Android Apps with 5.8 million Installs Caught Stealing Users’ Facebook Passwords

Google intervened to remove nine Android apps downloaded more than 5.8 million times from the company’s Play Store after the apps were caught furtively stealing users’ Facebook login credentials.

“The applications were fully functional, which was supposed to weaken the vigilance of potential victims. With that, to access all of the apps’ functions and, allegedly, to disable in-app ads, users were prompted to log into their Facebook accounts,” researchers from Dr. Web said. “The advertisements inside some of the apps were indeed present, and this maneuver was intended to further encourage Android device owners to perform the required actions.”

The offending apps masked their malicious intent by disguising as photo-editing, rubbish cleaner, fitness, and astrology programs, only to trick victims into logging into their Facebook account and hijack the entered credentials via a piece of JavaScript code received from an adversary-controlled server.

The list of apps are as follows –

• PIP Photo (5,000,000 installs)
• Processing Photo (500,000 installs)
• Rubbish Cleaner (100,000 installs)
• Horoscope Daily (100,000 installs)
• Inwell Fitness (100,000 installs)
• App Lock Keep (50,000…