Some program is showing ads on my desktop... How can I catch it?

Question

Some program keeps showing me ads on the main page every now and then. It's extremely annoying, and I'm unable to catch it. Is there a way I can detect it to remove it?

When the ad shows up, I try to hold the home button to see the app name, but it disappears. Sometimes the ad is a link, so it asks me for the browser to use. My device is rooted.

check Settings > Apps > Running and look for 3rd party apps that you installed. One of them is responsible. — Bharat G, Oct 18 '15 at 15:57
@BharatG Thanks for the suggestion. I tried that already actually. There are many... Trying one by one will take a very long time as an ad is shown every 15-20 minutes. — The Quantum Physicist, Oct 18 '15 at 15:59
you can try to disable some apps from starting at boot to check. like autostart manager. i don't know allowed here or not but the bigtincan may be useful too. — Iftekhar, Oct 18 '15 at 17:12
@lftekharAS I will do that once I know what app is doing that! — The Quantum Physicist, Oct 18 '15 at 17:23
Look thorough your third party apps. Think about what apps might be a bit suspicious. Adware is usually hidden in apps not made by large corporations. — Ethan Z, Oct 18 '15 at 17:40
See if my answer helps you: Find what app is causing popups, NOT in notification bar — Firelord, Oct 18 '15 at 18:25
@EthanZ I couldn't find anything suspicious, that's why I'm posting the question... I removed half of my apps and still... :( — The Quantum Physicist, Oct 18 '15 at 18:50

score 5 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 19 '15 at 17:27

Finding the Source

For Android >4.1

If your device is running Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" or higher, you can just press and hold on notifications and your device will tell you who is generating them.

For Android <4.1

Use Airpush Detector. This application has a big list of apps that create banner ads. If it finds an application it knows of, it will tell you and ask you to uninstall.

Stopping the Future Problems

Use an Adblocker to Block Ads:

AdFree (Recommended)
AdBlock Plus
Ad Away

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 18 '15 at 22:27

1

I installed AdBlock Plus (not the browser, click on the gray link in below the big link in the middle) and AdAway and this solved the problem. Unfortunately this works only if your device is rooted.

answered Oct 18 '15 at 22:27

The Quantum Physicist

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Good to hear that the problem solved, but isn't adaway alone enough for you? Why are you using two ad blockers? – Firelord Oct 19 '15 at 00:06
What grey link are you talking about? did you not think maybe they might change their website design? – barlop Jul 27 '19 at 18:39
@barlop It's dead now. I now use DNS666 from Aptoide store. – The Quantum Physicist Jul 27 '19 at 20:49
@TheQuantumPhysicist thanks. I used Airpush detector which was mentioned in Matt's answer. It found two culprit apps. I'll try DNS666 too. – barlop Jul 27 '19 at 23:49

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 18 '15 at 23:24

You can install AdwCleaner! With it you can remove Adware,PUP/LPI (Potentially Undesirable Program), Toolbars! I have used it, and its very good! It does a great job!

Then you can use adblock plus, to prevent any other ads from showing up! But first use adwcleaner!

Some program is showing ads on my desktop... How can I catch it?

3 Answers3

Finding the Source

Stopping the Future Problems

Linked