I've had a Samsung Galaxy A52 5G for about two years, but today ads suddenly started appearing even when I'm on the home screen. When I opened the recent-apps view, the source appeared as a blank white or gray icon that doesn't match any app I recognize. I've tried using SD Maid, but it hasn't helped. The display also seems to glitch briefly every five to ten minutes, although I'm not sure whether that's related. What's the safest way to identify and remove the app causing this, and is there a trustworthy security tool I should use?
3 Answers
This sounds more like adware than a problem SD Maid can fix. Check Settings > Apps and carefully review the complete list, including recently installed apps. Look for anything unfamiliar, especially apps pretending to be a flashlight, document scanner, battery optimizer, firmware tool, or similar utility. A blank-looking entry in the recent-apps screen could be involved, but don’t delete anything just because its icon looks unusual—check its install date, permissions, and app details first. Uninstall suspicious apps, then restart the phone. You can also run Google Play Protect and boot into Safe Mode; if the ads stop in Safe Mode, a third-party app is almost certainly responsible.
It could be, especially if it appeared recently or has permission to display over other apps. Check its app details and install date. Don’t remove genuine Samsung system components, but an unfamiliar third-party app with that name should be treated cautiously.
The screen glitches may be unrelated, so don’t assume every symptom comes from the adware. After removing suspicious apps, install the latest system updates and test the phone in Safe Mode. If the display still glitches there, back up your data and have Samsung support or a repair shop check the phone. A factory reset is a last resort, but make sure your photos and important files are backed up first.
Check Settings > Apps > Special access > Appear on top. This lists apps allowed to draw over other apps, which is the permission adware often uses for home-screen ads. Revoke that permission from anything unfamiliar, then uninstall it. Also inspect your browser notification permissions and remove notifications from websites you don’t recognize. Avoid installing random cleaner or antivirus apps; Play Protect and Safe Mode are better first steps.
Would an app named “Firmware Utility” be suspicious? I don’t remember installing it.