Help with brand new note 9

[Stefman]

Hey there

I have a brand new Note 9 512GB version. I used my new phone for a few hours and came across the device maintenance options in settings. When I pressed clean storage, it showed that the phone was clearing two caches. One was called "Taobao Cache" and the other is "Ali' webpage AD".

I googled what these are and it seems they are cache for Alibaba. This is a brand new device bought at a carrier store with only apps downloaded directly from the Google play store. 

I did a factory reset and used my phone again and sure enough, after a few hours use, Taobao cache again was cleaned out by the device maintenance setting. 

I ran several anti malware apps but it couldn't detect anything.  What is going on? If this is normal and legitimate caches on the phone, let me know otherwise I may have to return it :)

I found this link with similar issue.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/7cdh17/taobao_infection/

[Shaggyskunk1BLM]

Taobao & Alibaba are related to Chinese commerce - Did you install any apps - Kinda looks like it COULD be Malware...
If you read the link you posted I think that you'll have your answer.

[Stefman]

I only installed the standard type apps like Facebook, Instagram.. Etc and all of them only through the app store. I've owned this phone for three days, never would have thought how easy it was to get malware that malware scanners can't even pick up. If a factory reset doesn't get rid of it I guess I should return this phone?

[Shaggyskunk1BLM]

Don't know if you need to return it - But that reddit link mentioned some apps that are on the Play Store (you used it & not something else right?).

[Stefman]

That's correct , I 100% only used Google play store and did not download any app other than the top 20 type apps like Facebook, Instagram, snapchat and some Canadian news apps like CBC

[Samesung]

One of the apps you downloaded installed some malware or your new phone was really a refurb passed off as new. Return it and get a new one.

[Stefman]

Figured as much. I had to order the 512GB version so took a while to get at the store. Ahh guess I'll have to do it all over again.

[Stefman]

This is what it clears. It re-appears everytime I reboot the device

[CHMultimedia]

That's just ad cache. Nothing to worry about. Also does that on my brand new phone

[Shaggyskunk1BLM]

@CHMultimedia no but it does raise the issue of pre-installed crap! https://www.sammobile.com/2019/01/09/facebook-app-pre-installed-galaxy-phones-not-a-problem