Hey guys, how are y'all doing?
Here's a little background on my problem:
A year ago bought a cheap-ass smartphone for my mom, from a big supermarket chain in my country that was selling french phones cheaply, it was only 60€ and my mom needed a phone, so there it is!
Anyway cut to the present, the phone is riddled of what I suspect is malware that installs itself as soon as I remove it such as Free Games, com.google.toolkit, MiniChrome, N62Androidpt, System Component, adservice, and a couple others.
It also keeps switching wi-fi off, and turning on that option that allows apps to be installed from unknown sources, and worst of all it keeps opening the phone in built browser with adds, and even porn sites on occasion, which is really not desirable as my very young aged nieces love stealing the phone and try to use it.
I installed malwarebytes, also did a factory reset to no avail it fixed nothing.
So I decided to flash a stock rom to see if I could get rid of it, searched around and found a repository of stock roms or firmwares or whatever it's called (I'm not too familiar with this side of smartphones), which I'd love to post, but apparently can't because I've last than 10 posts: doc-doapi.com/EM/selecline/smartphone/
It has a lot of roms for different models of my brand.
Used the UpgradeDownload - R2.9.2015 tool that was in that folder and flashed it successfully.
After I turned on the device it opened the new phone setup process, logged in to my google account, and restores my stuff like contacts, and a few trusted google apps from before the flash, but it soon started again to install those malware apps I stated up there on it's own, and it was soon in the same state as before...
Anyway here's some info about my phone that probably should've gone to the top.
It's a Selecline phone
Model S4S5in3g
Android version: 5.1
Kernel version: 3.10.65
Compilation number: S3S5in3g.V1.2_20160307
At the back it has a sticker and another model number 870712 which I used to find the folder on that repository of stock roms.
And that's all in a big nutshell, anyone has any tips?
Thanks.
lil' bump
Do you have login credentials for this Auchan website where you found the ROMs? It is asking for a login ID and password. I need ROM for Model S6S5IN3G.
Quick tip for getting rid of Malware even before they start. Go to Settings and check Data Usage. See which apps are using lots of data (downloading junk into your device). Note if there are any strange sounding apps that are downloading a lot of data, especially if it is not an app that you yourself were directly using.
Next, flash the stock ROM again. Once you flash the new ROM, you have to find a way to root the device. Try KingRoot. Then after the phone is rooted, go to Playstore and download SD Maid. Run SD Maid and give it root access. In the settings for AppControl of SD Maid, allow it to show system apps. Then run app control and freeze any strange-looking user apps (or anyone that was downloading a lot of data) and system app that are not required.
Please, let me know about the website and how to access the ROMs.
As mentioned before, install a clean room again. Copy virustotal app from the attachment of these post (https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=77053739&postcount=11) to SD-card and install it. Turn wifi on and let it run. Control every app and the system-apps. Post a screenshot of the findings. If there are findings, then the room is infected. The only way to deal with this, is to root it, install rootexplorer an kill the infected app. This can be dangerous, if for example, the lauchner is infected, an alternative launcher must first be installed and set as default, before you can kill the infected one (otherwise you will own a useless phone until you flash it again ;o).
Hey guys, thanks for trying to help.
I tried literally everything before, I've even somehow got a kitchen up and running and I removed everything that looked suspicious and all those bran add-ons from the rom, but even then I'd still get infected.
I didn't really try the antivirus route though and to be honest I already shelved that phone, but I'm kinda bored, so I'll try y'all suggestions, an extra working phone can always come in handy.
CVAngelo said:
Do you have login credentials for this Auchan website where you found the ROMs? It is asking for a login ID and password. I need ROM for Model S6S5IN3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd love to help you mate, I found that repository in a forum maybe forum.gsmhosting, and I've tried to access it earlier, and I'm also denied access.
Related
Hello all,
let me present my self as a beginner in the world of Android.
It has come an Star A3 to my hands, with Android 4.0 and among all great things of IceCream, few Chinese apps I want to get rid of
the phone is rooted (well, one headache less)
I have flash the recovery 592zn.com_recovery_Star_A3_MT6573.img with Mobileuncle tools (included in the mobile originally) and done a Boot/System/Data/Cache Nandroid backup
Apps I want to eliminate :
Baidu input (and add the standard input keyboard)
own Chinese launcher (I have already install LauncherPro, but I would love to get rid of the Chinese one completely)
UC xxxxx (some Chinese browser)
Root Explorer (Chinese version, to be able to install the English one)
ICS 4.0 (also Chinese version)
a Chinese flash-light
a Chinese dark/light switch screen
a Chinese version of the configuration menu
so, basically to keep a clean Android
so, where I have to look for help on how to do that ??
what short of help / tutorial am I looking for ?
