Troubleshooting Your Parent’s Smartphone: Tackling Annoying Ad Viruses

When it comes to technology, our parents often rely on us for guidance. Recently, I found myself in the position of troubleshooting my mother’s Moto E22 smartphone, which had become plagued by an incessant stream of advertisements due to what I believe is a nasty virus.

Upon discovering the issue, I took immediate action to identify the root cause. First, I conducted a thorough examination of the device for any malicious applications or suspicious files. I also reviewed the permissions granted to various apps, particularly those that had the ability to display overlays on the screen, as these can often be a red flag.

Despite my efforts, I couldn’t find any unwanted downloads or installations in the typical locations. After exhausting those initial avenues, I was left feeling frustrated and in need of assistance.

If you’ve encountered a similar situation or have expertise in mobile security, your advice would be greatly appreciated. What effective strategies or tools have you found helpful in eradicating persistent adware from smartphones? Together, let’s navigate the challenges of keeping our loved ones’ devices secure and user-friendly.

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One Comment

  1. Hi there,

    Dealing with persistent adware on Android devices like the Moto E22 can be challenging, but there are several effective steps you can take to eliminate these intrusive ads:

    • Boot into Safe Mode: Restart your device in Safe Mode. This temporarily disables third-party apps, which can help identify if an app is causing the ads. To do this, press and hold the power button, then tap and hold “Power off” until the Safe Mode prompt appears.
    • Identify and Remove Malicious Apps: Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > See All Apps and look for any unfamiliar or suspicious applications. Uninstall any apps you don’t recognize or that were recently installed around the time the ads started.
    • Check App Permissions: Review permissions granted to apps, especially overlay permissions. You can do this under Settings > Apps & Notifications > Special app access > Draw over other apps. Disable overlay access for suspicious or unnecessary apps.
    • Install an Antivirus/Anti-Malware App: Use reputable tools like Malwarebytes for Android or Avast Mobile Security to scan and remove any malware or adware.
    • Clear Cache and Data: For suspected apps, clear cache and data via

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