There's a couple live wallpapers out there that I've been looking for. They show up on appbrain, but when I search them on the market they can't be found. I was thinking it's Vibrant specific, but appbrain shows that some of the users are vibrant phones. What gives? Why do some apps just not show up for me, and for other people?
There are several I've had this issue with, but the two in specific I'm looking for are Particle Storm and Giraffe Live Wallpaper Free. They're both free apps in case anyone has a backup of the APK files they could throw my way.
http://www.appbrain.com/app/com.eymwsoft
http://www.appbrain.com/app/com.cct.giraffe
Today, I turned on my phone to discover a strange new widget/icon on my homescreen that looked like a blue magnifying glass and was labelled 'Search'.
Of course, being suspicious I removed the widget. I then looked through the list of installed widgets and apps, but nothing unusual was there.
Later when I opened the internet browser, the usual google homepage looked a bit different - identical, tabs and all, except for the search button appearing the same as in the widget and the Google logo missing (as if it hadn't loaded yet).
I've reset my homepage to Google, but in my history the bogus sites are:
start.infospace.com
searchmobileonline.com
Scanned with both AVG and Avast, but neither picked anything strange up.
I have since found out that this is adware that some free apps on the Market are using to generate revenue. In my case I have since confirmed it came from Brightest Flashlight Free, an app with over 1 million downloads and 5 star average.
Here's an article explaining it *http://www.pcworld.com/article/245305/sneaky_mobile_ads_invade_android_phones.html*
Just though I'd warn everyone, as I'm a very careful / savvy user and only use very popular, respected apps, but still got it. Personally I think adding phantom widgets and hijacking your browser homepage with a fake google look-a-like is disgusting and bordering on criminal, as no warning or notification is made that this is going to happen, where it came from and how to remove / fix it.
AXIS of Reality said:
Today, I turned on my phone to discover a strange new widget/icon on my homescreen that looked like a blue magnifying glass and was labelled 'Search'.
Of course, being suspicious I removed the widget. I then looked through the list of installed widgets and apps, but nothing unusual was there.
Later when I opened the internet browser, the usual google homepage looked a bit different - identical, tabs and all, except for the search button appearing the same as in the widget and the Google logo missing (as if it hadn't loaded yet).
I've reset my homepage to Google, but in my history the bogus sites are:
start.infospace.com
searchmobileonline.com
Scanned with both AVG and Avast, but neither picked anything strange up.
I have since found out that this is adware that some free apps on the Market are using to generate revenue. In my case I have since confirmed it came from Brightest Flashlight Free, an app with over 1 million downloads and 5 star average.
Here's an article explaining it *http://www.pcworld.com/article/245305/sneaky_mobile_ads_invade_android_phones.html*
Just though I'd warn everyone, as I'm a very careful / savvy user and only use very popular, respected apps, but still got it. Personally I think adding phantom widgets and hijacking your browser homepage with a fake google look-a-like is disgusting and bordering on criminal, as no warning or notification is made that this is going to happen, where it came from and how to remove / fix it.
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Good call mate! I downloaded the AirPush Detector, AdFree Android, and Addons Detector thats mentioned on the post, and they found some on my SG2.
I will give all offending apps a one star rating, and this will get these dev's to act!!
Thanks
If you're going to give these apps one star ratings, don't forget to put a very scathing review up as well. A single star rating either way isn't going to bother these people much, but if you put a really negative review up as well, it adds a little impact.
In my experience, a brutal review tends to get devs attention fairly quickly, especially those who care about the rep of their apps
... and I wondered from where that magnifying glass appeared on my homescreen.
By the way, the icon sucks
I installed one crappy app from the market but unistalled everything fishy in the moment I saw that icon ...
This has happened to me 2x wish I knew what app it was. I normally only download popular ones too.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
I have the magnifying glass too. I didn't notice it at first because I use TWLauncher 4.5 and it only added itself to the stock launcher. I guess its time to do some forum searching or uninstall all my add based apps.
You guys (especially OP) need to use programs like Lookout or ESET and stay away from ****ty apps like AVG (Which is also **** on PC).
