Uninvited apps are likin' my android

Some apps (mostly game apps I think) that are free, once installed will have updates that are actually more games...free versions that want you to purchase the paid versions.

I had an app try that -once-. It was a clone of a popular game show, then decided to pull an update and install more stuff. Thankfully it wasn't anything fatal because I could log on as root and clean it up, although I used it as an excuse to format and install a new ROM on my phone that had less clutter.

How the app did its dirty deeds was through autoupdate. It initially had no issues, but it then autoupdated to a different game and then when clicked on, tried to get one to download other stuff, even trying to fetch a "security_update.apk" file from a no-name site in Russia.

I like not just rooting, but re-ROMing my Android phones, preferably to a CyanogenMod version if available. This way, only Google and I can put stuff on the phone. The telco has no master keys, so there are no surprises. I then use Titanium Backup to automatically back up all critical app data, then have it sent and stored in Dropbox. I also use nandroid as another way of dumping the entire device for an easy restore.

Since I do not have that problem on my Androids.. I have to assume you installed an app that invites them in... Alas, I have not clue which app you installed.

Another thing.... My phone used to keep popping up ads (Push Notifications) till I used App Manager to disable push notifications on nearly everything.

Some of those notifications, you tap on 'em they install software.

It's hard to believe this is happening without your intervention, but if it is, I would recommend that you back up anything special like your pictures, contacts or music on the phone and then restore it to factory defaults. You will be able to re-download any apps you have installed. Even the paid ones will download again at no charge. Just be careful this time what you actually allow.

I have never had an app self-install on any of my Android devices. There has to be some app on the phone that either you installed that had this ability hidden into it or there is an app that came with the device that is set to pull in other apps - most likely some widget that is running. Go through every app on the device and see which one is doing this - it will show up in a menu with a box checked to enable this.

X2

Huh? I've owned a number of phones, tablets and even an Android mini-pc and have never had any uninvited apps mysteriously install themselves on any of them.

There may be apps on them that the provider installed that can't be uninstalled without rooting but any other apps are there because I installed them.

Texas Two Steppers wrote:
How do I keep unwanted apps from installing on my android? I delete them but they come back.

Probably stop clicking on that Facebook stuff :)

The other way is to:
Tap into settings|apps|all|scroll to the offending application|tap on it (in the list)|look for "disable" untick the box|close back to the launcher (home screen).

wa8yxm wrote:
The answer is not for the faint of heart.. You ROOT it, so you control what it does.

What kind of "uninvited apps" are you getting,, Unless the Telco sends something as part of an update My phone always requests permission to install. Only two places can grant permission.. ME and my provider.

I'm getting mosty games; Empire, Slots, Lemon something, etc.