Any way to detect app that is causing ads?

justaquestion

Hi folks,

I have have a few kindle fire tablets that have the amazon adverts removed on the home screen, but still get quite a few pop up ads while I am using the tablets. I did install the play store from HowtoGeek and just wondering if maybe the ability to run pop up ads comes along with that package.

Anyways what I would like to know is there any sure way of finding out what apps or apps are causing these full screen pop up ads?

There are a number of apps in the play store that claim to do this but the reviews aren't encouraging?

any help appreciated.

Neil_Jones

Uninstall them all.

Reinstall one by one. The last app you install is the culprit.
That being said, most apps only ever do something like this when you're using them so check for widgets or launchers or something like that that you don't stereotypically run.

AndyPix

Neil_Jones wrote: »

Uninstall them all.

Reinstall one by one. The last app you install is the culprit.
.

Good advice - however most of the ad slingers usually "behave" for a specific amount of time before starting to pop these up , precisely to avoid being detected as above

justaquestion

Thanks for replies.

So you think it is unlikely that the google package to install the play store on the kindle is the culprit?

esuhl

Apparently there's a version of MalwareBytes for the Kindle. I don't know if it's any good, but maybe worth a go...?

justaquestion

Thanks for replies.

I found the app that was causing the popups by installing another app from the Play store called Popup ad detector, what it does is, it has a little icon that sits on left side of home screen of tablet, and this icon always changes to the icon of the last app you have opened.

So when full screen ads appeared it changed to the icon of the app that was causing the popups, (which I then uninstalled) an app that I had used for a long time without problems but obviously they sneaked the ads in on a recent update.

so glad I got it sorted as these sudden full screen ads are a real pain to get rid of.

Malwarebytes or any antivirus and I have tried a few, will not detect any malware and I had run a good number of scans.

Neil_Jones

Apps that cause full screen adverts to appear are not necessarily malware, quite a few free apps do this - a few of the games definitely do in-between rounds.

AndyPix

justaquestion wrote: »

Malwarebytes or any antivirus and I have tried a few, will not detect any malware and I had run a good number of scans.

They are completely useless on a phone - this has been discussed to death in previous threads

zaax

Try Glasswire. You will be amazed what is sending data