Incident: Facebook Colour Changer App Scam Compromises User Accounts and Devices

Published Date: 2014-08-07

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident of the Facebook colour changer scam happened in August 2014 as per Article 29222.
System 1. Facebook app "Facebook colour changer" 2. Facebook's app page vulnerability 3. Phishing website 4. Malware posing as a pornography video player 5. Scare message on Android devices offering fake anti-virus software
Responsible Organization 1. Cybercriminals [29222]
Impacted Organization 1. Users who fell for the "Facebook colour changer" scam, impacting more than 10,000 people across multiple countries [29222].
Software Causes 1. The software cause of the failure incident was a vulnerability in Facebook's app page itself, allowing hackers to implant viruses and malicious code into Facebook-based applications, directing users to phishing sites [29222].
Non-software Causes 1. Social engineering tactics used by cybercriminals to trick users into downloading the malicious app [29222].
Impacts 1. The software failure incident led to over 10,000 people across multiple countries being impacted by the colour changer scam, compromising their Facebook accounts and potentially their computers [29222]. 2. Users who fell for the scam had to uninstall the malicious app and change their passwords immediately to prevent cybercriminals from accessing more personal information or using their accounts to deceive friends [29222]. 3. The cybercriminals attempted to infect users' computers or devices with malware disguised as a pornography video player for PC users and by offering fake anti-virus software to Android users, which in turn installed viruses on the devices [29222].
Preventions 1. Implementing stricter app review processes and security checks by Facebook before allowing apps to be published on their platform could have prevented the software failure incident [29222]. 2. Educating users about the risks of downloading and granting permissions to third-party apps on social media platforms could have helped prevent users from falling for such scams [29222]. 3. Enhancing user awareness about phishing tactics and providing guidelines on how to identify and avoid phishing attempts could have mitigated the impact of the colour changer scam [29222].
Fixes 1. Users should avoid downloading suspicious apps or granting unnecessary permissions to third-party apps on platforms like Facebook to prevent falling victim to scams like the "Facebook colour changer" app [29222]. 2. Platforms like Facebook should regularly audit and monitor the apps available on their platform to detect and remove malicious or deceptive apps that could compromise user accounts and devices [29222]. 3. Users who have been affected by such scams should immediately uninstall the malicious app, change their passwords, and take necessary security measures to protect their personal information and prevent further unauthorized access [29222].
References 1. Chinese internet security firm Cheeta Mobile [29222]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization, multiple_organization (a) The software failure incident of the Facebook colour changer scam has happened before within the same organization. The article mentions that similar colour changer scams have operated on Facebook in the past, exploiting the popular customization options of sites such as Tumblr and MySpace. This indicates that Facebook has experienced similar incidents related to scams and hacking attempts in the past [29222]. (b) The software failure incident of the Facebook colour changer scam has also impacted multiple countries, indicating that similar incidents have happened at other organizations or with their products and services as well. The article mentions that the revived scam has impacted more than 10,000 people across multiple countries, suggesting that this type of scam is not limited to Facebook alone [29222].
Phase (Design/Operation) design, operation (a) The software failure incident in Article 29222 can be attributed to the design phase. The incident occurred due to a vulnerability in Facebook's app page itself, which allowed hackers to implant viruses and malicious code into Facebook-based applications, directing users to phishing sites. This vulnerability in the design of the app led to the compromise of users' Facebook accounts and computers [29222]. (b) Additionally, the software failure incident can also be linked to the operation phase. Users who fell for the scam were redirected to a tutorial video that granted hackers temporary access to their Facebook accounts, allowing them to see personal information. This unauthorized access was a result of the operation of the scam, where users interacted with the malicious elements of the app, leading to the compromise of their accounts [29222].
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system (a) within_system: The software failure incident described in the article is primarily within the system. The vulnerability that allowed hackers to implant viruses and malicious code into Facebook-based applications originated within Facebook's app page itself, enabling the cybercriminals to compromise users' accounts and devices [29222].
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions, human_actions (a) The software failure incident in the article was primarily due to non-human actions. The incident involved a scam where a Facebook app called "Facebook colour changer" was used to compromise users' Facebook accounts and computers. The app exploited a vulnerability in Facebook's app page itself, allowing hackers to implant viruses and malicious code into Facebook-based applications, directing users to phishing sites [29222]. (b) Human actions also played a role in this software failure incident. Users were tricked into downloading the malicious app, which led to the compromise of their Facebook accounts and devices. Additionally, the hackers behind the scam used methods like redirecting users to tutorial videos and offering fake antivirus software to infect users' computers and devices with malware [29222].