Thousands of apps on iOS and Android run invisible ads you didn’t know about. Photo: Apple

“What you don’t know won’t hurt you” is a common phrase that unfortunately does not apply to the apps on your phone. It turns out that thousands of apps on Android and iOS secretly have ads in them that you can’t see, and they very well might be what’s causing a number of problems that plague smartphones today.

What ads might look like in BlinkFeed. Photo: HTC

A leaked HTC slide suggests the company is planning to monetize its BlinkFeed feature on Android by introducing ads and sponsored content. Screenshots demonstrate what BlinkFeed might look like with ads for the Clash of Clans game and HTC’s own Re Camera.

BBM on your Android Wear watch. Photo: BlackBerry

BlackBerry has rolled out a welcome BBM update for Android that finally brings custom PINs, support for Android Wear, and other new features you’ve been waiting for.

Google Play is getting ads. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Google’s mission to make money from Android is just about to get started. Starting today, a new “pilot program” will see sponsored results (ads) appearing in your Play Store searches.

When Samsung first unveiled the Galaxy Note in 2011, a lot of people laughed. Heck, I know I did: I said at the time that Samsung’s ginormous new product was a rip-off of the Apple Newton.

However, with the iPhone 6 Plus landing on Friday, I’ll be the first person to admit that while I still think a 5.5-inch smartphone is ridiculous, a lot of people seem to want one.

So when Samsung releases an ad, serving up claim chowder to all the journalists like Mashable, Boy Genius Report, and the Wall Street Journal who laughed at the Note three years ago, I have to say, they have it coming to them. They were right!

Check out Samsung’s full ad after the jump, in which Samsung talks a little bit about the many useful things you can do with a larger display.