Malware on budget Chinese smartphones, for G/F who hardly uses web?

DEBTMONKEY1A · 17 November 2018 at 9:07AM

Morning all! G/F's 2nd had Samsung S3 mini is I fear on its way out. Battery is not really holding charge & call quality/volume is not great.

Found her a good priced HomTom H16 smartphone on EBay....better camera/battery life/processor & ROM with SD card, this is ordered & on its way.

Aware of all horror stories online re: _operating systems pre installed malware/spyware.

Two questions.....

1-Any freeware mobile apps that will get rid of or at least warn of an infection?

2- She does no social media/online banking. She 'may' send the odd picture if i get Yahoo Mail set up on new phone & very, very occasionally do a Google search to check for example live flight arrivals or other general stuff. Possible ultra rare viewing on mobdro or the like of news or weather, but 95% of time just text/talk, possible Google duo on occasion via WiFi if she's overseas for video chatting.

Any ideas/thoughts on the above? Thanks!:T

DCFC79 · 17 November 2018 at 9:12AM

DEBTMONKEY1A wrote: »

Morning all! G/F's 2nd had Samsung S3 mini is I fear on its way out. Battery is not really holding charge & call quality/volume is not great.

Found her a good priced HomTom H16 smartphone on EBay....better camera/battery life/processor & ROM with SD card.

Aware of all horror stories online re: _operating systems pre installed malware/spyware.

Two questions.....

1-Any freeware mobile apps that will get rid of or at least warn of an infection?

2- She does no social media/online banking. She 'may' send the odd picture if i get Yahoo Mail set up on new phone & very, very occasionally do a Google search to check for example live flight arrivals or other general stuff. Possible ultra rare viewing on mobdro or the like of news or weather, but 95% of time just text/talk, possible Google duo on occasion via WiFi if she's overseas for video chatting.

Any ideas/thoughts on the above? Thanks!:T

Why not go for 1 of the Honor phones, the 7A or 7S are on Amazon for under £100.
Honor are a sub brand of Huawei.

DEBTMONKEY1A · 17 November 2018 at 11:21AM

Hi! Phone I'm afraid already ordered & in transit & funds very tight due to sick pay.

[Deleted User] · 17 November 2018 at 11:34AM

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.malwarebytes.antimalware&rdid=org.malwarebytes.antimalware

nic_c · 17 November 2018 at 12:46PM

malwarebytes is good as the prev poster pointed out. Are you suggesting the malware is in the ROM or because you are buying from china sometimes they have loaded malware onto it before shipping?

Some phones will come with pre-installed software, its not malware but bloatware (unwanted apps that occupy ram and may consume some data).

DEBTMONKEY1A · 17 November 2018 at 12:59PM

Hi! Again thanks for replies. Will download and run malwarebytes prior to her using phone. I use malwarebytes on my windows PC & it is good.

In answer to last post I read somewhere that the malware/spyware is installed in the processor (begining with 'MK?!!!'). also..... Any EASY freeware to remove bloatware???

My G/F had a cheap Chinese phone a few years back and of its own accord it downloaded manga !!!!!!....much to her dismay lol! Admittedly NO malware/spyware scanners at the time were installed or ran to clear this !!!

Malware on budget Chinese smartphones, for G/F who hardly uses web?

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