Help, New apps downloading from playstore themselves every night...

[kidcurry73]

I can only assume my daughter clicked on some link while playing Paplinko.
That or subway surfer were the only ad intense apps I had.

Now every night my phone downloads 1 new app directly from the play store.
They even show up on my apps list when I log onto the play store from my computer at home.

Recent unwanted downloads.
Gnome Village-Disney
iTriage-itriage llc
Slotomania-Playtika

I deleted the others.

Anyway I've run just about every antivirus and ad detector in the play store, they all find nothing.
I've factory reset the phone 4 or 5 times and it is still happening.
Removed the memory card and then factory reset but did not reinstall the card. . Still happening.
FDR from the recovery menu nothing helps.

I searched on line but can not find anyone with the same issue. All the apps that have down loaded have good reviews at least. )


No other issues. No web redirects, no short cuts on desktop leading to 3rd party sites.
Everything is normal except for the new app each morning.

Right now the only apps I have legitimately downloaded are:
Tune in radio (paid)
Shush
Snap speed
Alarm clock plus (paid)
Business Calendar free.

I may get a new phone but I'm trying to figure out what this is and if Google or the Play store will
Reload something that is attached to my account when I get the new phone.

Thank for any help you can provide.

 

[Paul627g]

Yes this is starting to become more of a problem with many Play Store apps. Developers have started to use sneaky advertising techniques, etc to promote and push new applications. My kids have done the same to my phone...

Next time you do see one of these unwanted apps pop up, long press on the home screen icon and it should give you an " App Info " popup. That will usually lead to the app that produced this headache.

 

[kidcurry73]

Thanks for the reply but unfortunately the only app info it shows is for the app itself.
Its not an ad or a shortcut its the actuall app icon on the desktop. You can long press to move it, that is all.(unless I'm missing something). If you long press the notification that says said app has been downloaded you can get the app info pop up but it only lists the app info for the app that was downloaded.

 

[B. Diddy]

What happens if you delete the apps from Google Play on your desktop/laptop? So, first uninstall the app on your phone, then go to your computer, log in to Google Play, go to My Android Apps, and delete those suspicious apps by clicking on the trashcan icon.

 

[npark2012]

I can only assume my daughter clicked on some link while playing Paplinko.
That or subway surfer were the only ad intense apps I had.

Now every night my phone downloads 1 new app directly from the play store.
They even show up on my apps list when I log onto the play store from my computer at home.

Recent unwanted downloads.
Gnome Village-Disney
iTriage-itriage llc
Slotomania-Playtika

I deleted the others.

Anyway I've run just about every antivirus and ad detector in the play store, they all find nothing.
I've factory reset the phone 4 or 5 times and it is still happening.
Removed the memory card and then factory reset but did not reinstall the card. . Still happening.
FDR from the recovery menu nothing helps.

I searched on line but can not find anyone with the same issue. All the apps that have down loaded have good reviews at least. )


No other issues. No web redirects, no short cuts on desktop leading to 3rd party sites.
Everything is normal except for the new app each morning.

Right now the only apps I have legitimately downloaded are:
Tune in radio (paid)
Shush
Snap speed
Alarm clock plus (paid)
Business Calendar free.

I may get a new phone but I'm trying to figure out what this is and if Google or the Play store will
Reload something that is attached to my account when I get the new phone.

Thank for any help you can provide.

That is very strange.. Are you sure it's automatically downloaded and not someone on the computer downloading it to the phone?
When you factory reset did you enable your google account to reinstall the apps automatically?
When you go to the play store and see all the apps (My Apps) do you delete them from the list by clicking the little button with circle and line through it?

 

[kidcurry73]

I can remove the apps either by deleting them from the phone or by clicking delete in the play store.
The apps delete with no problem. A new one (different app) will download that night. Even if I leave the first unwanted app on my phone a new one will download that night.

No I have it clicked to do not save setting (and delete all saved data) or auto download apps after reset. Contacts only.
Also these are apps I have never downloaded before so they are not being reinstalled.

