Problem with Android App

Question

I am posting this here as the feedback button isn't working for me.

For quite a while I have used the SpanishDict App on my Samsung GalaxyJ5 however last Friday I bought a new phone of the same model. One of the first things I did was install the SpanishDict App however every time I opened it it went straight through to some kind of gaming sales site.

It then immediately gave me a message warning that my phone (model specified in the message) had been infected with a virus 4, and counting down the amount of time I had before terrible things would occur to my phone's operating system. I googled this problem and read that it is to do with something embedded in an App and that it has been noted occurring even in some Apps downloaded via Playstore.

Following the advice I found online I have uninstalled from my phone and now don't have the problem however SpanishDict App is my go to helper that I use many many times a day (I live in Spain!) and I feel as if my right arm has been cut off.

I want to re-install it but am a bit afraid to do so. I also thought you should be made aware of the problem. Do you have any advice?

You can send this to [e-mail]. - rac1, Aug 25, 2016

Thanks. Will do. - ErikainAndalusia, Aug 26, 2016

Answer 1

Hello Erikain,

Welcome to the SpanishDict forum

I'm sorry to hear of your bad experience ;(

I use a Samsung Galaxy S5 on the Android system and although I do not access this website through the app but one of my two browsers Mozilla for Android or Google, It seems that you may have initally downloaded a fake version of the SpanishDict app!

Normally, users are fairly safe using Google Play Store and Samsung Apps as secure means of avoiding dodgy 3rd party apps that contain bad links or viruses! However, something has clearly gone badly wrong here! In my view, a number of possible things could have happened:

1 The app is a fake but because the Spanishdict website has a very good reputation, it could have been accepted without adequate testing!

2 The app is genuine but has been hacked.

My advice:

I would suggest that until this prblem has been satisfactorily resolved that you either use the Mozilla for Android or Google Chrome app version, (downloading one or both of them) if necessary, both of which are especially designed for the Android Operating system, and that you access the SpanishDict website through one of these browsers, also ticking the box that allows you to see the full online version, until we are sure or have been advised what is the cause of this problem! This is the most secure option!

I also strongly recommend that you try to send feedback (if it is working) to the Administration team. I believe that a man called Stuart deals with technical problems! Please let him know the problems you have been experiencing. I suggest that you copy and paste your post into the feedback form. The managament/administration team need to know about problems like this! If someone has been releasing a fake app onto the market or hacking their genuine one, they will certainly need to take appropriate action!

Please also make sure that you are using / continuing to use an antivirus as a safeguarding method for your phone! I use the McAfee mobile security app, but if you don't like that version and would prefer a free version I believe that there are others designed for Android, too Perhaps somebody here could recommend a free antivrus app for Android Smart phones? It is certainly worth protecting yours!

I hope this helps

Thanks for your response. I will try the feedback form again. I was actually hoping that one of them would see my post as I didn't know how to get in contact with them any other way. I thought they should know. - ErikainAndalusia, Aug 25, 2016

I did download the app through Google Playstore and I also tried the desktop version with the same result. I will try Mozilla as per your suggestion and look into the security thing. It's a new phone so I assumed preloaded security - ErikainAndalusia, Aug 25, 2016

thank you for your help. much appreciated. - ErikainAndalusia, Aug 25, 2016

You are welcome, Erikain :) - FELIZ77, Aug 25, 2016

Yes, while it is true that normally phones do come preloaded with some security features, I have never heard of free antivrus apps being preloaded at factory! ;). - FELIZ77, Aug 25, 2016