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That 'Facebook Color' App Is Malware, But Here's How You Can Actually Change The Colors On Your Facebook
That 'Facebook Color' App Is Malware, But Here's How You Can Actually Change The Colors On Your Facebook
Dave SmithAug 12, 2014, 02:00 IST
In your Facebook travels, you may have come across an ad for a Facebook application called "Facebook color changer," which says it can change the color of your Facebook layout from the traditional royal blue to black, orange, yellow, green, purple, almost any color in the spectrum.Problem is, the app isn't real. And if you click on it, you'll be rerouted to a malicious phishing site that may infect your computer.According to CNN Money, the "Facebook Color Scam" was discovered by security researchers working at Cheetah Mobile, which says the scam has affected more than 10,000 people in various countries around the world.Cheetah Mobile says the vulnerability exists in the page for the Facebook app. But when you click on it, you'll be directed to a phishing website that steals your Facebook "access tokens," which the hackers can use to connect with your Facebook friends and spam them. The Facebook Color malware can also prompt users to download a separate video application, or a separate app if you're using an Android phone. Both pieces of software contain malware, which could be used for more nefarious purposes than scamming your friends, particularly if the malware can log your keystrokes or access other data points on your computer.
Luckily, the malware is easy to eliminate. If you've accidentally clicked the "Facebook color changer" app, just visit your Facebook app settings and remove the app. Here's how:
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Cheetah Mobile also recommends Facebook users change their passwords after removing the malware.If you're looking for a real way to change the color palette of your Facebook, Google Chrome users can try the "Color My Facebook" add-on, which lets you change the color scheme to pretty much any color you could think of. Here's what that looks like:
