Beware of lock screen ad aware from apps in the Play store

[dpham00]

I had been using ES File Explorer (which was the very first Android app that I installed) as my FIle Manager of choice for some time. However, recently, they added an app scan, which was annoying, so I stopped using it and started using Solid Explorer (which is an excellent file manager). However, I left ES File Explorer installed on my phone. Then, out of the blue, I got this pop up message on my home screen to boost my charging. I didn't think much of it and thought that it was a system prompt, so I enabled it.




Afterwards, I saw the ad aware screen when charging. In app ads I can understand (hey, developers must make a living). But to put an ad on the lock screen? Wow, that is way too far. Also, to be clear, this goes BEFORE your lock screen, not replace your lock screen. So you have to swipe on this screen just to get to your lock screen, which is extremely annoying.



When ES first implemented this, hitting on the cog at the upper right would take you to a screen where you could turn it off by tapping on the toggle, BUT it just said "DU charging boost" or something to that regard. It didn't identify which app it came from. As of today, it is identified as "ES Charging Boost".

There is a discussion on Reddit as well as a Google spreadsheet listing the offending apps
https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/4jle6o/hi_i_started_a_spreadsheet_listing_applications


As of this post, the list stands at :
Xender
ES File explorer (by ES Global)
ES App Locker (by ES Global)
KittyPlay Wallpapers Ringtones
GO apps (Go Weather, Keyboard, SMS, Next Browser)
TouchPal Suite (Anything made by them)
Z Camera
HiFont
TrustGo
Battery Doctor
InstaMag
"FotoRus - Photo Editor Pro
"
UC Browser
App2SD
360security
Photo Editor Pro by Zentertain
AppLock by Fotoable,Inc
"Secret Video Recorder
by CME Services"
Between
Sharecloud (by For2ww)
Flashlight & LED Torch (by Zentertain)

(credit to Sphincone from Reddit for creating the list)

If you have any of the apps above installed, I would strongly recommend that you uninstall the apps AND provide feedback on Google Play for the apps that have this lock screen ad aware as to what you think about this slimy tactic.

 

[DenverRalphy]

Some Android users have started compiling a spreadsheet of apps that hijack your lockscreen. Might be worth taking a gander at the following clicky...

Application/Games with unwanted Malware/Lockscreen

What's really ugly about them, is that they plop their ads right over where people typically swipe to unlock their devices to force a click.

 

[Aquila]

I haven't seen any of these ads on my 6P but I'm pretty close to uninstalling just based on the disregard for customer service that coding this represents.

 

[Almeuit]

Sad really .. I used to like ES File Explorer but now .. NO thanks.

 

[calicocat2010]

Yeah I saw that too. I was able to remove it and still use ES Explorer.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Sad really .. I used to like ES File Explorer but now .. NO thanks.

I used to use ES File Explorer, but I got rid of it several months ago, when I first heard about this adware.

I'm using Total Commander as my file manager now.

 

[Tech-Newb]

I used to use ES File Explorer, but I got rid of it several months ago, when I first heard about this adware.

I'm using Total Commander as my file manager now.

I used ES explorer since using a blackberry phone. Sad to hear about how ES explorer is now. Full of ads.

Posted with ❤Love❤

 

[TJA3500]

I got rid of ES File Explorer some time ago. Been using Solid Explorer.

 

[anon(5719825)]

I used ES explorer since using a blackberry phone. Sad to hear about how ES explorer is now. Full of ads.

Posted with ❤Love❤

I use Adaway to block ads in apps and anywhere else on the phone so I never saw any ads in ES File Explorer or on the locksceen when I saw this charge screen last week. I just didn't like that screen and deleted the app from any device I have that still had it installed.

 

[Clocks]

I use Adaway to block ads in apps and anywhere else on the phone so I never saw any ads in ES File Explorer or on the locksceen when I saw this charge screen last week. I just didn't like that screen and deleted the app from any device I have that still had it installed.