GRiM-UK said:
You guys (especially OP) need to use programs like Lookout or ESET and stay away from ****ty apps like AVG (Which is also **** on PC).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lookout doesn't find the search adware widget.
I had that icon too.. it even changed the default search engine on my browser..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
AXIS of Reality said:
Today, I turned on my phone to discover a strange new widget/icon on my homescreen that looked like a blue magnifying glass and was labelled 'Search'.
Of course, being suspicious I removed the widget. I then looked through the list of installed widgets and apps, but nothing unusual was there.
Later when I opened the internet browser, the usual google homepage looked a bit different - identical, tabs and all, except for the search button appearing the same as in the widget and the Google logo missing (as if it hadn't loaded yet).
I've reset my homepage to Google, but in my history the bogus sites are:
start.infospace.com
searchmobileonline.com
Scanned with both AVG and Avast, but neither picked anything strange up.
I have since found out that this is adware that some free apps on the Market are using to generate revenue. In my case I have since confirmed it came from Brightest Flashlight Free, an app with over 1 million downloads and 5 star average.
Here's an article explaining it *http://www.pcworld.com/article/245305/sneaky_mobile_ads_invade_android_phones.html*
Just though I'd warn everyone, as I'm a very careful / savvy user and only use very popular, respected apps, but still got it. Personally I think adding phantom widgets and hijacking your browser homepage with a fake google look-a-like is disgusting and bordering on criminal, as no warning or notification is made that this is going to happen, where it came from and how to remove / fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
personally i feel you should report this app to Google straight. No chances should be given for developers of such nasty lowdown apps.
I personally dont use any of the antivirus stuff but have my host file update for removing ads and use LBE security to block applications access to the internet.
Thanks
Thanks... very usefull information
Installed LBE and now monitoring apps
Thanks for the heads up and the useful apps recommended.
All clean here, but glad I checked.
Further good reasons not go down the pirate route kids - get that Blackmarket and Mobilism app off ya devices
Mobilism app isn't malware.
I use Avast and adaway and they seem to be effective enough although no doubt malaware is a cause for concern.
666fff said:
Mobilism app isn't malware.
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I'll take your word for it. It allows you to test pro versions or other paid apps, and if you like them, you go to Android's market and buy the "proper" goods.... Sure. That's all right then.
How much does eset cost? Could only see free 30 day trial
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
B3311 said:
I'll take your word for it. It allows you to test pro versions or other paid apps, and if you like them, you go to Android's market and buy the "proper" goods.... Sure. That's all right then.
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That's what I use it for. I like to trial an app properly. If I like, buy from the market, if it's crappy, delete.
The same happened to me, I only realised when a lot of my google searches were US based and not UK. When I clicked on the "privacy" link at the bottom of the Google page (or what I thought was google, it just had a different search icon) it brought up info about a different company, it wasnt the usual google privacy disclaimer.
In the end I think I had to uninstall all the recent apps because I wasnt sure which had done it and had to clear data on the browser to remove it.
My Samsung Galaxy Note has also been invaded by this searchmobile pest and I am looking for a lasting solution, or an app that can identify which app invited the malware. "free iPads" have also appeared annoyingly frequent.
So with being new to the Android community, when you are going to download an app, what are the things to look at to see if it is legit? Is it really taking a judgement call on permissions? Thanks
All the apps in the play store are safe to install (or at least a lot safer than the apps outside the store) and they are as you say "legit". I don't understand what you mean about permissions. Weather apps for example require an internet connection to update. Music apps require permission to read from the sdcard and so on... Before you install any app you can check the permissions and if there is something fishy then don't install! For example if a game wants to sent and receive sms, I'd say it is suspicious... Anyway watch out for cracked apps. These are the most dangerous, because he who cracked them can easily include all kinds of code in it...(ok I am being a little bit dramatic, but nevertheless you should be carefull).
Sent from my amazing 10.1 galaxy tab
I wouldn't trust what Panos said about Play Store or Amazon App Store apps being legit or safer in general. They're just safer than warez apps and that's not saying much.