I have installed:
http://www.ltr-data.se/opencode.html/#ImDisk
to be able to mount the nandroid img files in windows7-x64
but I can't see anything, it ask me to format the unit (?)
similar with Daemon Tools .
any help will be greatly appreciated.
thanks in advance.
InTheater
My advice since you're rooted is install Titanium Backup and use it to uninstall everything you don't want. It's a root app that can get rid of virtually anything.
Seeing as you have a nandroid backup, in the unlikely case that the device won't boot at all without one or more of those apps, you can just restore the backup you have.
SifJar said:
My advice since you're rooted is install Titanium Backup and use it to uninstall everything you don't want. It's a root app that can get rid of virtually anything.
Seeing as you have a nandroid backup, in the unlikely case that the device won't boot at all without one or more of those apps, you can just restore the backup you have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Beautiful, it works like a charm !!
I have been able to get rid off all Chinese stuff
thanks
Star A3 for dummies
Hello
Ok I have searched for hours (as the video asked) and I cannot find an "android for dummies" guide. I dont know what a "root" is or what "titanium" is... so I may have found the correct forum - but I just don't understand it.
So the problem is this:
I bought a touch screen DualSim Android 2.3 GPS 3G MTK6573 Phone Star A3.
It arrived today BUT it has some chinese programmes on it (that I would like to clear) and I cannot seem to download any additional apps for it.
google.play wont work (apparently it doesnt support the device)
It has a few basic apps - but nothing wild or that I guess can't be re-downloaded again.
What would you recommend I do - do I wipe it and install something new or what. and if so please can someone explain it to me in small "for dummy" steps
I am not sure what else I need to tell you to give you abetter pic, but ideally I'd like this phone to work on the google apps system (or can you point me to where I can get similar apps)
On the "about phone" the
android version is 2.3.5
Kernel version is 2.6.35.7
I would really appreciate any help you can give me
Thanks
My first advice would be to try and achieve root on the phone. This should be relatively easy on a Chinese phone, most don't have great security.
Basically, "root" means to get increased permissions on the phone. There are certain files and actions on the phone that normally you can't do. With root, you can. Think of it as somewhat like logging into a computer as an Administrator rather than a standard user.
"getting root" basically means installing a hack to let apps on your phone do more than they could otherwise e.g. uninstall preinstalled apps.
To "root" your phone, you can use a tool like SuperOneClick or UnlockRoot. For both, you follow a few instructions, plug in your phone and click "Root" in the program, it'll work out the best way to do it for your phone and do it.
Once that is all done, there is a guide here for getting Google Apps (e.g. Play Store) working on unsupported devices: https://senk9.wordpress.com/2010/12...ogle-apps-gapps-on-your-android-device-phone/
Once you get Play Store working, Titanium Backup is an app you can install from there. Using root, it can uninstall any app you want.
Be careful with all this, if you're not you could break your phone.
educated dummy
Thank you so much! - and such a fast reply too!!!
I really apprecate your patience in explaining this all to me.
It sounds relatively straight forward - I will have a look at those progs and link you suggest tomorrow.
Obviously I dont want to break the phone either, then it would be more useless then it is already
Fingers crossed - will let you know how I get on.
Hi all,
Watched the video so I thought I would tag onto this thread instead of starting a new one.
Just bought a cheap star a3 dual sim android phone. This my foray into android phones and I am having some weird issues. Just a first note I have just rooted the phone but these issues where here before and after rooting. The A3 is a htc sensation clone i believe when my other half who has a htc desire tries to call the phone the phone goes straight into answer phone and rejects the call, she is on giff gaff in the uk and i have tried both a 3 network and orange sim and it happens on both. There is some weird chinese security software that I trying get remove but its seems very stubbon. Anyone any ideas. Ps battery life is awfull i only seem to get 6 hours from full to dead without hardly any use. Maybe I have loads running but unsure what I need to keep running.
Please help.
I have the star a3
Google play works perfectly. If you PM me, I am happy to send you the apk file for google play.
since you are rooted, I strongly suggest you get root explorer installed so you can go through and remove all the chinese apps.
