topic Re: Tracfone software updates? in Electronics

Tracfone software updates?

Stargazer77 — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 03:32:01 GMT

I received a text message from what looked like a Tracfone number (when they send text messages)...24719. It said, "Service MSG: Your phone requires a software update. You will receive a notification on your phone. Turn your WiFi on to receive this update. Please click 'Install' to update. It's safe and secure."

Does Tracfone send these types of messages? This is actually the 2nd one I've received, the first one was on August 12. My WiFi was turned off and nothing happened. Tonight my WiFi was turned on because I was using my phone and the update downloaded and it's sitting in my notificiation area (that you pull down from the top of the screen) waiting for me to tap it and install it.

Has anyone else experienced this? I didn't think Tracfone sent updates, so I haven't clicked install. Unfortunately, I can't get rid of it from my notification area, even after restarting my phone. There's a blue notification icon in the upper left notification bar on my phone, where your current temperature goes if you use a weather app.

I tried to do a live chat with Tracfone CS, but they are busy and said to contact them later. Since their CS hours are almost over, I didn't want to do that tonight. I've run an Avast scan and it came back clean. Any advice or opinions about this?

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Kachina624 — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 03:24:07 GMT

I've had a TracFone for years and I've never gotten a message like that. I just checked my phone and there's no msg.

Re: Tracfone software updates?

NanniT — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 03:26:12 GMT

YES!! My husband's TracPhone (Samsung - just purchased a few months ago) received the exact same text message this evening (and also mid August which he quickly deleted) and even though he deleted this new text message, it evidently still "did its thing" as he now has a notification on his pull down screen telling him to tap to install. He even tried taking the battery out, but when phone came back on, the notification is still there. I have an LG TracPhone and I never got any of these messages.

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Stargazer77 — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 03:31:40 GMT

@NanniT Mine is a Samsung too. It's a Samsung Galaxy Sky, also purchased a few months ago. I hate that I can't get rid of the notification because 1) it's clutter and 2) I'm afraid I'm accidentally going to tap it and install it. Ugh.

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Marp — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 03:38:11 GMT

I have not received a notification of an update but after reading this thread checked directly from phone (settings, software update) and there is a legitimate update available.

Since I initiated the contact I am downloading the update and will install it.

It may be a fairly large update as the instructions said to put the phone on charger then download over wifi.

My phone is the Samsung Sky.

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Stargazer77 — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 03:52:44 GMT

Thanks @Marp. That's so interesting. I did the same thing after the last text message in August. I went in through the settings menu, which I trust and there was nothing there. Let me know how it works out for you and what kind of update it is if you can tell. To my knowledge, Tracfone has never done updates in the past. You and I have the same phone.

Ok, I just went into my settings menu and it said on the bottom software update. I clicked on it and it said I could install or postpone. I clicked postpone for now and the lightning bolt went away from my notification area. Let me know how you make out. I guess it's a legitimate update after all. I wonder if all Tracfones going forward will have that.

Re: Tracfone software updates?

hckynut — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 06:54:57 GMT

@Stargazer77

I have been with Tracfone since their beginning and have never received anything that talked about updating software. There are people like myself that do not text, but are quite familiar with the technologies of today.

TracFone has never asked me, via any type of message, to download an upgrade. Like my satellite company, I am quite sure it can be done on their end, without their customer actively doing anything.

My suggestion would be to ignore this text and get rid of it, post haste. Sounds like a scam/spam/maleware/ trojan horse etc. to me.

hckynut(john)

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Tribesters — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 11:33:04 GMT

@Stargazer77

My 81 year old Dad received the same message on his Tracfone. Only problem is he doesn't have wi-fi & rarely leaves the house. If the phone legitimately needs an update I'll have to take it home with me & do the update. He's had several Tracfones & this i the first time I've ever seen a message about a software update.

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Marp — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 12:40:19 GMT

@Stargazer77, the update and installation went smoothly but it did take a long time. I would definitely heed the warning to plug the phone into the charger and use wifi. If the phone runs out of power during the installation it could cause major problems.

Unfortunately I made the mistake of not recording what the versions were before the update so I can't tell exactly what was updated.

The software update shows:

Software version MMB29.MS320VLUDU3AQF2

Baseband version S320VLUDU3AQF2

These are the versions showing after the update from about device:

Android version 6.0.1

Android security patch level June 1, 2017

Baseband version S320VLUD3AQF2

Kernel version 3.10.49-9411209; dpi@SWDG2912 #1

Build number MMB29M.S320VLUDU3AQF2

SE for Android status Enforcing; SEPF_SECMOBILE_6.0.1_0030: Fri Jun 23 10:01:37 2017

Hardware version S320VL.04

Security software version ASKS v1.2_161011

Knox version 2.6 (there are a number of items listed here--if needed let me know and I will enter them)

Hope this helps.