Now that you mention it perhaps I should FDR my phone, change my Google password on the computer and then sign in to the phone with the new password.

 

[B. Diddy]

Now that you mention it perhaps I should FDR my phone, change my Google password on the computer and then sign in to the phone with the new password.

That sounds like a good idea. While you're at it, consider activating the 2-step login process for your Google account for better security.



Sent from my DROID RAZR using Android Central Forums

 

[npark2012]

I can remove the apps either by deleting them from the phone or by clicking delete in the play store.
The apps delete with no problem. A new one (different app) will download that night. Even if I leave the first unwanted app on my phone a new one will download that night.

No I have it clicked to do not save setting (and delete all saved data) or auto download apps after reset. Contacts only.
Also these are apps I have never downloaded before so they are not being reinstalled.

Now that you mention it perhaps I should FDR my phone, change my Google password on the computer and then sign in to the phone with the new password.

What's FDR?
And also, this is time consuming if you have lots of apps, but go to your google account and delete ALL apps that you don't need. Then Check if that apps that you did want aren't malicious. There has been a recent app that was removed because it was malicious and it had over a million installs and has been in the play store for a few months.

If your account has been compromised change ALL your passwords, for email, bank etc. And set up 2 step verification with whatever account allows it, google, bank, facebook, etc.

 

[B. Diddy]

FDR is Factory Data Reset.

 

[npark2012]

Wait now i'm confused I thought the op already factory reset his phone?

 

[B. Diddy]

OP did already FDR, but we're now suggesting to do it again while also changing Google password (and also possibly starting 2 step verification).

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Android Central Forums

 

[kidcurry73]

Changed passwords, another FDR...will do it again tomorrow when I get the new phone.
Thanks for all the suggestions. As I said, I have searched much of the internet and have yet to find someone experiencing what I have.
It will be interesting to see what happens tonight.

I may also just make up a new Google account and start totally fresh.

 

[kidcurry73]

Another one downloaded. Long press on the notification and all it shows under app info is the Play Store.
I FDRed the phone before going to bed and did not download or updated any of the apps.
I'm afraid if I log onto the new phone with this account, I'm screwed. May just use a a new Google account.
Ill loose all my purchased apps but at least Ill know I wont wake up to a new app every morning.
I'm just glad I have unlimited data still.

I'm surprised I cant find any info about this on line.
I bet I'm not the only one experiencing this but many people probably think (because the apps are coming straight from the app store) its just a phone feature or something.

 

[pusman83]

I've had this exact same problem, can't seem to shake it. Any idea what might cause it or what might fix it?

My post elsewhere on the topic: http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/720301-help-games-downloading-automatically-play-store.html

 

[Jeff Smith7]

I had the same problem and was finally able to fix it.
First make sure you do not have appcaster installed on your phone.
I believe that started the whole problem, and may have installed the proble program on my PC.
There was an app that somehow was installed on my PC (windows 7- 64bit)
It was called syncapp.exe and looked like a legitimate app except the it said the publisher was publisher.
As soon as I uninstalled/remove that application through the control panel and rebooted my computer life has been good.
It is not picked up as spyware or a virus, kind of weird. It was on the PC that I use to access and synch my gmail.
Hope it works for you

 

[Golfdriver97]

Another one downloaded. Long press on the notification and all it shows under app info is the Play Store.
I FDRed the phone before going to bed and did not download or updated any of the apps.
I'm afraid if I log onto the new phone with this account, I'm screwed. May just use a a new Google account.
Ill loose all my purchased apps but at least Ill know I wont wake up to a new app every morning.
I'm just glad I have unlimited data still.

I'm surprised I cant find any info about this on line.
I bet I'm not the only one experiencing this but many people probably think (because the apps are coming straight from the app store) its just a phone feature or something.

I would have had fun with all of this. As they download, I would have gone to Play, gave a 1 star rating, and commented why. Then uninstalled. If it is a program to help boost install counts, you can help boost poor app ratings.