Make sure you remove "himarket" its a big battery hog.
To the person who says their calls go straight to voicemail, remember this is a dual sim dual *standby* if you are using 2g or 3g cell data on one sim then the other sim cannot make or receive calls.
Also, there is no ICS for the Star A3, its just a skin on top of Gingerbread to make it look like ICS, if you go to settings, about phone and look, the version number will be 2.3.4 or 2.3.5 which means its gingerbread (if you really do have 4.0.1 ICS I would love to get a copy of the ROM for it!)
Hi All,
I've screwed my one day old LG. I have the Australian Telstra version - LG-P655K.
Rooted fine but got trigger happy deleting some of the system apps. Basically I must of deleted some sort of downloading app as the Play Store no longer works plus I can't download any files through Chrome.
Furthermore when accessing Play Store through Chrome, it doesn't recognise my device even though I'm logged in. Guessing some sort of backup between this new device and my Google account has screwed up as well.
I've searched all over Google looking for the stock firmware in an attempt to flash it and get it back to normal. However no luck in finding it.
Anyway, I'm basically on the verge of simply buying a new phone. Can anyone help with locating the stock firmware for this phone? And maybe a stretch, but basic instructions as to how to flash it?
More than happy to make a donation to anyone that can help (if that's what people do on here, sure I've read that on other posts)
Thanks in advance.
I may be telling you what you already know but try to factory reset your phone. if that doesn't work you should find a recovery mod and firmware for your device, transfer them onto your SD card from a PC via USB and follow the steps to flash the original firmware.
ElonNoir said:
I may be telling you what you already know but try to factory reset your phone. if that doesn't work you should find a recovery mod and firmware for your device, transfer them onto your SD card from a PC via USB and follow the steps to flash the original firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, but this is bad advice as the OP obviously deleted something in /system, which a factory data reset will do nothing to help. It might even make it worse since many LGs are very sensitive about trying to run with missing bits of the /system and will throw a Security Error after resetting (possibly) or trying to update via OTA (for sure). They also already stated that they have not had luck locating the stock firmware, hence the reason for their post. I understand your willingness to help, which is great, but bad advice in these kind of situations might be worse than no advice.
Unfortunately, in a quick search, I was only able to find the specific firmware version for your phone off a Chinese site that you'll probably need Google Translate for (unless you or someone you know is fluent) and to sign up for an account there to get the link:
http://poweredw.gaodi.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=662939
I am not familiar with the site, so can not make any promises to whether it'll work or what other steps would need to be taken.
Another thing that I would try, would be to download a rom (have only found them for some US carriers) and unzip the rom and look in /system/app and compare with what's left in yours to see if anything important looks like it is missing.
http://androidforums.com/metropcs-t...-root/868464-rom-ms659-p659-slimlite-rom.html
Do not attempt to use that rom for your phone, it is only for comparitive purposes.
Done this before...
If google play isn't working, more than likely you've deleted Application Manager. I was debloating my Optimus F3 and uninstalled Application Manager, and lost GP with an error every time I would try to download an app. You could probably save yourself a factory reset if you could download the Application Manager as an apk via PC and move it to your phone and re-install.
Then again, if you didn't uninstall Application Manager, I wouldn't know what else has been removed.
How did you perform the root on the telstra LG p655k
Wouldn't mind knowing how you performed the root access on your phone
Thanks
Hi All,
I've screwed my one day old LG. I have the Australian Telstra version - LG-P655K.
Rooted fine but got trigger happy deleting some of the system apps. Basically I must of deleted some sort of downloading app as the Play Store no longer works plus I can't download any files through Chrome.
Furthermore when accessing Play Store through Chrome, it doesn't recognise my device even though I'm logged in. Guessing some sort of backup between this new device and my Google account has screwed up as well.
I've searched all over Google looking for the stock firmware in an attempt to flash it and get it back to normal. However no luck in finding it.
Anyway, I'm basically on the verge of simply buying a new phone. Can anyone help with locating the stock firmware for this phone? And maybe a stretch, but basic instructions as to how to flash it?
More than happy to make a donation to anyone that can help (if that's what people do on here, sure I've read that on other posts)
Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]
Hello there!
I am facing the following problem:
A colleague of mine asked me to remove some malware from his very cheap no-name android phone. Actually it does have a name, it is a Yezz Andy 3.5EI (DDMBrands Andy 3.5EI).
