Fullscreen adverts on Android - infuriating!

Pawnless Endgame · 13 Mar 2013 at 17:54

They appear like this, covers the app that you're trying to use, leaving just the status bar at the top visible.

I don't think it's spyware because it usually advertises Google Play which is on every Android device anyway (formerly Google Market). I think this type of advertising coincided with an update for Angry Birds Rio deployed earlier this week, as that was the first app to be affected. It appears every time you complete or fail a level. On Texas Holdem, it appears every 15 seconds, even on the game settings page, so it's no wonder I want to get rid of it!!

Tried installing Adblock Plus, the Android version of the popular Firefox mod but it only blocked the usual banner ads which I wasn't too bothered about. Fullscreen is taking it too far imo.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Nexus18 · 13 Mar 2013 at 18:01

Also find it infuriating, ageing, fat etc. booth have full screen ads like this.

Only way to get rid of it is to root and install the proper ad block app or buy the app and if you don't want to buy the ad free version, there are other ways......

Pawnless Endgame · 13 Mar 2013 at 18:15

It's affecting several apps, so I think it's a process that is running in the background. Is there a start-up monitor for Android with an Msconfig approach like on a Windows PC? I've been an Android user for 3 years and not sure why it's a problem now. Banner adverts are fine but I can't be stopped every 15 seconds while trying to call/raise/fold during a poker hand

As for the 'proper' Adblock, is it the same program but rooted or is it a different download?

Nexus18 · 13 Mar 2013 at 18:20

Hmmm, a rogue app then.

IIRC there is an app that can figure out what has ads being pushed etc. iirc by the appbrain app developers, app detector or something like that?

Nope different ad block app i.e. adaway and some other one, they integrate further and seem to do a better job of blocking ads, but you have to be rooted to use those adblock apps

Pawnless Endgame · 13 Mar 2013 at 21:56

Update: I uninstalled / reinstalled a few apps, tried out a few combos, and it does seem to be the update to Angry Birds Rio that caused the ads. The other Angry Birds, Seasons, Space etc are all fine.

Matteysan · 13 Mar 2013 at 22:00

Nexus18 said:
Hmmm, a rogue app then.

IIRC there is an app that can figure out what has ads being pushed etc. iirc by the appbrain app developers, app detector or something like that?

Nope different ad block app i.e. adaway and some other one, they integrate further and seem to do a better job of blocking ads, but you have to be rooted to use those adblock apps

Airpush Detector.

Pawnless Endgame · 21 Mar 2013 at 00:21

Just thought I'd update this thread:

I'm running an Android emulator on my PC called Bluestacks. I only have 3 apps on it - Firefox, Angry Birds and Texas Holdem. That's virtually all I have, and even the emulator is getting fullscreen ads! Therefore I'm shifting the problem from being spyware / Trojanesque to simply being down to the Android OS itself.

The problem is only about 7 days old, so I'm adamant it's something that has changed in the OS, or it ties in with Google's recent stance on advertising.

Can anyone else concur?

thep02 · 21 Mar 2013 at 00:32

No change in my android experience on n4/7 no ads.

Dano · 21 Mar 2013 at 08:38

My N7 now does this too, every level in stickman golf 2 I get one.

Dirk · 21 Mar 2013 at 11:09

If you're Rooted you could try Adfree. As you might have heard though, all Ad Blockers have been/are being pulled from Play store so it's sideload only. Haven't encountered any of these full screen ads myself.

Pawnless Endgame · 21 Mar 2013 at 18:00

Thanks guys. Seems like I'm not the only one then.

I think I'm going to forced down the rooting way. I know it sounds harsh, but whoever's idea it was to implement fullscreen ads should be given a custodial sentence (inb4 keyboard warrior etc). Like I said before - banners are fine, fullscreen takes the ****. I have done a search for rooting but has only found an HTC Desire guide. My phone is the bog standard Galaxy S2 (GT-I9100), so if someone could please point me to a guide for that phone, that would be much appreciated. Presumably Adfree won't be searchable on Google Play, so I guess I would google it (what a contradiction eh!) from within the phone's browser?

Thanks again.

Orcvader · 21 Mar 2013 at 19:38

Didn't Google remove all ad blocking ads from the Play store as well?

Maybe it's a sign... Google wants to show these advertisements

.

Cyclone · 22 Mar 2013 at 10:04

Im using the ad blocker in Rom Toolbox Pro and getting no ads what so ever. Not sure if the Lite version has this option tho.

Rusty! · 22 Mar 2013 at 10:30

Monserrat said:
I think this type of advertising coincided with an update for Angry Birds Rio deployed earlier this week, as that was the first app to be affected.

It's been like that for ages, Rovio make a lot of money from ads, so they started using them more aggressively.

dasyad · 22 Mar 2013 at 11:26

To be fair if you're blocking ads you should he buying the ad free version of an app, bit harsh on the developer otherwise.

I've had no full screen ads here, I've not got angry birds installed.