Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Messages with Links to Malware

If the "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" pop-up message below shows up on your phone while you are browsing the web or using a certain app, please do not follow the instructions in it, just ignore it because it is a fake. The fake message or adware has been created by cybercriminals to frighten and trick mobile users into visiting malicious websites, downloading malicious apps, visiting phishing websites that steal personal and financial information, or visiting spam websites.

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Fake Mobile Cleaner Update Required Messages with Links to Malware

The Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Message

Mobile Cleaner Update Required

Due to the hacking event reported on 6/9/2018, we have released a new Cleaner update and it is recommended it be applied to every Samsung SM-N950U phone.

Please update your Samsung SM-N950U device now by installing the latest Cleaner version: it takes up to 10 seconds to do.

0:00

If you do not do this, your Samsung device will stop working within 24 hours.

If the message popups on your mobile device and prevent you from doing anything else, please press the "Home" button on your mobile device, which will take you to the Home screen. Then, use the "Recent Apps" button to close the browser window or the app that is displaying the fake message. Or, just restart your mobile device.

Android users whose mobile devices are constantly getting pop-ups, can do the following to fix the problem:

  • Open your web browser on your Android phone and let the page load,
  • Go to "Settings,"
  • Click "Privacy,"
  • Click "Clear your Private Data" or "Clear browsing data,"
  • Clear your "Browser History" and Cache.

Also,

  • go to "Settings"
  • change your "Homepage" to www.google.com
  • Go back to "Settings"
  • Go to "Application Manager"
  • Remove all unknown apps, or apps you think may be causing the popups.

But, if you find yourself still being plagued with annoying pop-up messages after doing the above, here are some more steps to take to get rid of the annoying pests.

The most common way of getting adware is by downloading and installing non-trusted apps to your device that has the adware hidden in them.

  • First, let's boot into safe mode. This will deactivate all third-party apps installed on your device. If the pop up(s) have stopped, you know a third-party app is the source of the problem. If you can find the responsible app you will not have to reset your device.
  • Now, start by making a list of all recent downloads you made. Starting with the most recent, uninstall apps one by one until the pop-ups stop. Note which one took away the pop-ups. That way you can avoid it in the future and if possible report the app/download as spam/adware.

If the above steps did not work, you will need to perform a Factory Data Reset. But, before you do so, backup only the most important things you need then do the following:

  • Go to "Settings"
  • Tap "Backup Reset"
  • Uncheck "Automatic Restore"
  • Perform a Factory Data Reset (FDR)

Upon setting your device back up, make sure not to restore via your Google account. Select set up as New Device.

Check the comment section below for additional information, share what you know, or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. And, to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search Search engine.

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

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Comments, Questions, Answers, or Reviews

Comments (Total: 10)

To protect your privacy, please remove sensitive or identifiable information from your comments, questions, or reviews. We will use your IP address to display your approximate location to other users when you make a post. That location is not enough to find you.

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February 21, 2022 at 10:36 AM by
Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Messages with Links to Malware
an anonymous user from: Suffolk, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

I just got this today February 21st 2022 strangely enough it popped up on my DuckDuckGo app browser

Delete

October 15, 2021 at 10:56 AM by
Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Messages with Links to Malware
an anonymous user from: Montgomery, Dayton, Ohio, United States

I got the same thing but the date was october 14 2021 do I still do the same thing?

Delete

June 5, 2021 at 11:32 AM by
Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Messages with Links to Malware
an anonymous user from: Mill Hill, London, England, United Kingdom

Thank you, it was gonna happen to me. You saved my phone!

Delete

August 23, 2020 at 9:34 AM by
Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Messages with Links to Malware
an anonymous user from: Hull, England, United Kingdom

these people should be hunted down and jailed,

I get these popups while I'm using waze and have to clear them

down every half hour or so while i'm driving.

Delete

May 12, 2021 at 1:44 AM by
Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Messages with Links to Malware
an anonymous user from: West End, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

I say hunt them down and beat the fk out of 'em.

Delete

October 19, 2019 at 1:41 AM by
Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Messages with Links to Malware
an anonymous user from: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mobile cleaner update required or your phone will be locked in one day. I pressed ok but that site didnt work or anything shows up. Is any harm will happen?

Delete

October 19, 2019 at 7:29 AM by
Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Messages with Links to Malware
info

Once you didn't download and install a software or app, you should be OK.

Delete

June 28, 2019 at 1:08 AM by
Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Messages with Links to Malware
an anonymous user from: Brentwood, England, United Kingdom

a box keeps popping up which says:

"to update mobile protection or the phone will be locked in the next 24 hours."

It says it's from samsung. Is this a fake message?

Delete

August 13, 2019 at 7:03 PM by
Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Messages with Links to Malware
an anonymous user from: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

I've been getting those from android 24 updates.com & it says update mobile protection or phone will be locked in a day.

Delete

June 28, 2019 at 6:16 AM by
Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Messages with Links to Malware
info

Yes, it is a fake and scam message

Delete

Write Your Comment, Question, Answer, or Review

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Online Threat Alerts Security Tips

Pay the safest way

Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.

Guard your personal information

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.

Be careful of the information you share

Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with

Know who you’re dealing with

Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.

Check your accounts

Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.

Don’t believe promises of easy money

If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.

Do not open email from people you don’t know

If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

Think before you click

If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.

Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond

If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.

Be careful with links and new website addresses

Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

Secure your personal information

Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

Stay informed on the latest cyber threats

Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to online security.

Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs

Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

Update the operating systems on your electronic devices

Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

What if You Got Scammed?

Stop Contact With The Scammer

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Secure Your Finances

  • Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
  • Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:

Check Your Computer

If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.

Change Your Account Passwords

Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.

Report The Scam

Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:

  • Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
  • Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
  • Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.

How To Recognize a Phishing Scam

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

  • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
  • claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
  • say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
  • include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
  • want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
  • say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
  • offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.

By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.

With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.

Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.

Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

Fake "Mobile Cleaner Update Required" Messages with Links to Malware