[Q] Android Malware Randomly Downloading Files - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

My mother has an Asus Transformer, and she's had it for awhile, but she doesn't use it for much other than getting e-mails or video chats. I turned it on today and it suddenly downloaded a bunch of files. Mahjong.exe, Bubble_Hit_brch.exe, 7-superfoods-to-boost-your-immunity.pdf, etc. Small files, less than 1MB per file. There were about a dozen files in her downloads folder, a few of which had "-1" after it so it had downloaded some of them twice now.
I've Googled the filenames, Googled "downloading files at random", "downloading unwanted files", etc., etc., and I have no idea what to do at this point. I installed three different virus scanners and they found nothing. Has anyone heard of malware like this before? I'm especially surprised since she's only technically savvy enough to do EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S BEEN SHOWN to do, so I believe her when she says she doesn't download anything or install anything.

From my experience those downloads come from some webpages on the browser, or even an app.
Sent from my LG-LS980 using xda app-developers app

Critical Detox said:
From my experience those downloads come from some webpages on the browser, or even an app.
Sent from my LG-LS980 using xda app-developers app
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Thanks, I'll take a look at her browser.

She should probably use a browser that doesn't automatically download stuff. I know the AOSP Browser does this, but Chrome asks you and warns you everytime a link wants to be downloaded.

Related

[Q] Browser: Download Issues

Having issues downloading from web pages. I will click a link, side panel opens with the document icon (power point for example), then I will, tap download.
At that point it will flash the progress bar with only a sliver, then show a grayed icon and say download again. Nothing will download at all.. I've resorted to downloading on my evo, using WiFi file explorer pro as an ftp... Works but a pain in the ass for school.
thought maybe it had to with some patches I installed from preware. I uninstalled a download unthrottler thinking that could be causing issues, but nope.
thanks for any input!
16gb touchpad, uberkernek, clocked at 1.5Ghz, various patches.
yeah I am getting the same thing downloading from my dropbox account.
edit: I tried a random .exe file from download.com and googled a random .pdf file to test from the browser and they downloaded fine... why won't download from dropbox?
The only sites I've tried are my school's BlackBoard site, and Dropbox. I shall try another site here at some point.
Same issues for me. It seems like a broswer issue with credentials or something. Any documents downloaded from secure sites do not open. If I don't have to login it works fine. I have confirmed this with blackboard as well as my bank account. I can download the exact same files on my computer, upload to box.net and download and open fine with the box app on TP. Very annoying....
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
By Jo you're right! Never thought about the secure site thing. Just tested it, same results as your own. Curious , do you have a bunch of tweaks and patches applied? I certainly do but wasnt sure if that had anything to do with it.
fattmann said:
By Jo you're right! Never thought about the secure site thing. Just tested it, same results as your own. Curious , do you have a bunch of tweaks and patches applied? I certainly do but wasnt sure if that had anything to do with it.
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Click to collapse
I do too. I don't think it is related but might be worth uninstalling then to see.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I don't know it it is touchpad related or just browser related. My intuition tells me browser since we can Backdoor the issue fine through the box app. Either way it will hopefully get addressed either officially or.in the community. Possibly a 3rd party browser can fix it. There r a couple for sale in the market but I won't spend the money unless u know for sure it has a workaround. Hopefully this issue bugs enough people or the right people enough to be addressed. Here's to hoping!
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I'm having similar issues. Unable to download from dropbox and Microsoft exchange website for my school email

Back button issues with the browsers?

I've noticed at times I have to hit the back button several times to get the browser to actually go back. Any idea on what this is from? Ive seen this aa bit bavk, but can't find the thread now. Its on several different browsrs too,not just stock, I'm in dolphin tab
Sent from my Galaxy Tab!
mroneeyedboh said:
I've noticed at times I have to hit the back button several times to get the browser to actually go back. Any idea on what this is from? Ive seen this aa bit bavk, but can't find the thread now. Its on several different browsrs too,not just stock, I'm in dolphin tab
Sent from my Galaxy Tab!
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Hmm....I've never seen that happen before. Anyone else have this issue?
I have exactly the same problem, remember seeing something about the hosts file, but can't find anything on search!
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium
I have the same problem with both the Dolphin for Tab and Stock browsers, but not the Firefox Nightly. So that leads me to believe it's a Webkit issue. And yes, it is extremely annoying.
Definitely to do with the hosts file. Just renamed mine hosts.old, rebooted and the problem has gone. I used to have adfree, uninstalled it, but the hosts file still had all the adfree entries in it.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium
gremzi said:
I used to have adfree, uninstalled it, but the hosts file still had all the adfree entries in it.
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So what I take from that is all AdFree does is a onetime update of the hosts file to block known advertisements (and updates with new definitions I'm sure), and so by deleting AdFree and renaming the old hosts file the tablet creates a new host file without any urls to block?
Damn, that's a shame. I, too, have AdFree, and I love it.

