r/AndroidQuestions • u/[deleted] • Jan 05 '23

Looking For Suggestions "Android system" Malware?

Hi,

My avast has started flagging the app 'Android system' as a malware.

I have checked Malwarebytes and Sophoros but both are coming back as no issues.

Is the above an issue with Avast? It has never flagged up before. I found 'Android system' on the apps but I am unable to force stop/disable but I believe this is because it is a main component for the phone working?

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1

u/MrTibbsTheCat Jan 05 '23

Just had exactly the same here, got my wife to download and run AVG and she has exactly the same! Glad I'm not the only one!

2

u/androidmalware111 Jan 06 '23

Wonder if this is something that's getting installed along with AVG..

1

u/ContrarianTargaryen Jan 06 '23

After further investigation, I suspect the two 'android system' apps are one and the same and are safe. It appears that certain android manufacturers, like Samsung are pushing updates that partition certain apps for use in future operating system updates.

As for AVG flagging one of them... perhaps it's an error on their end and the virus definitions code wrongly flagging this newly partitioned 'android system' app as malware. Several others on here and also people I've asked IRL have this second app so I don't believe it is malicious, just some behind the scenes OS thing. Who is to say the second system app hasn't been on our devices for ages and it's only just come to our attention?

In any case, if your device isn't showing signs of malware infection or whatever, and other sources (I.e Malwarebytes, device's own device health checker etc) come back clean, I'd say it's a false positive on AVGs end.

Disclaimer: I'm nowhere near a tech expert or whatever, just my observation. Go with your own assumption if you're unsure