In general, downloading hacked/stolen apps or any app from anywhere but a store is risky. When downloading from a store I stick with apps made by well known developers, apps that have a lot of installs and have been around a long time or apps that have reviews on major tech sites if they don't meet the other two criteria. So let's say my camera shutter app- it only has 10,000 or so installs but the dev is active and the app has reviews where writers spoke to the dev. That lets me know it probably isn't shady. Then I check permissions to make sure it isn't asking for abilities it doesnt require. Then I run Lookout's ad network app which scans apps for which ad networks they use. Some ad networks are very nasty and intrusive and some arent. Many games have this spyware spam crap in them including some non-free games.
I also make sure to root and download adfree which will update your hosts file (a networking configuration tool in your system) and block domains of ad servers. This will block spam in apps and websites without blocking functionality or your good stuff.
Many people have used picture apps from stores that were spyware and stole user data. Some of those had tons of installs before being removed from stores so you need to be wary. If you download bs apps like naked chinese girl wallpaper apps and crap like that from stores you're more likely to get burned.
Hi,
We recently released our first multi-player game, Word Cloud Social, day before yesterday. Its available on Google Play Store (can't provide direct external links yet so check it out by copy pasting it- play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aurictouch.play.wordcloud.social);
During testing we had AdMob test ads running. We have set all filters except Games in categories to off. Yet, we keep getting non-game ads. Mobogenie is a sneaky deceptive crap that Google continues to allow. I have the following settings:
1) Do not use keyword-targeted ads and Google certified ad networks (GCANs) to improve fill rates.
2) All categories except Games is disabled.
3) Searching for Mobogenie or other sneaky ads turns up 0 results.
Anyone else had trouble with Google filters? How id you manage to fix them or work around them ?
When it comes to my phone (GS4 SGH-M919) I am extremely serious about what's running or installed and why. There is nothing installed on my phone that I didn't personally install or allow to run. I like a nice clean phone with nothing wasting resources. I'm sure I'm not alone in this way of thinking, so I ask, what are you guys doing to minimize apps and wasted services running? How are you keeping your phone running at it's absolute best?
Uninstall anything that isn't important to the correct operation of the phone.
Freeze or greenify anything that you don't want constantly running in the background (like Google play or Facebook+Facebook messenger).
I'm the same in my mindset I don't like background processes running when I don't have a use for them right there and then. I freeze a few apps with titanium, I have everything that's not related to downloading, playing or streaming music greenified. I always have sync off and run AFwall+ controlling internet access. sometimes if a free app needs net access I'll try hunting for it's ads processes with this http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cn.wq.disableservice
I really wish they'd start allowing users to have more control or total control over their devices without using 3rd party apps. Especially with high-end devices. When are they going to learn that we don't want unneeded apps and functionality ramed down our throats. I guess they still believe that even though we bought the device, it still belongs to them.
Tommy807 said:
I really wish they'd start allowing users to have more control or total control over their devices without using 3rd party apps. Especially with high-end devices. When are they going to learn that we don't want unneeded apps and functionality ramed down our throats. I guess they still believe that even though we bought the device, it still belongs to them.
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Click to collapse
we are not the majority. it's more likely that instant updates arriving from facebook are valued more highly than comprehensive control of our device by most. I read that android device ownership is at 1 billion devices but XDAmembers is just over 7 million.
It's true, most people just care about the phone being able to send a text, but there's no reason all apps and services have to be locked down and not removable. That doesn't atfect the casual user. They choose to lock things down. They choose to make it so uninstalling trivial apps breaks the OS. Short of deleting OS files or drivers, they don't need to make it so my hands are tied.
I'm going to do what I want to do one way or another. All they're doing is pissing people off.
..
lol, to be fair the whole trend of a separate Gapps package is all about giving us that choice in the first place. hell I didn't even have gmail in the last version I used.
I use the browser to check my email, and facebook, and xda, and pretty much every other website.
I would even use the browser for YouTube if it weren't for the OGYouTube app which allows me to download the videos.
If anyone is interested in combining the sms, Facebook messenger and WhatsApp apps into one single app, try Disa. It can replace all 3. Unfortunately you have to give up the chatheads of messenger.