[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

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

Is it 4pm and 7pm? A reddit user had noticed that is the time they get the pop ups.

 

[androidy54]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Thank you all for your input so far. I do experience the same issue on a Samsung Galaxy S6. Latest Samsung Internet update as of 22nd July 2019 installed and fits the time frame of random (above mentioned) app and tab opening.
I downgraded to system version now an will report here as well. Let's keep us posted.

 

[northpoleuser]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Hi there. Same problem on Galaxy S5 after the last Samsung Internet update, it keeps opening 2-3 spam tabs everyday. I tried uninstalling everything suspicios, removed all cache, made an antivirus check... No luck.I was unable to use Samsung Internet's "Secret mode" as it tells me that my phone was rooted (it was, 3 years ago, but today it's completly official).
BTW, I also use S10+ with just the same browser version, and never had that issue on plus.
I checked whois of one of those sites and here's what i got:

Domain Name: THISDAYTHATAGE.COM
...
Registrar URL: https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...tps%3A%2F%2Fwww.godaddy.com%2F&token=Cj0u29Tl
Updated Date: 2019-07-30T21:34:13Z
Creation Date: 2019-06-28T19:29:34Z
...
Registrar: GoDaddy.com, LLC

Doesn't that look strange? New version of Samsung Internet is released ~ 22 of July, and in 4 days someone makes those sites.

 

[LurkingLoris]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

I have also samsung galaxy s6 f version
About 1 , 1.5 weeks thisdaythatage.info site keep opening.
You even calculated the time. This site was just opened again and I realized it was around 4pm . What can we do about this ?
Is there any solution?

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Thank you all for your input so far. I do experience the same issue on a Samsung Galaxy S6. Latest Samsung Internet update as of 22nd July 2019 installed and fits the time frame of random (above mentioned) app and tab opening.
I downgraded to system version now an will report here as well. Let's keep us posted.

Two days for me now with no pop ups with the downgraded browser.

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Two days for me now with no pop ups with the downgraded browser.

Ok looks like you nailed it

 

[MaxOctane]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

What version of the browser were you able to downgrade to?

I have a Galaxy S10+ and this started happening to me a couple of weeks ago as well. I downgraded from version 9.4.00.45 to 9.0.01.85 and it's still happening. In fact, when it comes up now it asks me to update the browser instead of just coming up with the website. After a day or so, it upgraded itself back to version 9.4. Samsung is doing away with the headphone jack, maybe this will be my last Samsung phone.

I can't find much on the internet with other people having this issue - you mentioned a reddit thread, can you share that here? I'm struggling to get this fixed.

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

What version of the browser were you able to downgrade to?

I have a Galaxy S10+ and this started happening to me a couple of weeks ago as well. I downgraded from version 9.4.00.45 to 9.0.01.85 and it's still happening. In fact, when it comes up now it asks me to update the browser instead of just coming up with the website. After a day or so, it upgraded itself back to version 9.4. Samsung is doing away with the headphone jack, maybe this will be my last Samsung phone.

I can't find much on the internet with other people having this issue - you mentioned a reddit thread, can you share that here? I'm struggling to get this fixed.

Might want to read over this thread and see if anything you can apply would work for you.
Welcome to the forums!

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

I have also samsung galaxy s6 f version
About 1 , 1.5 weeks thisdaythatage.info site keep opening.
You even calculated the time. This site was just opened again and I realized it was around 4pm . What can we do about this ?
Is there any solution?

As it stands right now the solution appears to be downgrading the samsung internet browser until samsung releases an update that fixes whatever security exploit is allowing this.

What version of the browser were you able to downgrade to?

I have a Galaxy S10+ and this started happening to me a couple of weeks ago as well. I downgraded from version 9.4.00.45 to 9.0.01.85 and it's still happening. In fact, when it comes up now it asks me to update the browser instead of just coming up with the website. After a day or so, it upgraded itself back to version 9.4. Samsung is doing away with the headphone jack, maybe this will be my last Samsung phone.

I can't find much on the internet with other people having this issue - you mentioned a reddit thread, can you share that here? I'm struggling to get this fixed.

I was able to downgrade to 5.0.40-29, I suppose thats the factory version for an s6 whereas 9.0.01.85 is the factory version for an s10.

If you have auto app updates on the app will keep updating itself, I have it turned off.

I'm curious, what sites have been popping up for you? Until now it seemed like this issue was s6 specific and I'm just wonder if you are getting the same sites loading or something different.

The reddit thread is one I started and goes over the same info as here, nothing really new in it.

 

[MaxOctane]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

I'm curious, what sites have been popping up for you? Until now it seemed like this issue was s6 specific and I'm just wonder if you are getting the same sites loading or something different.

