sujet Re: An app called "System Update" that has a LOT of permissions? dans Mobile Apps & Services

An app called "System Update" that has a LOT of permissions?

SammySammySAmmy — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:35:57 GMT

Hello everyone. I've had suspicous activity on my Google and Amazon accounts which led me to this point.

I've found this system app called.... System Update. I found a few stories a couple of years ago mentioning an virus with an app with the same name. However, as the name is so generic, as a search term "system update" is really hard to research.

Malwarebytes, Bitdefender, Norton and Certo came up clean. However, some element of doubt remains, expescailly as the details around it's origin are scant; not from Google or Samsung.

I did a factory reset using the power button and volume keys (as the other way wouldn't work unless I rejoined my wifi) but it was still there afterwards!

Any advice would be apprieciated as I'm about to bin the phone and get a different one. I did buy it reconditioned, so am now wondering if the phone has something naughty installed on it?!

Re: An app called "System Update" that has a LOT of permissions?

grafter — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:29:53 GMT

Do you think this system update app could be a bug or monitoring my phone spy app

Re: An app called "System Update" that has a LOT of permissions?

grafter — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:30:07 GMT

Green icon app

Re: An app called "System Update" that has a LOT of permissions?

AndrewL — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:47:02 GMT

@SammySammySAmmy: Please can you confirm the model number and current Android version of your device? These details can be found in Settings > About phone.

Do you also have an app listed in Settings > Apps called 'Software update' with a similar, circular arrow icon (as shown in the screenshot above from @grafter)?

Re: An app called "System Update" that has a LOT of permissions?

SammySammySAmmy — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 15:51:01 GMT

I have both of those on my phone too.

Re: An app called "System Update" that has a LOT of permissions?

SammySammySAmmy — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:00:42 GMT

I forgot to mention that I noticed that my phone indicated that I had an old version of Play Store: up until last night I had June 1st's Play Store version; I had to disconnect from WiFi to update it. Before that Play Store insisted I had an up-to-date version and when trying to update via Software Information - Google Play system update, it constantly failed. I now have the September 1 2024 version.

Model Name: SM-S901U1

One UI: 6.1

Android 14

And yes, I have both Software Update apps, just as Grafter does.

Thank you both for this.

Re: An app called "System Update" that has a LOT of permissions?

AndrewL — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 17:21:52 GMT

@SammySammySAmmy: This is certainly a bit of a mystery. Have you downloaded any APK files, ROMs, or any other form of unauthorised software onto your Galaxy S22? For instance, if you head to Settings > About phone > Status information > Phone status, does it say 'Official'? Have you tried scanning the device via Settings > Device care > App protection > Scan phone, to see if this flags any suspicious activity?

Re: An app called "System Update" that has a LOT of permissions?

SammySammySAmmy — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 17:40:04 GMT

I haven't side-loaded anything. The status stills says 'Official'. App Protection (which looks like it doesn't scan system apps anyway) says 'No Threats Found'.

Bitdefender confirms that the phone hasn't been rooted.

Since updating Play Store, it now shows two versions of my phone. I've tried to delete banking apps etc from it, with no luck.