Four Virus after using Malwarebytes

fotografffic · Dec 27, 2017

I've been following this thread about Malware. So last night I installed the free version of Malwarebytes on my SmartPhone from the Google Play store and ran it. It found nothing. However, because of all the annoying ads I uninstalled the program.

When I used my browser a few minutes later I got the message that my system was "heavily damaged by Four virus!"

I, of course, did not click on the button and closed the browser. After doing some research, I was able to get rid of this message.

But my question is why did this happen almost immediately after I installed, ran and uninstalled Malwarebytes? Did not have this problem before using Malwarebytes.

wklee · Dec 27, 2017

fotografffic said:
I've been following this thread about Malware. So last night I installed the free version of Malwarebytes on my SmartPhone from the Google Play store and ran it. It found nothing. However, because of all the annoying ads I uninstalled the program.

When I used my browser a few minutes later I got the message that my system was "heavily damaged by Four virus!"

I, of course, did not click on the button and closed the browser. After doing some research, I was able to get rid of this message.

But my question is why did this happen almost immediately after I installed, ran and uninstalled Malwarebytes? Did not have this problem before using Malwarebytes.

I suspect it is just scareware. Something to frighten people into believing there is a real threat when there probably isn’t any. I have not tried Malwarebytes on Android.

Keekerseeker · Dec 27, 2017

I use Malwarebytes on Android,,on my tablet , have not had any issue like you describe. Or ads.

ormdig · Dec 27, 2017

Hi, where did you download Mbam from?

Patco · Dec 27, 2017

ormdig said:
Hi, where did you download Mbam from?

mclewis · Dec 27, 2017

fotografffic said:
I've been following this thread about Malware. So last night I installed the free version of Malwarebytes on my SmartPhone from the Google Play store and ran it. It found nothing. However, because of all the annoying ads I uninstalled the program.

AV can't do anything on Android or iOS due to the way they work.

Member said:
When I used my browser a few minutes later I got the message that my system was "heavily damaged by Four virus!"

You did not have a virus. It was just a screen to scare you from a dubious internet ad/site. Close the browser and clear it's cache and it will be gone.

fotografffic · Dec 27, 2017

Patco said:
ormdig said:

Hi, where did you download Mbam from?

--
Pete

Click to expand...

Original post: "from the Google Play store".

Yes, from the Google Playstore.

fotografffic · Dec 27, 2017

Keekerseeker said:
I use Malwarebytes on Android,,on my tablet , have not had any issue like you describe. Or ads.

I'll try it again. The Four Virus was probably just a coincidence but the timing was kind of uncanny.

I misspoke by saying ads. It was nag screens to get their premium service. A number of people in this forum say they use the free version.

fotografffic · Dec 27, 2017

mclewis said:
You did not have a virus. It was just a screen to scare you from a dubious internet ad/site. Close the browser and clear it's cache and it will be gone.

Where the heck did it come from? As I mentioned in a previous post, the timing was uncanny...right after running Malwarebytes.

I did exactly what you suggested. Thanks for your input.

fotografffic · Dec 27, 2017

I downloaded MalwareBytes again on my Android 7 phone and ran another scan. It's telling me I have an Insecure Android Setting and should Encrypt my device.

I know little about encryption and, when I did a search, there are a number of negatives about encrypting a phone.

Do you encrypt your phone?

Thanks again for any insights you can provide.

CAcreeks · Dec 27, 2017

fotografffic said:
Patco said:

ormdig said:

Hi, where did you download Mbam from?

Click to expand...

Original post: "from the Google Play store".

Click to expand...

Yes, from the Google Playstore.

Did your phone screen look anything like this? The line "28.1% DAMAGED" makes me laugh. Such precision! I don't feel a phone is "heavily damaged" until it reaches 53.9%, what are they thinking?

fotografffic · Dec 27, 2017

CAcreeks said:
Did your phone screen look anything like this? The line "28.1% DAMAGED" makes me laugh. Such precision! I don't feel a phone is "heavily damaged" until it reaches 53.9%, what are they thinking?

Yes it looked just like that (I have a screenshot, which I'll probably email to my friends with a warning).