100+ Paid Android Apps Available For Free from GetJar

http://mktg.getjar.com/getjargoldcatalogue.html
Includes Beautiful Widgets, Unlock with WiFi, BeWeather Pro, Smart Office, Tapatalk, Paper Camera and games like Fruit Ninja HD, Age of Zombies, Samurai 2: Vengeance and Backbreaker, just to name a few.
You will need the GetJar app installed to download.
edit: my mistake. Didn't click on link.
thanks for post!
dan-fish said:
i don't think piracy is allowed on xda.
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I didn't think this was piracy, they are running a promotion. If it is, I can take it down.
its not promotion..Its the new way to make money off paid by giving it for free......developed by Getjar....its not piracy at all,I dont know how it works....I downloaded BW from there long time ago and still running rock solid...
Guys, this is not piracy, it's a new "Gold App Sale" by Getjar. There's some great apps in there too!
the only thing i cant get to download on the TP is Tapatalk
edit: anyone know a quick download code?
Seems like some cool apps here not sure how to get them on the touchpad though as it doesn't seem to be a supported device.. Any ideas? Where do I get the getjar app I don't see it on their page anywhere...
use the default android browser and make sure you have it set to mobile. when you browse to http://m.getjar.com it will auto download the apk and you can install that way
mcsephoenix said:
Seems like some cool apps here not sure how to get them on the touchpad though as it doesn't seem to be a supported device.. Any ideas? Where do I get the getjar app I don't see it on their page anywhere...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, get the message "no compatible downloads for unknown android 2.3"
Sent from my Touchpad using xda premium
I was able to get Tapatalk, although it gave me an error the first time I tried.
I was also having issues downloading at first using Dolphin browser, but using the stock browser it worked just fine. The first time I tried to DL an app, it said I needed GetJar and linked me to the file.
do you think you can use your PC browser and the quick download code and post it here? what device do you have it set to? I'm currently set on "Free Download".
nomadman said:
use the default android browser and make sure you have it set to mobile. when you browse to http://m.getjar.com it will auto download the apk and you can install that way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahhh, that worked! Thank you!
Sent from my Touchpad using xda premium
Love the folks that cry piracy w/o FIRST checking the link. Stop policing unless you're a mod.
so.... how they make money on such promotions "paid for free"?
those apps are modified or all-the-same like orginal android market versions?
a246783 said:
so.... how they make money on such promotions "paid for free"?
those apps are modified or all-the-same like orginal android market versions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they're different in the fact that they are currently updated very slowly... getjar just made it available to have developers push their updates... before, you had to know there was an update and redownload the app... i got my first push yesterday, so i see it's working
getjar makes money by sponsors... you'll see them throughout the site
Same problem as other, when i search/enter the code for the app (in my case it's Tweetcaster Pro, Tapatalk and Splashtop Remote Desktop) i get the "no compatible version for my device" text which is ridiculous because i have a Captivate and the Android Market shows those apps just fine. Any ideas? Can someone post the .apk i mean if they are free its not illegal right? And also if i get the .apk, will it update automatically when with the new push system from GetJar?
soumian said:
Same problem as other, when i search/enter the code for the app (in my case it's Tweetcaster Pro, Tapatalk and Splashtop Remote Desktop) i get the "no compatible version for my device" text which is ridiculous because i have a Captivate and the Android Market shows those apps just fine. Any ideas? Can someone post the .apk i mean if they are free its not illegal right? And also if i get the .apk, will it update automatically when with the new push system from GetJar?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
here ya go...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1381728
Realistpm said:
here ya go...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1381728
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, it only worked for Splashtop, TweetCaster Pro and Tapatalk keep saying the device is not compatible i mean wtf!?!? I tried with GS II and Galaxy Nexus and both say not compatible. Anyone that has already downloaded Tapatalk from the GetJar app can tell me the device they are using and the name code so i can modify the Build.prop and download the app.
ro.product.model=GT-i9100
ro.product.brand=samsung
it has worked with everything in getjar... i have a crash here and there but they all have downloaded...
if you've changed this... reboot... it took awhile for google's android market to see the change... i probably restarted 3 times... even went into webos once and back to cm7...
the only thing i've had a problem with working at all (it did download) is Advanced Task Manager
i get:
Sorry! The application Advance Task Manager (process con.arron.taskManager) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again.
edit:
just tried another app... Aces Jewel Hunt downloaded and installed but closes right after the splash screen opens
Yhea i tried with that. i wasn't able to download the Splashtop before changing the build.prop and after changing that and rebooting i could. But i couldn't download the other two apps, i mean i even tried going on the browser to getjar.com and changed my device to the i9100 and even there i can't seem to get the code for the download because i get the same message that my device isn't compatible and im talking about the PC browser. Im gonna change again to the i9100 on the phone and wait a day or so and try again from the app, i don't understand why i have to do all this the app should be compatible.
Thanks again for the suggestions though

YouTube as default app?

