[SOLVED] Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

[Android Central Question]

Over the past few weeks I've had random blog style websites (getfitnessinfo, thisdaythatage, some page about the history of uber) opening themselves in the default Samsung Internet Browser. It mostly happens upon unlocking my phone (galaxy s6) but has also happened once while I was using it.

I have cleared all data on the browser app, uninstalled all mildly questionable apps (I hadn't downloaded any apps around the time this began), cleared the cache of my phone in safe mode, installed Firefox and set it as my default browser (Samsung Internet continues to open anyway with the sites), ran multiple antivirus apps (Norton, Avast, Kaspersky, Malwarebytes, Ccleaner) and none have turned up anything. I've even gone through my files and deleted any data/app/sdk files I don't recognize or that seem suspect.

While the websites being opened do not seem malicious in nature, this has become very annoying both with the spam itself and the fact knowing something is buggering my phone. I have searched and tried multiple solutions to similar problems to no avail.

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

This might lead to a fresh factory reset .

According to a user on reddit after he did a factory reset the issue returned in a week.

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

According to a user on reddit after he did a factory reset the issue returned in a week.

It depends if they transferred everything back then yes it could , have you tried safe mode ?

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Try using the Device Maintenance software (in built) to scan all your apps for potential adware/malware. If this problem started recently, then think of any apps that you downloaded around the same time. Hopefully that could narrow down the list of potential culprits.

You might also want to check recent downloads in your Files app and see if you find anything suspicious.

I tried scanning with no luck, no apps had been downloaded around the time this began.

Checked my downloads to be sure and nothing fishy there either.

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

It depends if they transferred everything back then yes it could , have you tried safe mode ?

Thats true.

I haven't tried safe mode yet.

At the moment what I've done is I have downgraded Samsung Internet Browser to the factory version to see if that stops it. While I know it's not the best idea as, in theory, the most recent version should be the most secure and safe, I'm wondering if maybe the most recent version has some security flaw or exploit that has been allowing these sites to load.

Unforetunaly as the sites normally only open about once a day it will take until maybe mid day tomorrow to know of this has possibly helped. If it does not help and the issue persists I will try safe mode.

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Thats true.

I haven't tried safe mode yet.

At the moment what I've done is I have downgraded Samsung Internet Browser to the factory version to see if that stops it. While I know it's not the best idea as, in theory, the most recent version should be the most secure and safe, I'm wondering if maybe the most recent version has some security flaw or exploit that has been allowing these sites to load.

Unforetunaly as the sites normally only open about once a day it will take until maybe mid day tomorrow to know of this has possibly helped. If it does not help and the issue persists I will try safe mode.

The only thing that concerned me was it was unchecked for unknown source to be download so anything could of been downloaded from a site you visit without you knowing. But definitely try what you said we take it from there.

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

The only thing that concerned me was it was unchecked for unknown source to be download so anything could of been downloaded from a site you visit without you knowing. But definitely try what you said we take it from there.

Oh maybe I worded it poorly but the download from unknown sources option was NOT enabled. Meaning I couldn't download apps and things from the browser.

I will post back here with the results of using the older version, hopefully they'll be positive.

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Oh maybe I worded it poorly but the download from unknown sources option was NOT enabled. Meaning I couldn't download apps and things from the browser.

I will post back here with the results of using the older version, hopefully they'll be positive.

Oh ok , cool let us know.

 

[stefan22]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Hi, same problem here. Galaxy s6, same spam websites opening themselves twice a day in Samsung Internet Browser (when unlocking and also while using the phone). I did a factory reset, but after a few days the problem returned. I checked the “the list of recently used apps in Google Play Store” after a “pop-up” but all I see is Samsung Internet Browser. The “unknown sources” option is always off. So maybe it’s a s6 related thing? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Hi, same problem here. Galaxy s6, same spam websites opening themselves twice a day in Samsung Internet Browser (when unlocking and also while using the phone). I did a factory reset, but after a few days the problem returned. I checked the “the list of recently used apps in Google Play Store” after a “pop-up” but all I see is Samsung Internet Browser. The “unknown sources” option is always off. So maybe it’s a s6 related thing? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi , welcome here !
Stay tuned as we trying to find out here, can share any info also and follow along .

 

[Rukbat]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

The only solution may be a ROM flash followed by rooting, followed by uninstalling Internet (the Samsung browser) before even inserting the SIM or enabling WiFi. Then use another browser (Chrome also seems to be having some problems, so the Nightly Firefox may be the only answer. If anything gets glued into there somehow, they'd flush it the next day anyway.) But it certainly seems to be something in the S6 - the ROM itself (maybe downgrade to the last version) or the implementation of Internet for it.


If Safe Mode fixes it, it's a 3rd party app/malware/something, but if it still happens in Safe Mode, it's the ROM.

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Hi, same problem here. Galaxy s6, same spam websites opening themselves twice a day in Samsung Internet Browser (when unlocking and also while using the phone). I did a factory reset, but after a few days the problem returned. I checked the “the list of recently used apps in Google Play Store” after a “pop-up” but all I see is Samsung Internet Browser. The “unknown sources” option is always off. So maybe it’s a s6 related thing? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

So far everyone I have seen that has the same issue has had some version of the s6.

Around when did you start to notice these sites loading?

I'm still waiting for a site to pop up again after downgrading the browser but nothing yet (fingers crossed).

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Just thought it might be useful but looking on google play at reviews for Samsung Browser, sorting by most recent and for the most recent version I'm seeing multiple reviews all complaining about random pages opening like I am experiencing. It seems as though it may be the update after all!

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Just thought it might be useful but looking on google play at reviews for Samsung Browser, sorting by most recent and for the most recent version I'm seeing multiple reviews all complaining about random pages opening like I am experiencing. It seems as though it may be the update after all!

Good detective work

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Good detective work

Thanks.

Sadly none of the play store reviews say anything about what phone they have so it's hard to say whether its specific to the s6/edge/active. However since the only people who've said they have this issue and said what phone the have had all been s6 users so it doesn't seem far fetched that it may be.

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Thanks.

Sadly none of the play store reviews say anything about what phone they have so it's hard to say whether its specific to the s6/edge/active. However since the only people who've said they have this issue and said what phone the have had all been s6 users so it doesn't seem far fetched that it may be.

Well its something to go on , so we have to see in next update

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Well its something to go on , so we have to see in next update

Yup. Im coming up on close to a day with the old version of the browser with no issues. I'm fairly confident now it's something in the newest update, be it a security flaw or what.

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Yup. Im coming up on close to a day with the old version of the browser with no issues. I'm fairly confident now it's something in the newest update, be it a security flaw or what.

Yeah its definitely possible.

 

[stefan22]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

So far everyone I have seen that has the same issue has had some version of the s6.

Around when did you start to notice these sites loading?

I'm still waiting for a site to pop up again after downgrading the browser but nothing yet (fingers crossed).

Two maybe three weeks ago.

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Two maybe three weeks ago.

It was around 2 weeks for me as well. Most recent updateto samsung browser was july 22 so the timing makes sense too.

If you haven't yet I'd recommend downgrading the browser, over a day now with no pop ups for me, I'm convinced.

 

[stefan22]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

It was around 2 weeks for me as well. Most recent updateto samsung browser was july 22 so the timing makes sense too.

If you haven't yet I'd recommend downgrading the browser, over a day now with no pop ups for me, I'm convinced.

Please keep us posted. Another thing I've noticed is that the pop-ups occur at the same time every day.