Rather than pay $2.99 for the paid version you used adaway to block the ads on the ad supported version. Then you get mad when adaway doesn't work so you completely uninstall it. You sure showed them how not to treat a customer that provides them $0 revenue!

 

[JezebelStillsDavis]

I found that ad on my Nexus6P - came from Camera Editor Pro by Zenterain (the ad disappeared when I uninstalled the app)

 

[anon(5719825)]

Rather than pay $2.99 for the paid version you used adaway to block the ads on the ad supported version. Then you get mad when adaway doesn't work so you completely uninstall it. You sure showed them how not to treat a customer that provides them $0 revenue!

I'm complaining about them changing the lock screen like everybody else is complaining about this thread.

 

[Aquila]

Rather than pay $2.99 for the paid version you used adaway to block the ads on the ad supported version. Then you get mad when adaway doesn't work so you completely uninstall it. You sure showed them how not to treat a customer that provides them $0 revenue!

I'm all about supporting developers for their work. But adding device sabotaging features that can be removed by a pay wall is extortion, not selling a good product. I personally never experienced the ads before I uninstalled, but a company that would do such a thing deserves all the abandonment we can muster.

I get your point about the adblock services and I'd generally agree that it's better to buy an app than to block it's ads, but this app in particular isn't worthy of their $2.99 because of the disrespectful manner in which they handled this. Changing a users lock screen or showing any form of intrusive advertisement is completely unacceptable IMO and worthy of an uninstall rather than further support.

 

[anon(5719825)]

I'm all about supporting developers for their work. But adding device sabotaging features that can be removed by a pay wall is extortion, not selling a good product. I personally never experienced the ads before I uninstalled, but a company that would do such a thing deserves all the abandonment we can muster.

I get your point about the adblock services and I'd generally agree that it's better to buy an app than to block it's ads, but this app in particular isn't worthy of their $2.99 because of the disrespectful manner in which they handled this. Changing a users lock screen or showing any form of intrusive advertisement is completely unacceptable IMO and worthy of an uninstall rather than further support.

I too have no problem supporting an app to get rid of ads if the app is worth it. There was one app on iOS that I contacted the developer
to ask if he could come up with a premium ad free version for me to get rid of the ads. Within an hour he did and it cost $.99. I bought it instantly.

There are many apps like news apps that will never charge for their app and load it with ads and those apps, I have no problem in blocking ads. They don't give the user an option to pay.

As for ES File Explorer, I didn't didn't even realize I had it on my Note Edge where lock screen takeover happened until I saw the lock screen they gave me. I knew what app did it because it had the apps name on the lock screen.

Toome this is just as bad as apps that force you to view a full screen ad before you can even use their app or automatically hijack you and take you to the app store. I've had plenty of apps do both of these and this is one of the biggest reasons I block ads in apps. They have no respect for the user. I block ads in apps on iOS and Android.

 

[dpham00]

I have no problems paying for apps if it is from responsible app developers. I don't support the sleazy ones like es.

 

[Laura Knotek]

I too have no problem supporting an app to get rid of ads if the app is worth it. There was one app on iOS that I contacted the developer
to ask if he could come up with a premium ad free version for me to get rid of the ads. Within an hour he did and it cost $.99. I bought it instantly.

There are many apps like news apps that will never charge for their app and load it with ads and those apps, I have no problem in blocking ads. They don't give the user an option to pay.

As for ES File Explorer, I didn't didn't even realize I had it on my Note Edge where lock screen takeover happened until I saw the lock screen they gave me. I knew what app did it because it had the apps name on the lock screen.

Too me this is just as bad as apps that force you to view a full screen ad before you can even use their app or automatically hijack you and take you to the app store. I've had plenty of apps do both of these and this is one of the biggest reasons I block ads in apps. They have no respect for the user. I block ads in apps on iOS and Android.

I'm the same way. I do buy apps to remove ads if they are quality apps, even though I also use Adguard. My use of Adguard is to remove ads from Chrome and those free apps that don't offer paid versions. For the good apps such as 1Weather, Aqua Mail, Nova Launcher I pay for the premium versions.