CyberGhost advocates layered approach to blocking intrusive phone ads and adware

CyberGhost’s latest guide highlights new strategies to combat intrusive advertising and adware on smartphones, emphasising the importance of layered privacy tools and device checks to reduce risks from malicious sites and unauthorised tracking.

Ads on a phone are not always a simple nuisance. CyberGhost’s guide argues that many adverts are tied to data collection, with advertising platforms and ad networks building profiles from browsing activity, interests and behaviour to decide what to show. Security firms including Avast, Sophos and Malwarebytes similarly describe adware as software that can display unwanted adverts, track activity and, in some cases, redirect users to risky sites or bundle itself with other downloads.

The guide separates ordinary advertising from more intrusive behaviour. Free apps often rely on adverts to fund their service, but that trade-off can come with extensive tracking. By contrast, adware can arrive through deceptive downloads, browser extensions or compromised websites, then inject pop-ups, alter browser settings or trigger repeated redirects. Malwarebytes and WatchGuard both note that these tactics can be used to push users towards malicious pages, while Security.org says the signs often include excessive pop-ups and slower device performance.

For browser-based advertising, the most direct fixes are built-in controls. On Android and iPhone, Chrome can block pop-ups and redirects, while iPhone’s Safari includes pop-up blocking and fraudulent website warnings. Firefox offers stricter tracking protection on both platforms. The guide also recommends checking browser notification permissions, because some promotional messages come from sites that were previously allowed to send alerts.

Where ads appear outside the browser, the article points to app-level checks. On Android, users can restart in Safe Mode to see whether the problem disappears, then review recently installed apps, remove suspicious software and revoke “draw over other apps” permissions. Similar logic applies on iPhone, though Apple does not offer the same Safe Mode or overlay controls; instead, the advice is to review newly installed apps and their notification settings. Security firms say these steps matter because adware is often hidden in software bundles or deceptive downloads, and prompt removal reduces the risk of further compromise.

The guide also extends to system-level privacy controls. Google’s ad settings can reduce personalised advertising, while Android’s Private DNS option can block requests to some known advertising and tracking domains at the network level. CyberGhost also argues that a VPN adds another layer of privacy by encrypting traffic and masking the device’s public IP address, although it does not stop every form of tracking. That is consistent with the broader security guidance: ad blockers, DNS filtering and privacy tools can reduce exposure, but they work best together rather than as a single cure-all.