I4C Reveals How Malicious Android Apps On Facebook And Instagram Can Take Over Devices (Image credit: AI-generated) The government has issued a new warning against Android malicious apps that are being promoted through ads on Instagram and Facebook. These apps are disguised as adult-content applications and can potentially take control of a smartphone and steal money. Notably, the warning has come from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs. In a post on X, I4C urged citizens to be careful when downloading any app from links available through online ads on social media platforms. According to I4C, apps using the names such as Reloop, Night Play, Kyss, Vimo, Rivo, Nexo and Vixa, as well as similar versions, are being used in this campaign. The government warned that Facebook and Instagram are being used to prompt visitors to download an APK file from outside the Google Play Store. This is particularly risky as APK files downloaded from unknown sources may come with malware. I4C highlighted that after the permission is enabled, the malware can continue operating in the background and potentially take control of the device. This may eventually allow attackers to carry out unauthorised financial transactions. Moreover, the government warned that some of these apps may install a VPN on the affected phone. This could route the user's internet traffic through servers controlled by attackers, potentially exposing data to further misuse. If a suspicious application has already been installed on your device, the government has suggested using Safe Mode to remove it. Press and hold the phone's Power button. Then press and hold the Power Off option until the Safe Mode option appears. Select it and allow the phone to restart. Once the phone starts, a Safe Mode label should appear on the screen. Go to Settings > Apps, find the suspicious application and select Uninstall. Users should also check for other unfamiliar or related applications that may have been installed. Restart the phone again. It should automatically leave Safe Mode and return to normal operation. Some malicious apps may prevent users from removing them normally. In such cases, users may first need to disable the permissions that give the app control over the phone. Go to Settings > Accessibility and look under Installed Services or Downloaded Apps. Find the suspicious application and turn off its Accessibility access. Users should also check Security or Security & Privacy > Device Admin Apps. If the suspicious application has administrator access, deactivate it before trying to uninstall the app. If the app still cannot be removed or comes back after restarting, the government recommends backing up important data and considering a factory reset of the device.