OK...Love this phone, but there is one thing bothering me that I can't find the answer to. I've looked in the One X/S forums, and tried searching to see if there are any apps that would help. So far, no luck.
I know, due to the Apple patent BS, that they had to remove the functionality of popping up the menu when you click on a link to ask what app you wanted to open it in. For the life of me, I cannot find any way of setting the YouTube app to be the default app to open up Youtube URLs. I've cleared the settings in the browser, but every time I open up a Youtube link, it sends it to the browser.
Probably even harder, but I would also like to make Google Maps URLs open in the Maps app when clicked from the browser. I looked for those defaults, and the Maps app is set for those URLs, but in the browser, it still opens in the browser.
This is the one thing that is seriously bothering me about this phone.
Might be a glitch,try a different browser like chrome beta
sent from my EVO LTE
It isn't necessarily happening just in the browser. The Maps issue is, but if I open a map link in G+ it opens it in Maps. But if I am in Reddit News or G+ and hit a Youtube link, it always opens in the browser.
I would like to know this as well. Viewing YouTube videos through the browser is very bad and doesn't do full screen correctly.
Mainly for reddit news app.
Sent from my EVO using XDA
Did you look under settings, app associations? I think that's how google made it work.
"We're coming from a pure power source."
Yeah, there isn't a way to add a new one, and there are some for Maps but none for YouTube. I think that is why Maps links in G+ work right, but YouTube always opens in browser.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
This thread should answer your questions.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1657319
It's because of the stupid Apple patent that held our phones up in customs HTC put in their own custom app Associations link which kills internet links.
I'm thinking of rooting just to get rid of this.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=26155244&postcount=19
There is an HTC link app, you can try opening it up and configuring it, if that doesn't work try renaming it.
My EVO is still lost in the wirefly black hole so I can't confirm if this works
Sent from my Synergized Aggressive Lionfish Evo using the XDA app
Thanks for the replies. I saw that link app as a default in an app called Default App Manager, but couldn't do anything with it. Suspected that was the culprit.
The HTC workaround doesn't seem so bad, but they should have given us more control to manually set things. Wonder if they have an API for it. I wouldn't be opposed to writing a more full featured app. Will have to do some more research.
I don't blame HTC, I blame Apples's patent trolling.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
i just came to post about this, it seriously is a problem. youtube links in texts, emails, anywhere go to the browser. its terribly annoying!!!
shouldn't the Youtube app itself have a setting to make it default for youtube links? that app has like nothing in the actual settings. grrrrrrrrr
This whole 'new' way to choose what link opens which app sounds like a huge pain. I f*ckin hate apple. Buncha tech nazi's. How did they even get awarded that patent anyway? How much money did they throw at the patent office?
"We're coming from a pure power source."
wlpywd said:
i just came to post about this, it seriously is a problem. youtube links in texts, emails, anywhere go to the browser. its terribly annoying!!!
shouldn't the Youtube app itself have a setting to make it default for youtube links? that app has like nothing in the actual settings. grrrrrrrrr
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not the app that decides it's the os. The problem is Apple made them take out the app chooser
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Lost video file, please help!

I have 4 videos on my phone. Was reviewing them with the stock gallery and video player. After going through the set, I look back and one of the videos is missing. I deleted nothing, I rooted nothing, I installed only trustworthy apps and it is otherwise a pure Google nexus 4. What the hell... incredibly frustrated at Google right now. Someone please prove that this is PEBSAC or tell me how to recover this video?
Only possible explanation I have right now would be corrupt storage (but it it was fine when I played it back so this is not plausible), which would imply Google has garbage quality and doesn't know error correction. Even with a corrupt file, it should still show up with read errors, and not just disappear!
gromacs said:
I have 4 videos on my phone. Was reviewing them with the stock gallery and video player. After going through the set, I look back and one of the videos is missing. I deleted nothing, I rooted nothing, I installed only trustworthy apps and it is otherwise a pure Google nexus 4. What the hell... incredibly frustrated at Google right now. Someone please prove that this is PEBSAC or tell me how to recover this video?
Only possible explanation I have right now would be corrupt storage (but it it was fine when I played it back so this is not plausible), which would imply Google has garbage quality and doesn't know error correction. Even with a corrupt file, it should still show up with read errors, and not just disappear!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Things don't just disappear, don't blame google, they make the OS, Not the apps that run the media. It's likely the video has moved somewhere. Rebooting almost always solves this. I can 98% guarantee the video is still there with a 2% chance of it not, if it's not then shame, i was wrong. However don't just go around blaming google for something they have no fault in.
Sent from my LG-LS980 using xda app-developers app
Critical Detox said:
Things don't just disappear, don't blame google, they make the OS, Not the apps that run the media. It's likely the video has moved somewhere. Rebooting almost always solves this. I can 98% guarantee the video is still there with a 2% chance of it not, if it's not then shame, i was wrong. However don't just go around blaming google for something they have no fault in.
Sent from my LG-LS980 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not there. I am 98% sure it was not moved. 2% in case the camera/gallery app likes to move people's files and hide them. The file sizes add up, and this video file is definitely missing from the storage usage; that's how I know it's not "still there" somewhere.

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