[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.

 

[SammyBuckets]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Yes I did notice I have Peel remote installed, which I believe came with the phone. I uninstalled it. Will post back and let you know if the problem is solved.

Thanks

- Samir

 

[Javier P]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Yes I did notice I have Peel remote installed, which I believe came with the phone. I uninstalled it. Will post back and let you know if the problem is solved.

Thanks

- Samir

Can you confirm if the Peel Remote app came preinstalled in your S10+, please? That's very strange. Maybe you had that app on a previous device and it was automatically downloaded when setting the new one up?

 

[coredev]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Confirmed that it was Peel remote that caused the problems on my Samsung Galaxy S6. Deactivated Peel and no more spam tabs.

 

[worldofkevinc]

It annoys me that I had trouble for 3 weeks and it was that of an easy fix
Also annoys me that all the apps I tried to fix the problem never noticed Peel opening

 

[Darknessdanielc93]

I am also seeing this on my Samsung Galaxy S6.

I've attached a screenshot of the "Manage website data" section for the "Samsung Internet" App, showing unknown websites listed there.

I also have Peel Remote installed, but the best I can do is disable it. I've removed all the website data and disabled Peel Remote, so will let you know if that resolves the issue (not hopeful).

 

[poursergio]

Just wanted to let you know that I have a rooted Samsung Note3 and was experiencing the issue also. All I did two weeks ago was update the Samsung Browser to v9.4.00.45 .
Disabled Peel Smart Remote yesterday and now, it looks like the popups have gone away.

Thanks again!

 

[Darknessdanielc93]

Thank you, I haven't noticed them since I disabled Peel Remote but I'll also update the Samsung Browser. Cheers

 

[Beatrice F]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

So you have tried telling them that Peel Remote is the problem, but they still blame it on the browser? Come on now, that app is clearly behaving like adware. I also noticed some weird behavior on my phone around a year ago. While my phone was charging, it displayed some weird lock screens and I had no idea why was that happening. But I just found an article that explains that Peel Remote was responsible for that too.

Here is the article if anyone is curious : https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/03/29/peel-remote-app-upsets-users-ton-ads-lock-screen-overlays/

It looks like the opening-random-pages-in-browser-thing is just their new way of invading us with "ads". There must be a place where we can actually report the behavior of this app. It would be nice if Peel Remote would also make the users aware that it is responsible for this things, and not leave them searching for weeks for a fix, believing that they have somehow infected their devices with malware. If it weren't for this thread, I would have never guessed that the cause of the pages opening was a built-in app, which I have never used anyway.

 

[Tony H1]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Hey guys
Im using the s9 and i have exact same websites popping up everyday! Ive deleted almost every app i have. Any suggestions other then a factory reset??

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Hey guys
Im using the s9 and i have exact same websites popping up everyday! Ive deleted almost every app i have. Any suggestions other then a factory reset??

If you dont have the peels app , can look at this .

https://android.gadgethacks.com/how-to/theres-easy-way-stop-random-popup-ads-android-0205334/

 

[Tony H1]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Thanks but i just deleted the peel app aswell! Hope this works!

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Thanks but i just deleted the peel app aswell! Hope this works!

Ok...let me know, also did you restart the phone after deleting the peels app?

 

[Tony H1]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Nit yet will do it right now!!

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Ok..

Nit yet will do it right now!!

 

[Rukbat]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

https://android.gadgethacks.com/how-to/theres-easy-way-stop-random-popup-ads-android-0205334/

Great catch, mustang. Thanks. I have it bookmarked now, for future popup problems posted here.

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Samsung Internet opening to random spam sites

Great catch, mustang. Thanks. I have it bookmarked now, for future popup problems posted here.

Your welcome, I found some good tips , I also bookmark it .

 

[William Peppers]

I saw this thread and uninstalled peel remote, this seems to have fixed mine as well. Note 8

Thanks everyone for getting to the source. If this comes up again I'll reply back.

 

[Slicey-O-Gnarley]

I've been having this EXACT same problem with my Samsung Galaxy S5 for the past month or two. The sad thing is, I've ALWAYS kept the Peel Remote disabled because of all the pop-ups it caused in the past..I feel like an ***** for not figuring this out on my own!

I will say this, however; you guys were lucky if your phones were only bombarding you with minimal pop-ups...I'd get over a dozen, easily, on a daily basis. I've even opened my phone to 6 or 7 tabs that stacked up in the browser while I wasn't using my phone for a few short hours.
Has anyone contacted Peel or Samsung about this yet? It's absolutely retarded that a preset app would be so janky and not even removable!

 

[Chris Roach1]

Just came to say I have exactly the same problem, same sites on my s9+ in the last week or two. Will try uninstalling the browser update

 

[MaxwellsMama]

I have been having this issue as well on my Note 8 and found on the Galaxy store for internet browsers response from a rep. They say Peel remote app is causing this issue. I have this app so uninstalled it and will see if it helps.