Android and the "Green +" notifications and spam

[doconeill]

At the top of the podcast, Pete mentioned getting this notification spam on his Android device. I started getting it some time ago, and did a fair amount of research. It's an advertisement network called "AirPush", which you can get from a downloaded or even an updated app.

It starts sending you notifications that can look like application updates. It tried to tell me there was a new "advanced" Android Market version. And it would give me notifications at any time - including in the night.

And it can also place icons on your phone's screens, that then link to web sites or downloads.

You can limit some of what it can do, but not everything.

I had actually thought the phone had somehow been compromised with a virus.

I recommend using an app called "Addon Detector". It will scan all of your apps, and tell you what "addons" each one has in terms of advertister networks, etc. It found the one with AirPush, and I promptly removed it from my phone. The app had recently been updated to include AirPush, but they didn't SAY that...

 

[OKW Lover]

This does sound like virus behavior. Certainly a Trojan. Hopefully there is a way to disable it totally.

 

[doconeill]

This does sound like virus behavior. Certainly a Trojan. Hopefully there is a way to disable it totally.

I don't know if I'd classify it quite as such, but rather a very unfriendly addon to an app that some app developers use to make money - which usually means you can't disable it. However, it CAN be used as a vector to get you to install something even less friendly. You have to get rid of the app it came on. For me, it was some random free game that I didn't actually play any more.

 

[tjevans]

Yet another reason not to use Android.

 

[AndyPok1]

Yet another reason not to use Android.

Even with the (limited in my opinion) downsides such as this, I find Android infinitely better than the iOS. I have all my calendar appointments on my main screen of my phone so that I see them constantly, and until Apple finds a way to do that, I simply can't fathom using it.

Also, I've had an Android for almost a year now, and have never stumbled upon any app doing this. So it isn't widespread by any means.

 

[doconeill]

I've only come across it on one app...but about a year ago a lot of analysts actually expected it to get used a lot for free apps. Hasn't happened yet.

Also about a year ago, AirPush was supposedly voluntarily backing off some of the nastier aspects of their stuff, but that doesn't actually appear to have happened either.

 

[tjevans]

Even with the (limited in my opinion) downsides such as this, I find Android infinitely better than the iOS. .

(Having used both Android and iOS, it will be a cold day in August in the Magic Kingdom before I go back to Android) I'm not here to debate the relative merits of the different mobile OS's. Each has their pluses and minuses. I just can't help taking a pot shot every now and then.

I am wondering, though, what Pete, who I thought was as big of an Apple fanboy as me, is doing with an Android device.