Facebook is ????? ???? ?????going after more shady app developers for abusing its platform.
The social media company filed a lawsuit against two app developers it says used malware-ridden Android apps to engage in "click injection fraud." According to Facebook, the developer used malware embedded in its Android apps to fake clicks on ads to make money off unsuspecting users who downloaded their apps.
This lawsuit is the latest example of Facebook aggressively pursuing shady app developers who break its rules in the wake of Cambridge Analytica. But unlike Cambridge Analytica, which used ill-gotten Facebook data from a personality quiz app, it appears these developers were attempting some good old-fashioned ad fraud.
The apps in question came from Singapore-based JediMobi and Hong Kong developer LionMobi, and are marketed as calculator and anti-virus apps. But they also "installed malware designed to intercept ad-related data and inject fake clicks in order to deceive Facebook's Audience network and Google's AdMob into crediting the the apps for fake clicks that did not occur," according to the lawsuit.
The two apps, "Power Clean - Antivirus & Phone Cleaner App," and "Calculator Plus," have been installed millions of times, according to their listings in Google's Play Store. Both apps were still available at the time of publication. Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Facebook didn't say how much money the app developers made from these schemes, but it was apparently lucrative. During a two-month period in 2018, the "calculator" app generated more than 40 million ad impressions and 17 million clicks, according to the lawsuit. The supposed antivirus app generated fake clicks via Google's AdMob.
Ad fraud is nothing new, and these kinds of schemes have been particularly prevalent in the Google Play Store for years. But the fact that Facebook is suing both developers in addition to booting them off of their platform signals how much more seriously the company takes app developers that break its rules. The company previously sued a South Korean app developer it says refused to cooperate with its investigation into its data policies.
"Our lawsuit is one of the first of its kind against this practice," Jessica Romero, Facebook's director of platform enforcement, said in a statement. "Facebook detected this fraud as part of our continuous efforts to investigate and stop abuse by app developers and any abuse of our advertising products."
UPDATE: Aug. 7, 2019, 9:43 a.m. PDT In a statement, LionMobi, developer of the "Power Clean" app, blamed a "third-party SDK" for causing its app to break Facebook's rules.
"In December 2018, LionMobi realized some of the integrated third-party SDK may lead violations of policy," the company said. "As soon as we can, we investigated the third-party SDK integrated into LionMobi products, and removed all third-party SDKs that may be suspected of violating the policy.
"LionMobi respects and abides by Facebook's strategies and policies over app monetization."
Topics Facebook Google Social Media
Halloween Odori/Ondo Costume Party at Centenary UMC
Xpeng asks suppliers to step up production on strong demand for budget EV · TechNode
Tesla China sales return to growth in August despite competition · TechNode
Scammers tricked TikTok users into downloading malware with AI videos
‘Cool Japan’ at L.A. County Fair
Huawei’s first triple
China’s CATL to operate 10,000 battery swap stations by 2030 · TechNode
Trump threatens 25% tariff on Apple in Truth Social post
Heroic take down MOUZ to qualify for IEM Cologne's group stage
Knicks vs. Pacers 2025 livestream: Watch Game 2 of NBA playoffs for free
Little Tokyo Parkinson’s Group to Meet
Anthropic's new AI model resorted to blackmail during testing
Xpeng asks suppliers to step up production on strong demand for budget EV · TechNode
TSMC to break ground on first European 12
STYKO: "I can see there are bandaids being thrown around in this team"
Li Auto profits halved by price war, braces for more headwinds · TechNode
Intel debuts Core Ultra 200V series processors, Lenovo to unveil new AI
Arminia Bielefeld vs. VfB Stuttgart 2025 livestream: Watch DFB
John Cho: Settling Into Sulu
Is 'Mickey 17' streaming? Here's how to watch it at home.
Instagram deleted a post calling out predatory photographer for 'bullying'Monica Lewinsky's reply to this tweet about career advice is absolutely perfectAnimal shelter finds forever homes for furry 'aliens' with Area 51 memesScarlett Johansson inspires memes after saying she should be able to play 'any tree'Donald Trump hit a new low with racist tweets and everyone noticed'Stranger Kitchens': YouTube channel makes lunches in random homesCersei had a chilling response to Boris Johnson becoming UK prime ministerInstagram deleted a post calling out predatory photographer for 'bullying'This is what it's like when a covert image of you goes viral onlineMonica Lewinsky's reply to this tweet about career advice is absolutely perfect U.S. military orders initial batch of Microsoft HoloLens AR goggles 10 best '80s sitcoms on Amazon Prime Video for a trip back in time 'The Invitation' review: A well Australian woman allegedly received an accidental multimillion What to do (online) if your flight is cancelled Wordle today: Here's the August 29 Wordle answer and hints Every Netflix original movie coming fall 2022 This app beeps every time you send data to Google Wordle today: Here's the August 31 Wordle answer and hints 'Wordle' today: Here's the answer, hints for September 1
0.1712s , 10013.1328125 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【????? ???? ?????】Facebook sues developers behind malware,Global Hot Topic Analysis
