Is this malware: software update for location

[Android Central Question]

I have started getting a little pop up on my phone which looks like malware but I can't remove it. It is a plain white box which says: "enter location for software update" and has options for EU or non EU. The window won't close and won't let me so anything else so I need to restart my phone each time it appears (couple of times a day). I've tried a couple of anti- virus programmers but they don't find it. What can I do?

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Which phone?

 

[Shelagh Possmayer]

My phone is an LG K8 4G. It's about 18 months old. I have tried free versions of Zemana and AVG and Virus Cleaner and they all said my phone was safe. Perhaps I need to pay for an anti-virus?

 

[Shelagh Possmayer]

The exact wording on the pop-up is:
"Legal Documents for Softward Update: Choose the region you'll use this device in."
Then two options - a list of countries in EU/EEA/Switzerland or Other.

 

[B. Diddy]

Does it actually misspell it as "Softward Update"? It'd also help to see a screenshot to see if it looks like a true system notification or a bogus browser popup ad. http://forums.androidcentral.com/ge...ide-how-post-screenshots-android-central.html

I saw this from a few years ago, so it looks like it's probably legitimate: https://forum.xda-developers.com/general/help/whats-purpose-airdroids-features-nearby-t3076734

 

[Shelagh Possmayer]

Apologies, the spelling error was my typo. What makes me think this isn't legitimate is that it will not allow any other action than clicking it. It blocks the phone completely - I cannot scroll, swipe, or open another app, or use any other feature at all whilst the pop up is there. The only way to bypass it was to restart the phone. The second reason it seems not legitimate is that there is no information or identification, no explanation of what this is.

I'd like to know if you think it's worth investing in paying for anti-virus or not. I don't want to pay only for the anti-virus to say it has found nothing. Is there something specific I can use?

 

[B. Diddy]

I suspect it's a legitimate (but still annoying) thing related to using either preinstalled LG apps or the phone itself. If you select one of those checkboxes and tap Next, you'll probable actually get a chance to review those legal documents, and then be asked to agree. It might be related to the whole GDPR thing.

Let me check with some other Ambassadors who have LG phones ...

EDIT: For what it's worth, there does seem to be a relatively recent system update available for the phone, from April: http://www.lg.com/us/support/product-help/CT10000027-20150630365050-software-updates

 

[Almeuit]

Apologies, the spelling error was my typo. What makes me think this isn't legitimate is that it will not allow any other action than clicking it. It blocks the phone completely - I cannot scroll, swipe, or open another app, or use any other feature at all whilst the pop up is there. The only way to bypass it was to restart the phone. The second reason it seems not legitimate is that there is no information or identification, no explanation of what this is.

I'd like to know if you think it's worth investing in paying for anti-virus or not. I don't want to pay only for the anti-virus to say it has found nothing. Is there something specific I can use?

View attachment 285161

I believe you could use this without paying.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity

 

[Ry]

Any ideas on what app is triggering this alert? Is this when you go to Settings > Software Update?

I suspect is has to do with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in the EU.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/gdpr-an-executive-guide-to-what-you-need-to-know/