software?

Will look into that, thanks for idea.

Dave B · #148 Post by **Dave B** » April 30th, 2016, 2:08 pm

Found another method: switch device off then hold power and volune buttons down until the factory reset menu appears.

Did, tbat, the menu appeared then went off one itens at a time, thought it was self driving. No chsnge, can't get factory reset menu back agsin!

Dave B · #149 Post by **Dave B** » April 30th, 2016, 3:22 pm

Got into factory menu at last

It's all in Chinese

Alan H · #150 Post by **Alan H** » April 30th, 2016, 5:11 pm

Dave B wrote:Got into factory menu at last

It's all in Chinese

Mandarin or Shanghainese?

Dave B · #151 Post by **Dave B** » April 30th, 2016, 5:30 pm

Alan H wrote:
Dave B wrote:Got into factory menu at last

It's all in Chinese
Mandarin or Shanghainese?

Bluddy Cantonese for all I know. Though I do prefer Szechuan.

Ken H · #152 Post by **Ken H** » April 30th, 2016, 8:31 pm

Dave B wrote:
Alan H wrote:
Dave B wrote:Got into factory menu at last

It's all in Chinese
Mandarin or Shanghainese?
Bluddy Cantonese for all I know. Though I do prefer Szechuan.

If it's running hot, then definitely Szechuan.

My son Kevin bought a cheap android tablet that came with a built in trojan that was impossible to get rid of. When he input his Google email info it would side load programs and tons of ads. Googling about it, he discovered it was common to several brands that used the same firmware. He sent it back to Amazon and got a different brand.

If you could install a different firmware it might help your situation.

Dave B · #153 Post by **Dave B** » April 30th, 2016, 9:58 pm

Ken H wrote:
Dave B wrote:
Alan H wrote:Mandarin or Shanghainese?
Bluddy Cantonese for all I know. Though I do prefer Szechuan.
If it's running hot, then definitely Szechuan.

My son Kevin bought a cheap android tablet that came with a built in trojan that was impossible to get rid of. When he input his Google email info it would side load programs and tons of ads. Googling about it, he discovered it was common to several brands that used the same firmware. He sent it back to Amazon and got a different brand.

If you could install a different firmware it might help your situation.

Thanks for tip, Ken. I've had tbis one for about a year, sort of Samsung clone but a quarter of the price. Have ordered a real, new, Samsung to replace it, but discontinued model so cheap.

Now, in terms of Android what constitutes "firmware"? This is an area I have not delved into. Found a video on Android Central for replacing Lollipop, but my PC does not even see the phone on USB - just charges it!

Ken H · #154 Post by **Ken H** » April 30th, 2016, 11:44 pm

If your phone got infected after you got it, you may be able to re-install the android firmware from the manufacturer. Most android versions are custom made for the particular device it's on. In some cases you can find another one that works, but it's probably unlikely for yours. Buying a real Samsung sounds good to me!

I've got an Asus tablet and a Moto E2 phone. Both relatively cheap, but they work well for my needs.

Alan H · #155 Post by **Alan H** » May 1st, 2016, 12:32 am

Dave B wrote:Now, in terms of Android what constitutes "firmware"?

Essentially, the operating system.

my PC does not even see the phone on USB - just charges it!

Possibly just the lead? Some may only have the connections for charging - do you have another lead you can try?

Dave B · #156 Post by **Dave B** » May 1st, 2016, 9:06 am

Alan H wrote:
Dave B wrote:Now, in terms of Android what constitutes "firmware"?
Essentially, the operating system.

my PC does not even see the phone on USB - just charges it!
Possibly just the lead? Some may only have the connections for charging - do you have another lead you can try?

Tried two leads. Tablet also acts in same way, tried because someone asked me how to transfer pictures from her tablet to PC. Suggested she download them to usb stick first.

Reviewing that video looks like the bloke downloads some software from Google before connecting the phone, but does not specifically say it is a "driver".

Tetenterre · #157 Post by **Tetenterre** » May 4th, 2016, 5:58 am

Dave, the solution may be to root the phone and change the OS to a different version of Android. Did this to an old tablet and gave it a new lease of life. Given that your phone is essentially useless, it may be worth the risk. See, for example, http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how ... t-android/

Dave B · #158 Post by **Dave B** » May 4th, 2016, 7:12 am

Tetenterre wrote:Dave, the solution may be to root the phone and change the OS to a different version of Android. Did this to an old tablet and gave it a new lease of life. Given that your phone is essentially useless, it may be worth the risk. See, for example, http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how ... t-android/

Still getting my head straight on this!

Kingroot installed itself at the same time the problem started, but they do not list this Cubot on their site. It is a close Samsung clone in appearance.

Will look into this. For a normally techically literate person I am always a bit unsure in this sort of area. I contrast with a neighbour who does not know the difference between current and voltage but dives into Windows registaries, htmll etc like it is his native environment!

Dave B · #159 Post by **Dave B** » May 4th, 2016, 10:19 am

It's scrap!

The Rootking app has disappeared, Google reports viruses. Every time I try to download the Google shop to get an av I just get continuous downloads of crap. Cannot download anything myself. Can't even switch off Wifi so it will at least be an emergency standby phone! Using standby Samsung Young 2 that is ok - so far...

Promlem phone is now trying to dial out, can't because there are no sims in it.

Some of the ads seem genuine, so what is the point if people get so pissed off they bin their phones, or wipe them clean somehow, and never see the ads?

Hope I can keep the new Samsung clean... Or at least root it if not.

So far no probs with tablets.

Later: utter scrap, no control over what phone does at all now. So I get to see what they look like inside. Wonder if I can mod a charger and build the batteries (it came with a spare) into a backup battery? Carefully.

Alan H · #160 Post by **Alan H** » May 5th, 2016, 9:47 pm

I know I keep going on about this, but it really is important! Don’t do it! 5 ways to upgrade your passwords this #PasswordDay

Alan H · #161 Post by **Alan H** » July 25th, 2016, 7:26 pm

Try a password manager: how to get started with LastPass

Think Humanism

Think Humanism

Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc