Does messaging app in lollipop 5.1.1 contain an assistant?

[Mic_Daum_AC]

Hi,

after upgrading to lollipop 5.1.1 my Xperia Z3 comapct shows something like an assistant when I start the messaging app, that I have never seen in the versions before.

Background: because of the stagefright bug i am very cautious when it comes to read/open SMS/MMS. So I was taken by surprise when I received an SMS/MMS last weekend and could not read/open it because when I start the messaging app im redirected to some kind of assistent (in fullscreen). I have never observed this behaviour of the messaging app before. So I was unsure what to do and did not push the "first steps" button. Instead I called my provider and Sony support and they all suspected that what I see is not a Sony assistent but some kind of malware that had infected my phone. Sony hotliners recommended a backup of my personal data and afterwards a reset to factory settings. But that had no effect. After reset the messaging app shows the same "assistant" after start. So additionally I used Sony PC Companion software (module "Support Zone") to repair my phone. It took about an hour but the result is the same. Still that assistant pops up after starting messaging app. I have no chance to see the list of received messages or get into the settings of the messaging app, the only thing I can do is push the "first steps" button of that "assistant".

So either there is an assistant within the messaging app of lollipop 5.1.1 hat shows up once after start and the Sony hotliners don't know anything about it or I really have some sophisticated malware on my phone that survived a reset to factory settings and a softare repair by PC Companion.

Does anybody know something about it?

Regards

Michael

[Mic_Daum_AC]

... So far I disabled the standard messaging app and replaced it with googles messenger app.

But how can I ensure now that there is no malicious software active in the system? At the moment I am unsure because i can not explain how the "wrong" messaging app entered my phone and I am also unsure if there isn't any other app or module that does not belong there.

What would be the correct way to get a clean 5.1.1 lollipop system again? Or maybe i go back to the original 4.4.x that was installed when the phone was delivered and update to 5.x.x again. Is that possible?

Regards

Michael

[AnnoyedUKCustom · Accepted solution]

This screenshot:

http://alinopoor.persiangig.com/Z3-lolli/Screenshot_2015-02-27-20-51-48.jpg

is from the standard Sony messaging app. I don't think you have any malware. Sometimes the app gets "reset" and shows that screen but you can just proceed with the screen and you will see that it will open the messaging inbox and it is the standard app.

I cannot believe that there is no-one from Sony here that can give you such a simple answer and they are leaving you in doubt about having some malware and what to do about it. You don't need to reinstall or downgrade your phone.

What a support forum!

PS: I think that you will also get that screen if you go to the app settings and delete the cache and the app data and restart the app, however I cannot test this without deleting my SMS messages so I will let you try

If you delete your app data and restart it, remember to disable "MMS auto-download" to mitigate the risk of the Stagefright bug. (Is Sony ever going to release a fix for that?)

[Mic_Daum_AC]

Thanks AnnoyedUKCustomer,

I got back to standard messaging app and started that assistant. Seems you are right. But it's really strange that no hotliners know about that. On my first call to my provider's hotline, the lady on the phone disappeared for a while to unpack a S3C freshly from a box and receive a test SMS from a colleague. She could open the SMS without going through that assistant. And that's what I remember when I received my first SMS from my new provider, that I could open/read it without going through these first steps. So it seems that the messaging app changed a bit from android 4.4.x to 5.1.1. And no one at german Sony hotline knows about it.

Thanks again!

Regards

Michael

[AnnoyedUKCustom]

My theory is this:

- if you install a SIM that has the SMS service centre number already configured then the "assistant" screen is bypassed, even if you use a completely new phone.

(just a theory)...

This would explain why the lady in the support centre could not see it.

[Mic_Daum_AC]

Yes, that seems to be a plausible explanation.

I consider my problem as solved. The thread has been marked accordingly.

Thanks for your help!

Regards

Michael