Why my phone is showing ads.

[Android Central Question]

My phone is showing ads every 4-5 minutes when I enable mobile data or connected to WiFi. Shows that it is infected with 4 viruses and has name cleaner.apk . Cleaner apk is self downloading on my phone. I am always deleting those files. They come again and self replicate. What can I do?

 

[djrakowski]

Have you downloaded any new apps lately, particularly from sources other than the Google Play store? You may have picked up some form of malware. Use Malwarebytes to determine whether this is the case:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.malwarebytes.antimalware

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Does it only happen when you're using the browser? If so, then those are browser popup ads that are designed to scare you into downloading and installing that bogus "cleaner" app, which is itself probably malicious as heck. Is the apk downloading without you tapping on anything, or is it only when you tap on something in those popups?