Unwanted games installing without permission

[m gy]

For a few weeks now, approximately every two to three days a game or app installs itself on my tablet (Google nexus 7) and my phone (Samsung galaxy s3). Same game or app on each device. They're legit games or apps, straight from the google play store. No malware on either device. Does this sound like a problem with my google account? I don't see how else I could be having the same issue with both devices (I would blame Verizon but they have nothing to do with my tablet). Please help, this is getting to be really annoying.

 

[oshikiri]

Hi, I've been having the same issue for a few weeks now, most of the unauthorized apps are casino or deal related ones. I have yet to find a way to stop them. Reset my tablet but no improvements. I wonder if you have found a solution to this? Thanks!

 

[m gy]

I think that I have. Although there wasn't any malware on either of my devices I did find something on my laprop that was connected to my google account. I think it may have been called AppCaster but I can't remember. I uninstalled it and haven't had a problem since. Good luck!

 

[oshikiri]

Thank you for your reply! I'm afraid I don't have AppCaster, so I'm still in the dark why I'm getting these apps :-/

 

[ddickinson]

Check the last app that you did download. Some apps that you download especially the free ones will download other apps onto your phone automatically. Uninstall the last app and see what happens if still does go to next app

 

[cadzilla74]

Get free app from Play Store called AddOns Detector. Install and run it. It will scan all installed apps on your phone and alert you to any that have excessive permissions or auto-functions that are hidden. You can decide what to keep based on how much you use or like an app or game but you'll be surprised at how many innocent looking apps are either poorly coded or on the verge of being malware.

 

[oshikiri]

Thanks guys, I have AddOns detector and it found nothing, nor did AVG antivirus. I reset my tablet to factory setting yesterday, leaving no apps except the system ones on it, and yet another "Slotomania - slot machines" showed up this morning. I began to think it may be something wrong with my google account, maybe I unintentionally signed up for a promotion offer or something. I'll keep looking. Thanks again!

 

[m gy]

Might be a good idea to change your google password. That's how I found out there was a program on my laptop that was accessing my google play account. And that program was the culprit behind all the unwanted apps. It popped up when I restarted the computer and asked for my updated google play password.

 

[oshikiri]

I want to say Thank You to m gy, because I found out the culprit of all the unwanted app installation was indeed AppCaster. I only scanned my laptop which I had connected my tablet to before so I didn't find it, but it was actually on my desktop computer which I seldom shuts down, and not until a recent restart did I notice the login window of AppCaster. I have seen it before but I used to think it was some kind of google sync service since I use Google drive, and this post reminded me maybe not so. I uninstalled this app (which was called Mobile App Sync in the control panel) and no unwanted apps have bother me ever since! what a relief! Thanks for your help!

 

[Zeomox]

I noticed that "app-caster" keeps popping up on my laptop asking to be "authorized" and I'm almost positive this is what is overwhelming my android devices with unwanted apps. The apps have been mostly casino games but there was chat app and some games that installed. Different apps but multiple times I've had to remove apps (so far about a dozen of them). I can't seem to find a way to remove App caster from my laptop. Looking under the services running on my Windows 7 machine I see something called IconMan_R by Realsil Microelectronics Inc.

...I found out the culprit of all the unwanted app installation was indeed AppCaster. ...not until a recent restart did I notice the login window of AppCaster. I have seen it before but I used to think it was some kind of google sync service since I use Google drive, and this post reminded me maybe not so. I uninstalled this app (which was called Mobile App Sync in the control panel) and no unwanted apps have bother me ever since! what a relief! Thanks for your help!

Those tricky devils!!!! Installing a program (that is named something different than AppCaster) on a laptop/desktop then pretending to be related to Google!! SHAME SHAME double SHAME on this sneaky company (I think they're called Realsil Microelectronics Inc)! I don't even know how this got on my computer in the first place!!!

 

[wildwoosi]

Mobile App Sync! That's what I needed. Couldn't find it under AppCaster. Have also complained to Google help that they need a way to tag virus software.

 

[Lazybones46]

Thanks to cadzilla74.
I loaded and used AddOns Detector on my Nexus 10, which found an app called "Network" which was installing all my unauthorized games etc.
AddOns Detector uninstalled Network and it's been clear since.

 

[alkspa]

It seems like Appcast Manager is doing the same annoying trick. Some of the rated comments complain about unwanted downloaded apps.

 

[Chris Ditty]

I'm having this same problem. I looked and don't have AppCaster installed. Also, when I search my Play account, I don't see these apps listed, so I don't think mine are coming from Google Play.

 

[Debpratim Ghosh]

Change your google account password that is related with bluestacks.
The updates can not proceed without the password confirmation.
Never update the password in bluestacks.
There would be no more automatic app installation.

 

[Chris Ditty]

What is bluestacks? I don't have anything called that on mine.

 

[mistahd33]

I use bluestacks (an android emulator for PC) and I have noticed these games appearing in the applications list in android settings, but they do not appear in the main bluestacks apps list, not when I click the 'show all apps' button. Most of the apps it installs I have never seen before on any google account, let alone the one which is synced.

Seems to me to be something malicious about the google account sync app which comes installed default with bluestacks.

 

[Jennifer Brolick]

yes, thank u, m gy. I deleted appcaster listed under mobile app sync and a virus/malware I picked up around this same time called lightspark. Very bad advertising pop ups. It will hardly let u do anything with the pop ups so much. Now if I can only get this great arcade hits off my computer. I feel like it the mother to all these other annoying programs...call me weird but u click on this blog to learn how to delete some app and this page is telling u to download android central app. Which I haven't done. And to reply I had to register with my facebook account, yeh and I know I clicked to fast to create a user name putting my real name may make me susceptible to other things. Who knows? I am really not much a computer person but I am getting ready to buy a tablet and just now finding out how much using your phone is linked to your other devices. I need to install my samsung smart dvd player and now I got to worry about getting the wrong kind of apps on that too?

Btw, yeh I know virus protection. But mine expired, all I had was eset6 & tried to install kaspersky but it didnt pick up the great arcade hits do I tried restoring it but only restored to date I downloaded it which erased Kaspersky so I will have to re-install it and also install it on my.phone.

 

[jetpilot2015]

I heard a lot of problems that are disturbing almost everyone. Very sorry . I think this support from here can help you, 1: Find the program that calls "CM Security, in the Play store .. 2: After you iinstall, launch for the first time, search menu scrol down to setting in CM security then click it, scrol down to the Advance Setting. click that, then Click "Heuriatic Engine " Active by cklicking. it may ask you -if the Heuriatic engine is Enabled ......... Just click Enable. Then scan your phone. Delete Whatever will appear to be vairus by clicking Resolve all. This is antivirus capable than any other, Avast, kespery, and other antvirus do not recognize virus that install programs without your permission.



*****And other Advice Do not Root Your divice
******unable to install application from unknown sources.In Setting


If problems are continuing please tell me !

 

[George E]

Re: Unwanted apps installing on my homescreen

My Tecno pad g9 has developed this behavior and its taking all my space on the home screen .
Kindly advise because even when i unistall they get back in a second and so many ,,things like ,,sex tube,,true love and seach tools .