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Original poster

Livid - porn on my phone! please help

457 replies

bibbitybobbityyhat · 15/07/2016 08:12

I'm not the most tech savvy person, can anyone help please?

Last night I was posting on Mumsnet and an advert for a sex chat site appeared out of nowhere which had a close up video of a woman using a vibrator on herself that completely filled the screen Angry.

How did I inadvertently do this? It was on the Louise Mensch thread, I followed a link to the tweet and read it, then went back to post my message. I think when I hit post is when the porn appeared but I can't be entirely sure. I couldn't work out how to get it to stop either for a minute, or how to close the page.

I don't want porn on my phone ffs! What can I do?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
41
AYD2MITalkTalk · 20/07/2016 11:12

Downloaded AVG and ran, just for fun. It discovered the shocking facts that I've copied things to my clipboard and that I allow sideloading.

On the plus side, as another poster pointed out, it doesn't seem to be happening at the moment, but that doesn't mean the problem doesn't need to be dealt with.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 20/07/2016 11:10

Apparently some of the malware containing apps have a time delay on them so that they don't start the malware side for a few weeks after installation to make it harder to ID them.

It is possible it is malware, it is also possible that it is rogue ads on MN - the nature of the problem makes it very hard to track down - if people can definitively say that it is not there phone that is the problem, that can help.

Cadsuane · 20/07/2016 11:05

No pokemon here either. And no threats found. So far it has only happened on my tablet an its been ages since i downloaded anything.

MummyBtothree · 20/07/2016 10:48

'CM security' is a good security app to download for free. I was getting porn etc popping up and I run the virus scan on this app now every day. The first time it found 7 viruses on my android phone and it solved them immediately. It also lets you block & report nuisance calls

RachelGoldberg · 20/07/2016 10:48

What a rubbish answer. I havent downloaded anything lately and it only happened on mumsnet, not any of the other .. 24.. websites I have used my phone for in the last day.

HopeArden · 20/07/2016 10:46

If I have to do a factory reset I am leaving this site because it is becomming more trouble than it's worth. I too am not a pokemon user and havent added any apps. I mostly just live here!

woodenmouse · 20/07/2016 10:45

I haven't downloaded any new apps recently and I don't get these sort of pop ups on any other website!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 20/07/2016 10:44

Yeah and I'm not panicking, I just don't want that sort of crap popping up on my sodding phoneHmm

GloGirl · 20/07/2016 10:41

I'm confused because a little bit happened slowly over a period of time and then there was a massive flurry of it happening on mumsnet last night and then quiet overnight and this morming.

I admit I am normally sceptical and presume other people are idiots.... until it happened to me. I'm not downloading rubbish and spamming my own phone. I don't think it's a coincidence and I'm a little disappointed in the answer from tech.

paxillin · 20/07/2016 10:32

Since it only happens using MN there are 2 solutions:

  1. Laborious factory reset, losing apps, data and settings
  2. Don't use MN
Artandco · 20/07/2016 10:30

Nope. I am using an iPhone, and haven't downloaded any apps for months

paxillin · 20/07/2016 10:27

I don't do pokemon go. I have a malware detector on my android device and it only happens when using MN. No other webpage has directed me to porn and I had no other tabs open. I am not convinced this is the solution. It hasn't happened today yet.

AYD2MITalkTalk · 20/07/2016 10:27

Additionally, ISTR at least one person upthread mentioning that they're on iOS, which suggests that Safari on iOS is less vulnerable to whatever this is, but not immune.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 20/07/2016 10:25

one which isn't exactly internationally renowned for its attention to security…)

That!!

AYD2MITalkTalk · 20/07/2016 10:25

Don't worry, BTW, I'm not "panicking"; I've been removing tricky trojan infestations from computers for years, and won't be "panicking". Could you tell us any more about this malware?

AYD2MITalkTalk · 20/07/2016 10:22

Really? A whole load of us have simultaneously downloaded malware that makes porn appear on one particular selected website? The only thing I've downloaded lately is MyFitnessPal. TBH I'm loath to do a full backup and factory reset just for porn on one website (one which isn't exactly internationally renowned for its attention to security…). Yes, I know I should be doing regular backups anyway. Shoot me. Grin

Are you absolutely, utterly sure the problem isn't at your end? Because this is a lot of hassle for your users if it turns out the problem is yours.

PeaceOfWildThings · 20/07/2016 10:21

Thanks for this. I'd hit a link a few days ago, then yesterday had porn pop up while browsing MN. It is reassuring that I'm not the only one!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 20/07/2016 10:21

Just double checked and scanned for viruses, no threats found.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 20/07/2016 10:19

In fact first time it happened I had a different phone so this one is new. Both have anti virus.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 20/07/2016 10:18

Nothing to do with Pokemon and it's been happening a long time- I think I reported it at least 6 weeks ago.

Only happens on MN ,never at any other time.

MNHQ
danielbtech · 20/07/2016 10:14

Hi all,

Dan from Tech here, we're sorry to hear this is happening, nothing worse than going to a thread about school uniforms and being blasted with porn popups.

Reading through this thread it looks like this is happening to people using android devices, so it sounds like some malware/vicious app has been downloaded onto your phones. At the moment there seems to be a big issue with fake versions of the Pokemon Go app that seem to be causing malware issues, you can read more about that here:
www.ibtimes.co.uk/pokemon-go-fake-android-app-delivers-first-ever-lockscreen-malware-that-clicks-porn-ads-1570930

But don't panic these can be removed. Here are some tips on how to get rid of malware on your device:

www.androidcentral.com/help-my-android-has-malware

The general idea is to remove any suspicious apps from your phone, download some anti virus software onto your device like AVG and run a scan to check if any malware remains. If those fail then I would backup anything from your phone you would like to keep like photos/messages and do a full factory reset. Obviously this is a last resort just incase the first two don't work.

Let me know if you need anymore information on this Smile

Sooverthis · 20/07/2016 07:31

It's hAppening on my kindle fire but I have ads turned off

paxillin · 20/07/2016 01:56

Had the same today on android tablet, porn and gambling. I had a hotel ad just before that on the top edge of the screen both times, might be coincidence.

SouthWestmom · 19/07/2016 23:19

Just had that happen , was scrolling Active and ended up on local 'ladlies' - kindle fire

specialsubject · 19/07/2016 23:08

And the virus pop up too.

Stay off mn everyone - wouldn't want this on my laptop!