| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the AdultSwine malware hitting Android apps has the potential to happen again at one_organization, specifically Google. The incident involved Google removing 60 Android games from the Play Store due to the discovery of new malicious software by security firm Check Point [67610]. Google took action by removing the apps, disabling the developers' accounts, and issuing warnings to users who had installed them. The incident serves as a warning for Google to remain vigilant in monitoring and preventing such malware from infiltrating their platform in the future.
(b) The software failure incident involving the AdultSwine malware targeting Android apps, as reported by Check Point, highlights the potential for similar incidents to occur at multiple_organization. Check Point warned that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting games and apps intended for children, expanding their scope beyond traditional targets like hospitals, businesses, and governments [67610]. The nature of this malware, which displayed pornographic ads and attempted to trick users into buying premium services, indicates a trend where malicious actors may continue to exploit vulnerabilities in apps across various organizations to carry out similar attacks. This serves as a broader alert for all organizations offering mobile apps to enhance their security measures to protect users from such threats. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the article. The incident occurred due to the presence of malicious software named 'AdultSwine' hidden inside game apps available on Google's Play Store. This malware displayed pornographic ads, attempted to trick users into buying premium services, and even tried to take users to a site installing rogue software [67610].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is also highlighted in the article. Users were tricked into installing fake security apps by the malicious software 'AdultSwine', which could potentially lead to other attacks such as theft of user credentials. Additionally, the malware caused pornographic ads to pop up without warning on the screen over the legitimate game app being displayed, causing emotional and financial distress to users [67610]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the articles is primarily within_system. The malicious software, dubbed 'AdultSwine', was found hiding inside game apps available on Google's Play Store, which had been downloaded millions of times [67610]. The malware displayed pornographic ads, attempted to trick users into buying premium services, and even tried to take users to a site installing rogue software [67610]. Additionally, the malware sought to trick users into installing fake security apps and could potentially lead to theft of user credentials [67610]. These actions indicate that the failure originated from within the system itself, as the malicious code was embedded within the apps offered on the Play Store. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to non-human actions. The incident involved the discovery of new malicious software, dubbed 'AdultSwine', hidden inside game apps available on Google's Play Store. This malware displayed pornographic ads and attempted to trick users into buying premium services without direct human involvement in its operation [67610]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the articles is primarily related to software issues rather than hardware. The incident involved the discovery of new malicious software, dubbed 'AdultSwine', hidden inside game apps available on Google's Play Store. The malware displayed pornographic ads, attempted to trick users into buying premium services, and could lead to other attacks such as theft of user credentials [67610].
(b) The software failure incident was caused by malicious software, specifically the 'AdultSwine' malware, which was found within game apps downloaded millions of times from Google's Play Store. The malware was designed to display inappropriate ads, deceive users into installing fake security apps, and potentially lead to the theft of user credentials. This incident highlights the vulnerability of mobile apps, especially those intended for children, to cyber threats originating from software flaws [67610]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The objective of the software failure incident was malicious. The incident involved the discovery of new malicious software, dubbed 'AdultSwine', hidden inside game apps available on Google's Play Store. This malware displayed pornographic ads, attempted to trick users into buying premium services, and sought to install fake security apps. The malware was designed to cause emotional and financial distress to users, particularly targeting children using the apps [67610]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor_decisions:
The software failure incident involving the AdultSwine malware on Android games was primarily due to poor decisions made by the developers who embedded the malicious software in the apps. The malware displayed pornographic ads, attempted to trick users into purchasing premium services, and even tried to lead users to install fake security apps. These actions were deliberate and malicious, indicating poor decisions made by the developers to engage in such unethical practices [67610].
(b) The intent of the software failure incident related to accidental_decisions:
There is no indication in the articles that the software failure incident involving the AdultSwine malware on Android games was due to accidental decisions. The actions taken by the developers to embed malicious software in the apps, display inappropriate ads, and attempt to deceive users into installing fake security apps were intentional and not accidental [67610]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the case of the AdultSwine malware discovered in 60 Android games on Google's Play Store. The malicious software, which displayed pornographic ads and attempted to trick users into buying premium services, was hidden inside game apps that had been downloaded millions of times [67610]. This incident highlights a failure in ensuring the security and integrity of the apps available on the platform, indicating a lack of professional competence in the development and oversight processes.
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is seen in the inadvertent installation of the AdultSwine malware by users who downloaded the affected game apps from the Google Play Store. The malware, which could display inappropriate ads and attempt to deceive users into installing fake security apps, was not part of the family collection meant to provide age-appropriate content [67610]. This accidental exposure of users to malicious software underscores the risks associated with downloading apps, especially those intended for children, without proper vetting and oversight. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident described in the articles can be categorized as a temporary failure. The incident involved the discovery of new malicious software, dubbed 'AdultSwine', in 60 Android games available on Google's Play Store [67610]. Google took immediate action by removing the apps from the Play Store, disabling the developers' accounts, and showing strong warnings to users who had installed them [67610]. Check Point, the security firm that discovered the malware, highlighted the potential risks posed by the malicious software, such as displaying pornographic ads, tricking users into buying premium services, and attempting to install fake security apps [67610]. The incident was addressed promptly to mitigate the impact on users, indicating a temporary nature of the failure. |
| Behaviour |
omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in the articles does not involve a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions [67610].
(b) omission: The software failure incident involves omission where the system omits to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). The malicious software displayed pornographic ads and tried to trick users into buying premium services, which were not the intended functions of the apps [67610].
(c) timing: The software failure incident does not involve timing issues where the system performs its intended functions correctly but too late or too early [67610].
(d) value: The software failure incident involves a failure related to value where the system performs its intended functions incorrectly. The malware displayed inappropriate ads and tried to trick users into installing fake security apps, causing emotional and financial distress to users [67610].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not involve a byzantine failure where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions [67610].
(f) other: The software failure incident involves other behavior where the system behaves in a way not described in the options (a) to (e). The malware in the apps caused pornographic ads to pop up without warning on the screen over the legitimate game app being displayed, which can be considered as a form of disruptive behavior not fitting into the defined categories [67610]. |