Meta Removes Malware Ads Masquerading as Pornography Apps

• •Meta removed ads promoting malicious Android apps disguised as pornography.
• •India reported $2.4 billion in cyber-fraud losses in 2025, targeting digital payments.
• •Malicious apps could access sensitive user information and transfer funds without consent.

Meta has taken down numerous ads on Facebook and Instagram that promoted malicious Android applications disguised as pornography apps, following a warning from India's National Cyber Threat Analytics Unit (NCTAU). These ads, operating under names like 'Night Play' and 'Kyss', directed users to phishing sites and potentially harmful downloads. In 2025, India reported nearly $2.4 billion in cyber-fraud losses, with these scams targeting the country's growing digital payments sector. The malicious apps could access sensitive information, including one-time passwords and bank PINs, and could transfer funds without user consent. Despite the takedown, at least 39 ads were still active after the advisory was issued. Meta's policies prohibit ads containing adult content and deceptive practices, yet internal projections indicated that scam-related advertising could generate significant revenue. This incident marks the second recent confrontation between the Indian government and major tech platforms over financial fraud.