I managed to remove some of it, but some seem to be manufacturer bloatware that are infected somehow. I tried kingoroot to root the phone and remove these applications / packages, but basically at every restart it removes the root binary and reinstalls all the malware again (the optimizing app x/y message appears at restarts and basically it's doing it for the malware).
The most annoying one is an application called MonkeyTest that randomly installs during use, part of the package com.android.wp.net.log (with the apk in /data/app/com.android.wp.net.log-1.apk). So obviously without root access I cannot remove that package (and some others with it that install some adware / random popups etc) .
This is the strange part, because if the phone wasn't rooted and it's internal OS memory is protected.. the only obvious way these packages could've gotten there is through a legit manufacturer update (at least that's how I imagine it)
The best solution would be to somehow root it and find a compatible clean Android and flash that or at least some way to remove all the malware. I searched all over the internet, but it's really hard to find anything for this 'brand'.. so maybe someone with more experience can help me out here.
Phone details: Model no.: Andy 3.5EI / Android version: 4.2.2 (the newer ones according to the manufacturer site have 4.4) /Basebrand v: MOLY.WR8.W1315.MD.WG.MP.V1.F1.P2 9,2013/10/30 14:14 / Kernel version: 3.4.5 (Jun 18 2014) / Build no.: ALPS.JB3.MP.V1 / Custom build version: YEZZ_ANDY_35EI_FR_V06_20140618
Any help would be appreciated as I'm kinda new to phones (used to be a developer, but never did anything mobile related)
Thanks in advance!
Well have you tried factory resetting it sometimes it will fix it but you did say something about bloatware so you are going to have to root your phone and I prefer using root uninstaller
---------- Post added at 04:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:03 PM ----------
To uninstall the bloatware or really malware causing it
---------- Post added at 04:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:03 PM ----------
Have you tried an antivirus software google play has great ones try it and has your friend installed any application other then the play store or has he/she downloaded any files like music, pictures, documents, etc.
Of course I tried factory resets and antivirus apps they remove them but they will just auto-reinstall after a few moments. And after reboot they all install.
fsimon01 said:
Of course I tried factory resets and antivirus apps they remove them but they will just auto-reinstall after a few moments. And after reboot they all install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These are built into alot of devices from places like China. The only way to prevent it is to flash an AOSP based image. The main issue there is that there normally isn't anything available for them
zelendel said:
These are built into alot of devices from places like China. The only way to prevent it is to flash an AOSP based image. The main issue there is that there normally isn't anything available for them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it really seems like it, though I remember when he bought the phone last year I helped him set it up for the first time and I don't recall noticing these so I'm pretty sure they came with an update, also here's some additional info that I noticed since:
There is a service called 'TimeService' that belongs to a package called com.android.provider.down2-1.apk which was downloaded last month and I think that is the one causing all the issues. When I rooted with kingo-root and before I rebooted (root kindof 'works' till I restart, but is still limited) I tried uninstalling some of the built in apps, such as the yezz appstore and others with root uninstaller. It actually worked on those and they're gone now. Even after a factory reset they don't show up, however I cannot remove that TimeService thing. This gave me the idea to try a unix console app to actually see the message I get.
I gave the console app root permission with kingo and I could walk through the system files. I located that package and tried manually deleting it but I got the Operation failed, permission denied message.. I tried chmod, chown on the file but no use, even tried switching to the 'system' user that the file belongs to, but that can't do anything with it either.
The thing is that if it actually let me remove stuff such as the manufacturers appstore and others, this is really strange. It is acting like a legit computer virus, which I have never seen for mobile phones before It keeps installing the MonkeyTest app which is apparently a trojan, and if I remove it, it just reinstalls it after a few seconds and also everytime the phone reboots it installs a few other apps: BatteryBot, Perfect Cleaner and some others to which I also get notifications for being malicious.
One other thing that happened is that out of nowhere (the phone was just sitting on my desk and was working before) when I picked it up the screen was black so I had to remove the battery since I couldn't do anything with it. After I reinserted the battery I was greeted with a different startup screen that said 'factory mode' then a list appeared written in chineeze characters.. I pressed the power button it took a photo with the back and front cameras, then started activating the GPS.. so I removed the battery again. When I reinserted it, the phone just started normally.
