Question Mysterious file downloads

[deelynde]

Sometimes when I'm texting people all of a sudden I get a mysterious file download message. (I've attached a pic) the person I'm texting says they did not send it. If you try to download it you get a message that says it's too big to download. I've talked with Samsung and my phone carrier. My phone carrier says that sometimes games that auto update (I don't play games on my phone but they do cone with some) can cause this. They sent some instructions to try but nothing works. It doesn't matter what type phone. It comes from Android and Iphones but it does seems to come mostly from family. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[SpookDroid]

Are you on mobile data? Or have WiFi-calling enabled? This can sometimes happen if they send you a MMS (which requires the aforementioned). A picture, a sticker, GIF, etc. or messages that are too long may be converted to MMS, which could show up like this.

 

[B. Diddy]

In addition, group texts are treated as MMS, which requires mobile data to be turned on. If your mobile data is turned off and you get a group text message or a message with an image in it, you might see something like this.

 

[deelynde]

In addition, group texts are treated as MMS, which requires mobile data to be turned on. If your mobile data is turned off and you get a group text message or a message with an image in it, you might see something like this.

Mobile data and wifi calling are on. The weird thing is that I'm on a group text but the download file comes from them individually (a totally different thread) and they said they never sent anything.

 

[bearone2]

i certainly don't download if i don't know who it's from!! it gets deleted!!

 

[deelynde]

i certainly don't download if i don't know who it's from!! it gets deleted!!

I agree but when I was working with my carrier they suggested I do just that! Said if it came in a text should be ok.

 

[SyCoREAPER]

No game will ever send you a text. If it does it's malicious.

If they weren't sent from your friend it means the number was spoofed and/or your or their phone Is compromised.

Don't download them, delete them immediately.

 

[SpookDroid]

Mobile data and wifi calling are on. The weird thing is that I'm on a group text but the download file comes from them individually (a totally different thread) and they said they never sent anything.

Yeah, when those get in "limbo" they appear as part of the individual chats (because until the message is downloaded, it doesn't really 'know' it's part of a group thread). If you have RCS enabled, try turning it off/on as it sometimes causes some of these messages to 'hang'.

 

[deelynde]

Yeah, when those get in "limbo" they appear as part of the individual chats (because until the message is downloaded, it doesn't really 'know' it's part of a group thread). If you have RCS enabled, try turning it off/on as it sometimes causes some of these messages to 'hang'.

What is RCS

 

[spARTacus]

Do you have automatic download with respect to SMS when roaming, enabled? A setting you'll normally find in the messaging app you are using.

 

[deelynde]

Do you have automatic download with respect to SMS when roaming, enabled? A setting you'll normally find in the messaging app you are using.

I use Samsung messages and I don't see that in their settings. However automatic download of mms is on and attaching unsupported files is marked as allowed.

 

[spARTacus]

..automatic download of mms is on...

That was probably the setting I was thinking of (since group text messaging, per say, is actually MMS).

The only time I've observed something similar to what you're indicating is when downloading for MMS was not set or was not working properly (on one end or another) or due to roaming, etc...

The security questions about downloading stuff sent by MMS, and the apparent need to have MMS downloading set in order to sometimes get group text messaging to work, is I think a valid discussion, and also why overall it's not a bad idea to move away from SMS/MMS and towards RCS.

 

[bearone2]

I agree but when I was working with my carrier they suggested I do just that! Said if it came in a text should be ok.

your carrier is nutz saying in a text is ok!!

same with email, not downloaded/opened if i don't know who from!!

 

[deelynde]

your carrier is nutz saying in a text is ok!!

same with email, not downloaded/opened if i don't know who from!!

I agree!

 

[me just saying]

did you sideload and/or install any apps recently? As the others said, delete immediately if you are not expecting any files from others. And even then, before opening, verify with the sender.

 

[deelynde]

did you sideload and/or install any apps recently? As the others said, delete immediately if you are not expecting any files from others. And even then, before opening, verify with the sender.

I verified with each sender and they did not send any file. As far as apps I recently downloaded nice catch. Is there a way to get a list of apps and when they were downloaded? Also I've thought about changing message apps and see if that helps.

 

[me just saying]

I verified with each sender and they did not send any file. As far as apps I recently downloaded nice catch. Is there a way to get a list of apps and when they were downloaded? Also I've thought about changing message apps and see if that helps.

You can look at your google play store order history or you can check in your file manager for the creation date. there are also third party app managers that will show when installed. Not sure if it will work at this point.

 

[deelynde]

You can look at your google play store order history or you can check in your file manager for the creation date. there are also third party app managers that will show when installed. Not sure if it will work at this point.

Thanks