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Cat Paw — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 14:30:40 GMT

I got two 24719 messages. The 2nd one yesterday and then Downloading occurred by itself and took a while and then Notification requesting I tap Install that I couln't get rid of.

This morning noticed Install started by itself while in my pocket. Took quite a while to complete, maybe 20-30 minutes. No message about plugging it in but maybe I didn't see it because my phone was in my pocket.

I have two SM-S320VL Samsung Sky phones and I am guessing the Android security patch level changed from October 1 2016 to June 1 2017 in the updated phone. Android version is still 6.0.1 in both phones.

I hadn't realized Settings>Software update meant operating system update. thanks.

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Beth-QVC — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 14:43:07 GMT

Bumped

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Moonlady — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 00:00:44 GMT

I've never gotten a TEXT re updates--just the usual notification that shows up with the icon at the top of the phone, and in the notification shade: "You have 19 apps to be updated," which I NEVER do. I update NOTHING, as there are too many opportunities for mischief (Google is your friend--"[This happened/disappeared, that happened/disappeared after I updated whatever lol." I used to just clear the notices when they appeared. Now I have preferences set to not get them.

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Stargazer77 — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 00:29:41 GMT

Thank you for all the replies, everyone! I heard my phone buzz this morning, looked over, and saw it had restarted. I thought that was weird, but maybe it crashed or something. Nope. The update was installing itself. It restarted again mid-process and that was it. I got a notification that it updated successfully and that was that. I wonder how often those updates will happen.

Re: Tracfone software updates?

hckynut — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 15:29:38 GMT

@Stargazer77

If you don't want your phone to automatically update, turn off that feature. Every internet capable phone I have had from my many with Tracfones has had that feature.

Just like my computers and tablets, I don't want them to auto-update. I prefer seeing what the update is about and I decide if it gets installed. Many updates are nothing but trouble, even if they are legit. Internet Explorer updates at times create problems because all the bugs were not found before it was released.

My choice is always "show me the available updates" and I'll take it from there.

hckynut(john)

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Unkowndude — Tue, 08 May 2018 02:00:17 GMT

i think its a scam or either tracfone wants you to think that but you would maybe have to pay for it or go to a technician at tracfone or call them to do that and if you do that it might disable your service and minutes or whatever.

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Unkowndude — Tue, 08 May 2018 02:02:32 GMT

maybe your phone did that by itself,and for no reason i never got that message

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Unkowndude — Tue, 08 May 2018 02:08:47 GMT

maybe just use your service instead like 4G LTE or 3G.which ever service...just maybe dont use wifi because it might keep sending you that message and one day you might be all like "GRRR*throws phone******* THS!" because you might get alot of notifications...unless if you never get angry about it.Just dont press it..maybe just try calling tracfone on a day you think they will answer and if they dont answer in one week then maybe do it on saturday or sunday

Re: Tracfone software updates?

Unkowndude — Tue, 08 May 2018 02:13:42 GMT

maybe just remove it it from your samsung tracfone cell phone by pressing the garbage can button or by holding down and press a garbage can button if thats a thing....

Re: Tracfone software updates?

151949 — Tue, 08 May 2018 14:55:26 GMT

@Stargazer77 wrote:
I received a text message from what looked like a Tracfone number (when they send text messages)...24719. It said, "Service MSG: Your phone requires a software update. You will receive a notification on your phone. Turn your WiFi on to receive this update. Please click 'Install' to update. It's safe and secure."

Does Tracfone send these types of messages? This is actually the 2nd one I've received, the first one was on August 12. My WiFi was turned off and nothing happened. Tonight my WiFi was turned on because I was using my phone and the update downloaded and it's sitting in my notificiation area (that you pull down from the top of the screen) waiting for me to tap it and install it.

Has anyone else experienced this? I didn't think Tracfone sent updates, so I haven't clicked install. Unfortunately, I can't get rid of it from my notification area, even after restarting my phone. There's a blue notification icon in the upper left notification bar on my phone, where your current temperature goes if you use a weather app.

I tried to do a live chat with Tracfone CS, but they are busy and said to contact them later. Since their CS hours are almost over, I didn't want to do that tonight. I've run an Avast scan and it came back clean. Any advice or opinions about this?

I got this same message recently. It is a software update is all. My Samsung phone would not allow me to log on until I updated it. Anyway , it's no big deal.

I thought it was from Samsung , not Tracfone. And it only took about a min. to do it. My DH & I both got it on our Samsung phones.

Re: Tracfone software updates?

POlady — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 13:48:00 GMT

I got the same messages and did update. Does anyone know if I can remove it?