I suppose they were thinking that many unsuspecting people would freak out and click on the Repair button.

wklee · Dec 27, 2017

fotografffic said:
CAcreeks said:

Did your phone screen look anything like this? The line "28.1% DAMAGED" makes me laugh. Such precision! I don't feel a phone is "heavily damaged" until it reaches 53.9%, what are they thinking?

Click to expand...

Yes it looked just like that (I have a screenshot, which I'll probably email to my friends with a warning).

I suppose they were thinking that many unsuspecting people would freak out and click on the Repair button.

Always check the location bar or address bar for the actual website.

captura · Dec 27, 2017

I would avoid using any anti-malware programs on an Android device.

Mark H · Dec 27, 2017

Malwarebytes is 'second rate' malware protection (and I'm being generous).

Scroll down to page 8 of this AV-Comparatives report...

https://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/avc_android_201702_en.pdf

[ From https://www.av-comparatives.org/mobile-security/ ]

...you'll see there is a whole raft of well known alternative vendors that provide superior protection - many free of charge (Avast, Avira etc).

Tom_N · Dec 27, 2017

CAcreeks said:
Did your phone screen look anything like this? The line "28.1% DAMAGED" makes me laugh. Such precision! I don't feel a phone is "heavily damaged" until it reaches 53.9%, what are they thinking?

I wouldn't be surprised to find that the mention of "recent adult sites" was a bald-faced lie, designed to keep the intended victim from showing the screen to someone else who might recognize a phishing / "would you please install our malware for us" attempt for what it is.

Just as the use of the Google logo is most certainly without Google's approval …

mclewis · Dec 28, 2017

Mark H said:
Malwarebytes is 'second rate' malware protection (and I'm being generous).

Scroll down to page 8 of this AV-Comparatives report...

https://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/avc_android_201702_en.pdf

[ From https://www.av-comparatives.org/mobile-security/ ]

...you'll see there is a whole raft of well known alternative vendors that provide superior protection - many free of charge (Avast, Avira etc).

None of them can actually detect viruses on Android. All they can do is look at what apps you have installed and see if any match a list of dodgy apps they have. Actual virus scanning is not possible on Android due to the way it works.

captura · Dec 28, 2017

mclewis said:
Mark H said:

Malwarebytes is 'second rate' malware protection (and I'm being generous).

Scroll down to page 8 of this AV-Comparatives report...

https://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/avc_android_201702_en.pdf

[ From https://www.av-comparatives.org/mobile-security/ ]

...you'll see there is a whole raft of well known alternative vendors that provide superior protection - many free of charge (Avast, Avira etc).

Click to expand...

None of them can actually detect viruses on Android. All they can do is look at what apps you have installed and see if any match a list of dodgy apps they have. Actual virus scanning is not possible on Android due to the way it works.

I have found Malwarebytes to be convenient and fast on my Windows computers.

fotografffic · Dec 28, 2017

mclewis said:
Actual virus scanning is not possible on Android due to the way it works.

Can you kindly explain this?

Are you saying that malware and scanners are not necessary on an Android phone? I've vaguely remember reading this somewhere. I never download apps from anywhere but Google Play and my setting for allowing installation of apps from unknown sources is OFF.

Under Device administrators, Find My Device is checked. Malwarebybes listed itself there but it is unchecked; same for Outlook Device Policy (I have no idea what this is).

captura · Dec 28, 2017

fotografffic said:
captura said:

I would avoid using any anti-malware programs on an Android device.

Click to expand...

Someone else mentioned this in another part of this thread and I'm wondering why you recommend avoiding these programs? Are you only talking about smartphones, or do you mean PCs too?

Thanks!

I did. Read:

1 - Android Antivirus Apps Are Useless — Here’s What to Do Instead

Loading…

www.extremetech.com

"It really just takes a tiny bit of common sense to avoid Android malware."

2 - Also, anti-malware apps are just an invitation to get apps that cling-on.

3 - The standard advice for Android users to avoid downloading malicious apps is simple: Only get apps from the official Google Play Store

Loading…

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