U.S. government-funded, low-cost cell phones are shipping with pre-installed malware aimed at bombing users with unwanted ads. The UMX U686CL Android-based phone is made available to low-income citizens in the United States via the Lifeline Assistance Program for $35. The Settings app is essential and provides user access to the phone s core settings. As such, if the app is uninstalled, the device becomes unusable. The code in question is heavily-obfuscated malware we detect as Android/Trojan.Dropper.Agent.UMX, says Malwarebytes researcher.
Source: https://threatpost.com/lifeline-assistance-phone-uninstallable-adware/151725/