Adware.MoboGenie

Short bio

Adware.MoboGenie is detected by Malwarebytes because it is an adware-supported application that offers a third-party marketplace for Android applications. It is bundled with several potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) that are installed alongside the MoboGenie application.

Symptoms

Users installing MoboGenie will be prompted to install other potentially unwanted programs. These could negatively impact user experience through ads, tracking, browser redirects, and other undesirable behaviors.

Type and source of infection

The application can be downloaded from numerous software download sites, including its own. It is offered through a third party marketplace, which is far less secure than Google Play. The application comes bundled with a rotation of additional PUPs.

The MoboGenie website

Protection

Malwarebytes prevents users from installing MoboGenie by blocking with real-time protection.

Malwarebytes detects MoboGenie as Adware.MoboGenie

Remediation

Malwarebytes can detect and remove MoboGenie without further user interaction.

• Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
• Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• Then click Finish.
• Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan option from the Scan menu.
• If another update of the definitions is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
• When the scan is complete, make sure that All Threats is selected, and click Remove Selected.
• Restart your computer when prompted to do so.

Add an exclusion

Should users wish to keep this program and exclude it from being detected in future scans, they can add the program to the exclusions list. Here’s how to do it.

The Exclusions tab includes a list of items to be excluded from scans. The items may include files, folders, websites, or applications that connect to the Internet, as well as previously detected exploits.

To access the exclusions in Malwarebytes:

• Click on the Settings tab in the left pane.
• Click on the Exclusions tab.
• Click the Add Exclusion button.
• Select the exclusion type Exclude a File or Folder and use the Browse button to select the main folder for the software that you wish to keep.
• Repeat this for any secondary folder(s) that belong to the software.
• If you want to allow the program to connect to the Internet, for example to fetch updates, add an exclusion of the type Exclude an application that Connects to the Internet and use the Browse button to select the file you wish to grant access.

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