Google removes apps stealing Facebook passwords from Galaxy phones

Terminal updated: July 5th, 2021 at 11:13 UTC+01:00

Malicious apps continue to be a problem for Android devices. Despite all of its diligence, Google remains unable to completely prevent such apps from existence listed on the Play Store. However, when the company does come to know of apps that seek to steal user data it chop-chop takes activity.

Several popular apps with millions of downloads combined were institute to exist stealing Facebook login data. Google is now removing them from the Play Store.

These malicious apps take over v.8 one thousand thousand downloads combined

Researchers at Dr. Web discovered nine apps that were tricking users into revealing their Facebook login details. These were fully functional apps that offered photo editing, do, junk file removal and even horoscopes. They were no different from the countless other apps on the Play Store that provide similar functions.

Users were prompted that they could remove in-app ads by logging into their Facebook accounts. Those who chose the option would then run across a genuine Facebook login form where they entered their username and password.

The login information entered by users would then be hijacked and sent to the attackers' server. The attackers could have used this method to steal login information for any other online service. However, Facebook was the only target in all of these apps.

The ix apps have more than 5.viii million downloads combined. Information technology's surprising that the apps were able to carry on without being detected for and then long. This is likely due to the techniques used hither that the apps were able to fly under the radar.

A spokesman for Google confirmed to Ars Technica that these apps accept been removed and that the developers have also been banned from the store. That beingness said, there's nothing stopping them from opening up a programmer business relationship under a different name since it merely has a old fee of $25.

If you downloaded whatsoever of these apps on your Samsung Galaxy phone, uninstall them immediately and check your Facebook account for any unauthorized activity. E'er recall to be careful when downloading apps from relatively unknown developers no thing how many reviews they might accept.