Same problem
Have you found a solution for this "Time Service"? I got the same problem since May 5th and i did everything i could think to fix it, with no positive results... Please, if you know anything about fixing it, send me a message to [email protected]. I don´t know what else can i try :c
Karlmex said:
Have you found a solution for this "Time Service"? I got the same problem since May 5th and i did everything i could think to fix it, with no positive results... Please, if you know anything about fixing it, send me a message to [email protected]. I don´t know what else can i try :c
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello there,
Unfortunately I only had the phone here for a few days and this was all I could do. I am still pretty sure (more than 90%) that it was part of an official update from the manufacturer in May so I'm guessing it was either intentional on their part or they got hacked or something. What I finally did was using kingo root (without a restart, it gives you some temporary access) and root uninstaller to remove most of the original bloatware (even the yezz app store and a bunch of others) to balance out the phone slowing down. I set up the webroot mobile anti-virus app to prevent new ones in the future.. and I set the 3 remaining ones on ignore (the ones that always reinstalled on startup: timeservice, monkeytest and I think batterybot).
The phone is now running fairly smoothly and my collegue can use it.. though I warned him to try to avoid using it for banking services etc... as I don't know what exactly the remaining ones do (though I think all they do is try to install more ads... )
You could try contacting the manufacturer to see if they have anything to say about this.. and maybe update this thread if you find out anything new (I kinda avoided that since judging from the website and the fact that their update installs viruses I doubt it's a serious company)
Imo the only real solution would be the one posted by zelendel and that is flashing a new clean image on it, but unless you get one from the manufacturer along with some help on how to actually root it effectively I doubt you'd find anything on the internet, at least I couldn't
Cheers!
ok so i bought the infocus m560 (m808/v5) from ebay. uk warehouse chinese seller.
When it arrived the box was unsealed however the excuse for this could be the seller removed the eu plug and put in a uk one.
as soon as i booted it up I ran malware bytes which came back clean but on browsing through settings - apps I notice something called pandoras box & pandoras box services. the second one has permissions to everything. I cannot uninstall or disable either. These seem to serve no relevance to the phone. I believe it is disguised malware.
someone on another forum reccomended netguard which i dowloaded and tried but as soon as I disable internet access for PB &PBS it AUTOMATICALLY disables web access for a lot of other things, I cannot have only PB & PBS selected.
I've been told that it seems that PB/PBS is running as a system process therefore any unrooted app won't affect it.
I read you can uninstall malware by booting into safe mode but i'm not sure if that will work in this instance?
I can find original stock rom for the m560 which doesnt seem to require root to flash - i could try flashing this which would solve the problem IF it was the 3rd party seller that added the malware, but wont if it was the manufacturer and I don't think there is any way to tell? - i can put a link to the page with the stock rom if anyone wants to check its ok
aside from the above my only other option is to root. I have never rooted before. I am a total noob. I've read the process but parts of it i dont fully understand. I do not want to brick the device. I would possibly be willing to give it a go if someone can provide step by step almost fool proof instructions/a clear guide. I've had a look for rooting on m560 and I think there are a few options available - if someone could be as kind to tell me which would be easiest
any other suggestions/solutions welcomed.
I can submit any screen shots if nescessary.
thanks for reading
So... I have an Archos 55 and well, root is dangerous, particularly when you're being annoyed with pop up adverts and want to get them gone.
TL;DR:
So basically this all started when I found that web pages and adverts were just opening. Whether I was using the device or not, they'd just magically appear, sometimes ten at a time, accessing the internet at will. I was not best pleased as I have not long purchased the phone, but true to form, Archos have no idea what customer service means, so I was left to attempt to remedy the situation myself. Ordinarily, I would have just formatted and reinstalled the O.S, I do that with linux all the time alas I knew that was difficult.
Instead I sought to find out what exactly was causing the adverts. I deleted all the apps I had installed, but still the adverts kept coming. I did a factory wipe. Still with the adverts. At this point I was a bit stuck, so I grabbed an anti-virus app. It showed a few things that were causing problems including one trojan, under com.android.settings (or something to that name). I made a few enquiries and needless to say, this wasn't a false positive, but it had meant that I had a trojan...and I really don't like trojans. Cue the rage and the not thinking properly as I deleted com.android.settings without making a backup thinking... "shouldn't be too hard to put back"...oh how wrong I was...
I of course tried to make amends by grabbing a "copy" of settings from another site (and possibly a different phone) but I was told that it was ROM and no amount of permission changing was going to change that (I tried and I apparently failed, I may have possibly been doing something wrong, but I don't think my chown/chmod skills are `that` shabby).
