Are there any ways to stop an app from repeatedly installing itself on my cell phone?

[Flower7]

There is an app that keeps appearing on my phone. I delete it several times per day, but it continues to re-appear. What can I do to stop it from coming back?

Some of the things I've tried so far: Restarting, changing my google password, changing settings to not let apps auto-update, doing a virus scan.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

@Flower7 I found this for you.. Don't know if it will work for you

Why is my phone installing apps by itself?
Uncheck Installation from unknown sources
Launch Settings on your phone and go to 'Security'. Now go the unknown sources and uncheck 'allow installation of an app from unknown sources'. This is the most basic and necessary step you must take in order to stop random apps installation.
https://innov8tiv.com/fix-random-apps-keep-installing/amp/
Also, try downloading Malwarebytes free for your cell phone it works
for Android and Apple .. My cousin has some issues with Apps downloading
Apps to her Android and I pressed Uninstall/ Force Stop and this can work too

[Flower7]

Thanks, I'll definitely try some of these. I have been doing the Uninstall/Force stop many times each day, but it doesn't respond to that. It just appears again a few hours later. But a lot of these other ones look very helpful!

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

@Flower7 You're welcome, Now it does sound like
Malware, Spyware, Virus. My cousin has this trouble
with her phone?

[Flower7]

I'm almost certain that it's a virus. It even has an icon next to it that looks like a virus. It looks like a robot face. The app is called "Beauty".

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

@Flower7 Yeah, I am certain there is an Antivirus app that is good for your cell phone
Hope you get this problem solved

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Thanks For Most Helpful Guy :)

[magiusX26]

go into settings, apps, find that app and uninstall. you ssid deleting. thats just getting rid of the icon

[Flower7]

Uninstalling was what I meant by deleting. But each time I uninstall, it still appears again a few hours later.

[magiusX26]

what app is it?

[magiusX26]

if it is a game, could be from the google play app thst you use to record stats on your games (little green icon)

[Flower7]

It calls itself "Beauty". It takes over my home screen, changes my wallpaper, and plays commercials. It also sometimes makes itself look like a game icon.

[Flower7]

But it's own icon is something that looks like a robot. Looks like a picture of a virus to me.

[magiusX26]

the green icon i was reffering to is for "play games"

[magiusX26]

what antivirus are you using?

[Flower7]

I don't have an antivirus program on my phone.

[Flower7]

I always thought those were only for computers so never thought about getting one on the phone.

[magiusX26]

nope. you sonetimes need them for the phone too. its rarely needed but sounds like you shoukd get 1 asap

[magiusX26]

try malwarebytes

[Flower7]

I'm downloading it right now, thanks for telling me about it!

[magiusX26]

np. have had 1 phone need that once. years ago

[magiusX26]

likely its attached to some other app and reinstalls from that. so most likely, once yoy find the source, you will loose anorher app. (possibly more if its tge kind to put roots into random other apps)

[magiusX26]

did this work for you?

[Flower7]

Unfortunately, no. I tried it and it can un-install the app itself, but it still re-installs itself after being deleted by malwarebytes.

Malwarebytes did show a larger malware problem that the app is attached to, but is not able to delete it. It's something called "Wireless Updates" and Malwarebytes says it can't delete it since it's a part of the basic system of the phone.

I might have to try doing a factory reset to get rid of that.

[magiusX26]

then you will have to do a system reset (factory reset). save all persinal data onto a sd card or something, if you use an sd card remove it from device, hold volume up button and power button till you get a nenu asking if you want to factory resey your phone. no guarentee this will kill the bad programming but is only option left besides buying a new phone

[magiusX26]

mite try searching some other antiviruses but highly doubt any of them can uncorrupt that system data its attached its self to

[Jjpayne]

I'm starting to think about the countdown movie 😂 but seriously... It's tough because even rebooting your phone, Google saves your choices into its memory cloud. I'd consider researching others that had the same problem using a Google search. Im sure this issue or even this app will come up, hopefully with a forum post with people that know what they are talking about

[Flower7]

Haha I haven't seen that movie yet but I've really been wanting to see it! I did watch the previews about it, so I know what you're talking about because I know the basic plot.

[Jjpayne]

The app keeps reinstalling on her phone :)

[888theGreat]

Don't ask me, I am not good with all this new stuff

[Flower7]

Me neither lol. That's why I'm here asking.

[Flower7]

I'm horrible with technology.

[Tstrbrainer]

Not an expert, but I think there's a setting where you can opt to not install apps from unknown sources, but I think it's already set that way in all phones

[simplelikeme]

Sometimes you have to double delete it out of your phone. Once as an app and once for being installed

[ThatGuy133]

Get an iPhone, apps don't install themselves on ios

[asshole_]

Not really, sounds like a virus though

[Flower7]

I'm almost sure that it's a virus.

[Flower7]

It definitely acts like one. Besides re-installing itself, it also takes over my home screen and changes the wallpaper.

[pizzalovershouse]

Yes delete it or disable it

[Flower7]

Every time I delete it, it re-installs itself.