I still can't get my phone to stop, I'm getting closer to factory wiping this POS.

I haven't been recording the websites that's been coming up, but they seem similar to yours. The last one that came up today that I have here right now is healthmaintains.xyz

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

I still can't get my phone to stop, I'm getting closer to factory wiping this POS.

I haven't been recording the websites that's been coming up, but they seem similar to yours. The last one that came up today that I have here right now is healthmaintains.xyz

Do the websites have the exact layout and unsubscribe button at the bottom? If not it may be a different issue.

If the websites follow the layout then in that case maybe it isn't specific to the newest version and s6 but simply newish versions of the browser and all samsung devices. That makes it a bit harder to really pin down, but I would say it's still for sure due to some exploit within the browser.

 

[Basem Saleh]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Using "Whois", I've searched the domain profile of each website that poped up (last one is truehollywoodmakeup website) and all of them have the same information

IP Address: 13.224.29.7 - 939 other sites hosted on this server
IP Location: United States - Washington - Seattle - Amazon Technologies Inc.
ASN: United States AS16509 AMAZON-02 - Amazon.com, Inc., US (registered May 04, 2000)


Go figure...

 

[stepkatz]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

I will add I have a Galaxy Note 8. I've downgraded the browser as much as possible, uninstalled any "questionable" apps (though none have been added recently when this started) and tried several different malware and antivirus softwares to make sure it wasn't something I downloaded. None of the above has fixed these annoying website popups, same ones you guys have been getting. It's getting on my nerves. I wish I could just disable the entire browser all together, I don't even use it

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

I will add I have a Galaxy Note 8. I've downgraded the browser as much as possible, uninstalled any "questionable" apps (though none have been added recently when this started) and tried several different malware and antivirus softwares to make sure it wasn't something I downloaded. None of the above has fixed these annoying website popups, same ones you guys have been getting. It's getting on my nerves. I wish I could just disable the entire browser all together, I don't even use it

Purchase Samsung package disabler and can turn off that browser
https://www.packagedisabler.com/

 

[anon(10614692)]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

I use the Samsung Browser beta version in my S10 with no problems

 

[MaxOctane]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Do the websites have the exact layout and unsubscribe button at the bottom? If not it may be a different issue.

If the websites follow the layout then in that case maybe it isn't specific to the newest version and s6 but simply newish versions of the browser and all samsung devices. That makes it a bit harder to really pin down, but I would say it's still for sure due to some exploit within the browser.

Yes, all of the websites all have the same blog-style format. The latest one that came up for me was //onepknews. com/2019/08/[redacted the rest of the link]

I downloaded an app called Popup Ad Detector - which is supposed to detect which apps are popping up ads. I was hoping it would be able to tell me which app was causing it, but it could not - in fact, it didn't even detect that the Samsung browser was even opened.

One other thing I noticed, is it seemed that they would come up daily at 4 and 7PM, but now the last two days it's been closer to 11:30AM and 4PM or so. thanks

 

[PRS14]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Galaxy S5 Mini user here. Same issue, about to try downgrading the browser so thanks to the user for discovering this!

Last site to load for me was trendfaqs but the descriptions and subjects of some shared in here seem familiar.

Issue been happening for me for 10-12 days roughly

Just wanted to post and tell you what handset I'm on as it looked like you were all set go with it being an S6 issue!

 

[nacnuD17]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Yes, all of the websites all have the same blog-style format. The latest one that came up for me was //onepknews. com/2019/08/[redacted the rest of the link]

I downloaded an app called Popup Ad Detector - which is supposed to detect which apps are popping up ads. I was hoping it would be able to tell me which app was causing it, but it could not - in fact, it didn't even detect that the Samsung browser was even opened.

One other thing I noticed, is it seemed that they would come up daily at 4 and 7PM, but now the last two days it's been closer to 11:30AM and 4PM or so. thanks

Yeah I tried popup ad detector too but it didn't help at all either.

Maybe try using the beta version of the browser as another user had posted saying they had no issues with it. I might even try it and see how it works.

It seems like if you can't downgrade the browser far enough then maybe the beta version could be the solution?

Though I don't know yet if installing the beta version disables the regular or what because if it doesn't I would expect the ads to open anyway. I'll try it out and report back here.

Edit: I installed the beta browser but it does nothing as far as the standard browser is concered so I can't see it really helping the issue at all for those stuck with recent versions.

 

[Eroll]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

I have this same issue. Did you figure it out??

 

[Hungry Heifer]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Same exact problem I'm having with my Samsung Galaxy S6. Incredibly annoying. Most seem to be bit.ly sites. T-Mobile is my provider. Ugh. Following... Closely!