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The software failure incident reported in Article 29222 occurred due to contributing factors originating in software. The incident involved a Facebook app scam called "Facebook colour changer" that tricked users into downloading the app, leading them to a phishing website and compromising their Facebook accounts and computers. The vulnerability in Facebook's app page allowed hackers to implant viruses and malicious code into Facebook-based applications, directing users to phishing sites. This indicates that the failure was primarily caused by software-related issues rather than hardware-related issues [29222].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) malicious (a) The objective of the software failure incident was malicious, as cybercriminals created a Facebook colour changer app to scam users by hacking into their Facebook accounts and computers. The app was designed to compromise user accounts by leading them to a phishing website and implanting viruses and malicious code into Facebook-based applications [29222]. The hackers aimed to gain access to users' personal information, infect their devices with malware, and trick them into installing viruses under the guise of a video player or anti-virus software [29222].
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) poor_decisions (a) The intent of the software failure incident was related to poor_decisions. The incident involved a Facebook app scam that tricked users into downloading an app called "Facebook colour changer" which promised to change the color of Facebook's interface. However, this app was actually a phishing scam designed to compromise users' Facebook accounts and computers. The hackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook's app page to implant viruses and malicious code, leading users to phishing sites. This deceptive tactic was a deliberate and malicious decision made by cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to users' personal information and devices [29222].
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) development_incompetence, accidental (a) The software failure incident in the article can be attributed to development incompetence. The Facebook colour changer app was designed as a scam to compromise users' Facebook accounts and computers. The hackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook's app page itself, allowing them to implant viruses and malicious code into Facebook-based applications, directing users to phishing sites. This indicates a lack of professional competence in ensuring the security and integrity of the app [29222]. (b) Additionally, the incident can also be categorized as accidental. Users were tricked into downloading the app under the false pretense of changing the color of their Facebook interface. The redirection to a phishing website and the installation of malware disguised as a pornography video player or fake antivirus software were accidental actions taken by users who fell for the scam, leading to the compromise of their personal information and devices [29222].
Duration temporary The software failure incident described in the article is temporary. The hackers behind the Facebook colour changer scam used methods to temporarily access users' Facebook accounts and personal information, as well as attempt to infect their devices with malicious software. Users who fell for the scam were advised to uninstall the app, change their password, and take preventive measures to secure their accounts [29222].
Behaviour crash, omission, value, other (a) crash: The software failure incident in the article can be categorized as a crash. The Facebook colour changer app tricks users into downloading it, leading to a phishing website and compromising the user's Facebook account and computer. This results in the system losing its state and not performing its intended functions, ultimately crashing the user's Facebook account and potentially their device [29222]. (b) omission: The software failure incident can also be linked to omission. Users who fall for the scam are redirected to a tutorial video that appears to explain how to use the app. However, this action grants hackers temporary access to the user's Facebook account, allowing them to see personal information. This omission of the system to prevent unauthorized access leads to a failure in performing its intended functions [29222]. (c) timing: The timing of the software failure incident is not explicitly mentioned in the article. (d) value: The software failure incident can be associated with a failure in value. The hackers infect the user's computer or device with malicious software, such as malware disguised as a pornography video player for PC users and fake antivirus software for Android users. This incorrect behavior of the system results in performing its intended functions in a harmful and deceptive manner, compromising user security and privacy [29222]. (e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not exhibit characteristics of a byzantine failure. (f) other: The other behavior exhibited by the software failure incident is deception and malicious intent. The app deceives users by promising to change the color of Facebook's interface but instead compromises their accounts and devices. The malicious actors behind the scam aim to trick users into installing harmful software and accessing personal information, showcasing a deceptive and harmful behavior not covered by the other categories [29222].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence property (d) property: People's material goods, money, or data was impacted due to the software failure The software failure incident involving the Facebook colour changer app led to cybercriminals hacking into users' Facebook accounts and computers, compromising their personal information. The hackers were able to access users' Facebook accounts, view their friends list and other personal information, and potentially infect their devices with malicious software. Users who fell for the scam had to uninstall the app and change their passwords to prevent further access by cybercriminals, indicating a direct impact on users' data security and privacy [29222].
Domain information (a) The failed system in this incident was related to the information industry as it involved a Facebook app scam that compromised users' accounts and computers by tricking them into downloading a malicious app called "Facebook colour changer" [29222].

Sources

Back to List