Samsung Galaxy s6 redirect virus unable to remove

[AC Question]

For the last 12 hours I have been trying to fix my s6. Here are the details:
*Opened CBS All Access app last night and clicked link that opened Chrome
*Went to site I visit several times a day but this time I was redirected several times
*Redirected me to: Instabang, Badoink, Xsmartphonex, tapit.go2cloud, several "your generic android was hacked", and even to the Google Play Store
*This morning I turned on both my laptops and Norton went crazy!
*Norton kept telling me they blocked Malvertisement Website Redirect 9 on Chrome and FF
*Phone still having redirect issues that were not picked up by AV app & happened in all browsers - not just Chrome
*I logged out of all Google accounts on all platforms, made sure nothing was syncing across devices anymore (they had been before), disabled javascript, ran Norton Power Eraser and SpyHunter 4 on pcs
*Some tracking issues were found but nothing that would cause this. No viruses on pc's as Norton was stopping the attacks
*After searching and searching for answers, did a factory reset on phone, set up a brand new Google account, did not install ANY apps, redirect problem remains.

I am at my wits end. I don't know what to do, or where to turn. Malwarebytes and Norton do not pick up any problem on my phone and factory reset only made me lose everything for nothing.

Is this a Google account issue? Is this a FB issue because I allow apps like CBS to login using FB credentials? How do I get the virus off my phone? Has my info been stolen? Do I need to REALLY worry that something worse is going to happen? How did it infect all my devices?? And it isn't the DNS. I have same issue when I used my data plan and not wireless to access internet, and used my phone as a hot spot for computers - same problems! I NEED HELP!

Thank you ...

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Yikes, that sounds frustrating. See what happens if you go to Settings>Backup & Reset, and uncheck Automatic Restore. Then do another factory reset. After finishing the Setup Wizard, go to Google Play Store, swipe in from the left, tap My Apps, and make sure you stop any app that might be automatically installing. Do the redirects persist?

 

[Adham Ayman]

There is no virus created for the android yet it is just a norman issue just reset the phone the make new Google account and everything will be good

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[B. Diddy]

There are viruses and other malware on Android, but it's relatively easy to avoid.

For the most part, it's still quite difficult to get an actual virus on your phone, because malware requires you to manually accept the installation (which is why they try to fool you into thinking you're installing something legitimate). Use common sense:

1. Avoid shady websites that deal with things like porn, gambling, and "free" (aka pirated) apps/music/movies.

2. Never ever tap on a link that appears in a popup while browsing, especially if they're warning you that your phone is infected--they're just trying to scare you into installing some bogus "antivirus" app that is probably malicious itself.

3. Only install apps from well-established app sources like Google Play Store or Amazon Appstore. Read a bunch of app reviews before installing an app to look for any complaints about adware or suspected malware.

4. Turn on Google's "Verify Apps" function. This allows Google to periodically scan your phone's apps to look for malware. It's usually in your Google Settings app, under Security (although it might also be in the main System Settings, in Settings>Security).

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[westy73]

I have had exactly the same problem as the original poster for about two months and none of you, nor anyone on any other site, have offered an appropriate solution to this issue. I download very few apps and I only use the internet sparingly on my phone. Thereofre I have no idea how it got there. My partner also got it at at the same time on her iPhone 6. I suspect it has something to do with our home wifi which we recently changed to a new ISP. This has been raised somewhere else as a cause and seems logical.

Anyway if someone does come across a definite resolution, I'm sure a lot of us would like to know.

 

[Adam Librande]

I have thus problem too! Help!

 

[Vomit_flavored_smugness]

Hi all
I'm having the exact same problem after factory resetting twice with backup turned off! Please can someone help??

First it was the stock browser (s6) with the four virus alert and the continual vibrating of handset as a fake virus alert pops up. So after many attempts at removing this using malwarebytes etc and many many factory restores I just decided to stop using that browser and hope my details weren't being shared around the world.
I began using the chrome browser instead and no problems at all for 2 days and then........boom!
Today it's the fake Google page pop up with 36 new viruses!! Blah blah as they came on my face again

Please please can people stop missinforming others that android phones can't get viruses etc
By now most people posting questions on forums understand that android doesn't get viruses in the traditional sense but there are definitely root kit type things going about that can infect the root/os of these phones and a factory restore will not remove this particular malware.
I don't think Samsung will replace a handset due to viruses is there any way I can damage the phone in such a way to look like an accident? to claim warranty?
If I can't fix this of course lol

Anyway i really hope someone comes up with something for this and you guys are ussually spot on the mark.

Regards

 

[Vomit_flavored_smugness]

Really really sorry I just looked at last post and thought it was this years thread!

I'm kicking up necro dust here
Sorry guys

 

[LeslieJenningsMagee]

If you find the answer to this issue, PLEASE let me know!

 

[B. Diddy]

Hi all
I'm having the exact same problem after factory resetting twice with backup turned off! Please can someone help??

First it was the stock browser (s6) with the four virus alert and the continual vibrating of handset as a fake virus alert pops up. So after many attempts at removing this using malwarebytes etc and many many factory restores I just decided to stop using that browser and hope my details weren't being shared around the world.
I began using the chrome browser instead and no problems at all for 2 days and then........boom!
Today it's the fake Google page pop up with 36 new viruses!! Blah blah as they came on my face again

Please please can people stop missinforming others that android phones can't get viruses etc
By now most people posting questions on forums understand that android doesn't get viruses in the traditional sense but there are definitely root kit type things going about that can infect the root/os of these phones and a factory restore will not remove this particular malware.
I don't think Samsung will replace a handset due to viruses is there any way I can damage the phone in such a way to look like an accident? to claim warranty?
If I can't fix this of course lol

Anyway i really hope someone comes up with something for this and you guys are ussually spot on the mark.

Regards

Welcome to Android Central! That's not actually a virus. It sounds much more like a browser popup associated with certain websites, so you need to avoid those sites. Sites like porn, gambling, and "free" movie/music downloads are frequent culprits, but popups like these can also be seen on those annoying clickbait sites (i.e., Buzzfeed wannabes).

Go to the App Manager, select your browser, and Clear Cache/Clear Data. Then open the browser again and see if the popups persist if you avoid those kinds of sites.

No one is saying that Android phones can't get viruses. Hackers are always ahead of the curve (and wouldn't it be awesome if malware writers used their computer know-how to advance society instead of create havoc?). But with Android, it's still relatively easy to avoid true malware, if you follow the tips I mentioned in post #4.

 

[Simon Luke]

Try this website How to remove virus from Android phone or tablet - How-To - PC Advisor

I found some suspicious apps in the settings, applications and Uninstalled it. The names of the apps I removed were app* (starts with app) and Facebook app installer. My s7 edge is now ok so far.

 

[nysnooter]

my wife was getting a pop on Google Chrome that stopped from using it. It was from "finalinsight.net" I deleted Google Chrome and reinstalled and she is now good to go.