The problem:
- No access to settings. Settings doesn't exist. (No access to USB Debugging either because that requires tapping the about phone bit and guess what...)
- Can't install apps as something has "Stopped".
- No access to WiFi
- Using Linux (Ubuntu something or other...15 I think).
- Mobile Tinkering Newb (But I'm not totally tech illiterate).
I do have access to fastboot mode apparently.
So what I think I need is a way to reinstall lollipop 5.1 so I can get back to square one, without (at least initially) using ADB (because I've tried and my device just refuses to show). I've also tried a few "needrom" things but, of course, they don't work because linux.
If anyone could possibly help me, I would be greatly appreciative in any way. I just want wifi back really. (I can see that wifi works and a network is available I just can't edit the settings to access it). If I can provide more information, please ask and I shall provide.
[SOLUTION]
Back up your device <- Essential
Grab a rom from NeedRom
Enable Fastboot.
Enable USB Debugging etcetera.
Use custom software (provided by NeedRom) (I know this seems dodgy but you try anything when you're desperate enough and this works so...if you're worried then take precautions and make a backup of your own phone first.) to open up the .pac file. Check where the files have been opened up to.
Copy the files to a more stable area (i.e from Temp to your Data drive), they should be in .img format as .pac basically appears to be some kind of archive that groups them all into one.
Use Fastboot (you might need to enable this so make sure you do it) and flash the .img files to the phone and sparse them to about 250MB.
Restart the phone.
Check phone works properly.
If works properly, consider donating to NeedRom.
Anyone?
Trojan
I have the same problem, but I didn't uninstall the setting, did your Trojan installed random apps too? Like MyApps or something like that?
Seeing the same problem I think the problem is that the device comes with it, but I haven't found anything else to do apart from installing avast to tell me when unknown sources get on to install a random app.
Talasa said:
Anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey I fixed it, I have Uninstalled settings and successfully installed them again, no pop ups since.
Message me so I can tell you how to do it.
Fantasma198 said:
Hey I fixed it, I have Uninstalled settings and successfully installed them again, no pop ups since.
Message me so I can tell you how to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi! How did you solve the problem? Please let me know
It appears to involve installing an apk installer from the Google Play stores (any will do it seems). Then by installing a copy of the Settings.apk.
Neither of which I am able to do as, due to getting rid of settings Google Play won't work. So....
Edit. I managed to get Google Play installed and then installed an APK installer. However installing settings is restricted as security won't let me install unofficial apps. >.>
How do u get rid of pop ups
Fantasma198 said:
Hey I fixed it, I have Uninstalled settings and successfully installed them again, no pop ups since.
Message me so I can tell you how to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do u get rid of them my phone is plaqued with them they are so annoying I didn't even root my phone just done a simple software update thanx
R3b3l3k8 said:
How do u get rid of them my phone is plaqued with them they are so annoying I didn't even root my phone just done a simple software update thanx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
What you have here is a virus.... and like me, it's probably embedded in settings. I.e It comes with the device.
There is no way to get rid of those adverts....except...by voiding your warranty. You will need to wipe your device and reinstall a rom, preferably not your original. (That or send it back to Archos). Taking your phone back to the store and demanding a refund is an option before I proceed further and this is the solution I recommend.
Take this moment to back up all your data.
What I did however and what seems to have gotten rid of them is firstly head over to NeedRom (search) and acquire a freely provided Rom of someone else's phone. There are two versions for the Archos Platinum 55 and it will depend on your specific phone.
Now you will need to flash (this will destroy all data on your phone so make sure you get it backed up) your rom. You can use the ADB solution but that couldn't work for me. So I used Fastboot instead, however to use this the rom provided by needrom is in a .pac file format, you need to get the .img file from it. You can do this by loading up the software provided by NeedRom (named FactoryUpload or something like that) load the .pac file and look at the file path locations. The one I checked was for System. I then went to where it said it was, in my case a Temp folder, copied and pasted all the data to somewhere not temp (all the .img files I needed were there).
Then I used Fastboot to flash the rom entirely there are much better Fastboot tutorials out there than I can explain myself. This flash included System, Recovery, Cache and basically everything, however it wouldn't let me do it all at once. I had to use a particular "flag" or "switch" so that it would `sparse` all the files over 250MB (that was the number I chose) and it worked after that.
This is the only way without returning the phone to get rid of the adverts *if* the virus is indeed in Settings. There's no way to remove Settings safely. I tried.