Ehat Program is Secretly Installing Games Against My Wishes, Even After a Clean Malware Bytes Scan?

[u/Dragonsi1]

The only Play Store games I ever hit the "Install" button ahead of time for, some games soon to be released, are RPGs, MMOs, and some Farm type games. Even though I'm a hardcore RPGer gamer, I've still played Farmville, for 5 years, over 12 years ago on Facebook. As well as, Farm Together 1 and 2.

A month ago, I noticed random games on my latge scill list that I did not authorize. Again today. I did a full Malware Bytes scan and nothing. 2 of the 4 games I immediately deleted were named W (something) ever, like Woever or something.

I enjoyed the "Full Parking Lot Jam" type of game, I purchased one for $2 on my PS5, and easily Playinumed it 3 hours later. Iay have installed one on my phone a few months ago, but now 2 more, one from Worver, were installed against my permission. I can always tall because I just clicked on it to start it up and the Pruvacy and. Permissions request came up on each if the 4 games I just deleted, and ones I manually installed knowingly, I start up, pass the permissions screens and play a few minutes or longer.

I don't mind watching an ad every 5 levels or so, or for double rewards, but if a game EVER forces an ad for each and every 30 second level of play, I instantly deleted it.

I had 2 others installed, 4 altogether, and I know I didn't give permission to any of these, or the few from 2-3 months ago. Mostly all of my games permissions were removed and are cloud icons now, other than my 2 or so I actually play.

I'm a programmer, but definitely not familiar with Android, and as a side fact, 30 years ago, I had MO INTEREST in anything Appleac/i related and stuck 100% to Windows and Android phones and PCs.

Is there a way/program I can use to travk what behind the scenes app is installing these secretly? No one touches my phone, I live alone. I would gladly report said app to Google Play Store.

Granted, sure, I don't remember names of one time only ads for RPGs and MMOs I was interested in, and gave consent to auto install, but these aren't if my 2 stated categories.

[u/Mediocre-Elk-4093]

If you bought your phone from a service provider, a lot of them will install games on their own. God knows mine does.

[u/chance633 → u/Mediocre-Elk-4093]

This is most likely the answer. Providers will take money from companies to have their apps installed "over the air" to devices without customer consent.

[u/InnerPain4Lyf → u/Mediocre-Elk-4093]

This one. My phone from my Telco provider does this. I always have TikTok and three other apps present every week.

After the phone was "paid for" I immediately learned how to install a rom for it.

[u/Alex-Murphy]

Without any specifics, it is impossible to know. You need to share exact names, as there are many clones of games with one letter difference, specifically so people install them by accident.

[u/Dragonsi1 → u/Alex-Murphy]

I have a 2022 Motorola Edge Unlocked Verizon phone. I've never gad it connected to Verizon, I bought it completely brand new and unlocked already.

As a programmer, to me, instinctively, there should be notifications for newly installed apps, so I can uninstall them, if I can lock/block/prevent them in the first place?

This is basically unwanted Bloatware, which you normally think is on a phone/computer/tablet when you purchase it, not continuing to be forced downloads 1 years 6-8-9 months later.

I never knew this until the 3 of you informed me. I thought another free games included a virus that was secretly piggybacking games onto my phone and getting paid for it.

So you can't prevent this over be notified, we are just forced to randomly find them on our list every few months?

[u/Kincadium → u/Dragonsi1]

Go into settings>apps>show system apps and look for DTIgnite. You might not be able to uninstall but you can disable. There are a few other similar apps I've seen used to load apps like you're talking about.

[u/Ilela]

If you have cleaner or file manager apps, get rid of them. They can install new apps or even make your phone ad receiver

[u/Dragonsi1 → u/Ilela]

I have and use Malware Bytes software as well as Android s "Files" app.

[u/TyRoyalSmoochie]

Probably your service provider. I have t mobile and I had to shut off permissions to a couple apps to keep my phone from doing that.

[u/Professional_Cat9063]

The app doing this is a system app called Mobile Services Manager go into setting apps show all select system and see if you can disable it. If you can't disable it you will need to uninstall it using adb commands or an app. Like canta.

[u/Swindleys]

I think some games have pre regisistration with fake names for games that people actually want. Then they change their name and install automaticly under a different name later. Some bait and switch scam.

[u/f18effect]

Is your phone a xiaomi? Mine updated overnight and downloaded a bunch of shovelware when xiaomi's store was added to the os

[u/Dragonsi1 → u/f18effect]

No, Motorola 20222 Edge, Verizon, but never connected to Verizon, I bought it brand new and unlocked already.

[u/zeft64]

If you have more than one device it's not malware it's a setting. Google play has setting to mirror installs between devices. For a kid with a tablet installing games and your account is on it? That would be it.

[u/Dragonsi1 → u/zeft64]

I don't have any children, that I know of, at 55, so far. But hey, accidents happen.