Cheetah Mobile?

[Rikku Watro]

For almost 3 years, I've been using Clean Master to clear junk files and such (and occasionally also Battery Doctor and CM Security). My friend uses CM Browser for internet access. However, I've read multiple posts about Cheetah Mobile possibly being the source of certain suspicious sites.

I've already uninstalled all Cheetah Mobile apps, but I still occasionally run into suspicious sites! Has Cheetah Mobile already caused problems to my phone before I noticed?

 

[B. Diddy]

What do you mean by suspicious sites? Are you talking about browser popups appearing on your phone while browsing?

 

[Rikku Watro]

The suspicious sites appear as redirects when visiting some particular popular sites (such as Smithsonian Magazine and Petful)

 

[B. Diddy]

I wouldn't be surprised if Cheetah did that kind of underhanded stuff. Did you already clear your browser's history and cookies "from the beginning of time"? Can you see if those sites also redirect using other browsers, or on other phones?

 

[Rikku Watro]

First of all, yes, I clear cookies with the time range set to "from the beginning of time". I do this every time a suspicious site pops up (even if I get it in incognito mode).

When it comes to your second question, I have two Samsung Galaxy S4's, and I occasionally receive suspicious sites on both of them (I use Chrome for both phones). However, I haven't tried browsing with any other browser yet, and the last time I remember using Samsung's default internet browser a lot was way back in 2014 (and I haven't received as much, if any suspicious sites from what I remember back then).

 

[Rikku Watro]

So far, I've received suspicious popups on these popular websites:

1: About
2: NicoNico
3: Famous Birthdays
4: Smithsonian Mag
5: Petful
6: Some Wikia sites (unfortunately including Final Fantasy Wiki)

 

[B. Diddy]

In addition to clearing the cookies, also clear browsing history and cached images/files.

 

[Rikku Watro]

Yes, I clear cookies along with browsing history and cached images. (even when I get the suspicious websites on incognito mode). But they just won't stop appearing! And even worse, as I've said before, Wikia occasionally redirects me to spam sites as well!

 

[tube517]

Clean Master is known to put some adware deep into your phone. Uninstalling cheetah apps doesn't clear the adware they put on your phone.

Try clearing the cache (system) partition.

It's good you are no longer using any of those apps. Cheetah Mobile is snake oil.

 

[Rikku Watro]

Oh no! How do I clear system cache? And also, will clearing system cache erase some important items?

 

[Rikku Watro]

Also, I've tried using CM Keyboard for a short while back in October 2015. Now I'm even more worried!

 

[Golfdriver97]

Clearing the system cache can be done by rebooting into recovery. Are you looking to do this on your Galaxy S4?

 

[Aquila]

Uninstall all cheetah mobile apps. They are all malware.

 

[Rikku Watro]

I've already uninstalled all Cheetah Mobile apps from both of my S4's and then cleared their system caches. Does this remove the random spam sites that occasionally pop up on popular websites (or at least the adware that Cheetah Mobile has placed), or do I still have to clear Chrome's data (and have to save all the bookmarks somewhere else before doing so)?

 

[Rikku Watro]

Also, my friend has been using CM Browser for at least 6 months now (and she still has it on her S5). If all Cheetah Mobile apps are designed to put adware into phones, is it a good idea for her to uninstall it too?

 

[Rikku Watro]

I've also tried reading an article about 10 apps you shouldn't download (I forgot the name of the website) and then despite already clearing system cache, I got redirected to a spam site again! This time I was able to take a screenshot and saw that I got redirected to a "comumx dot site".

I even noticed the wrong grammar in the site! What's really annoying me is that, these random spam sites just won't stop appearing, and I couldn't find any way to stop them!

 

[Rikku Watro]

Please help! None of the suggestions have really worked for me

 

[B. Diddy]

Does it happen in Safe Mode? https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-27781

If it does, then you may have to do a factory reset (after making sure your important data is backed up or synced, of course). After the reset, if it asks you if you want your previous apps installed, say no (and if it doesn't prompt you, then go immediately to the Play Store and stop any apps that might be automatically installing).

 

[Rikku Watro]

I've yet to try, but I hope I don't have to do another factory reset

 

[Rikku Watro]

Update: The site that I was browsing the last time I was redirected to a fake Facebook site was MakeUseOf. I tried visiting it in Safe Mode, and it didn't redirect me, so it may be from a particular app I have (actually, I just have a few, but a suspect may be the Sarah's Secrets app, which Anti Adware detected to have an "Applovin' ad software").