Skip to main content

Google Chrome Remove Extensions Believed to Be Loaded With Spyware

 Google Chrome is undoubtedly the most popular browser used by not millions but billions of individuals around the world. It is a very fast browser packed with interesting features. One can judge its popularity by the fact that users download and install it in their devices where Chrome is not provided as a default browser. Users freely added browser extensions to their Chrome having blind faith on its security features. These millions of individuals have received a rude jolt by a recent news report about a spyware ring associated with Google Chrome. Google Chrome support has reacted to the development and taken down many such extensions.

‘Awake Security’ researchers have busted a ring of hackers that created extensions for Google Chrome loaded with spyware. This organized crime was going on for a very long time with the ringmasters easily distributing spyware through distribution of seemingly innocuous browser extensions. No one knows for sure how much damage has been caused because of such spyware but the fact remains that the victims downloaded these Chrome extensions for more than 32 million times. After these researchers raise the red flag about these spyware loaded extensions last month, the search engine giant came into action. Google Chrome tech support has responded by taking down nearly 70 extensions from its Chrome web store. 

Researchers who found out about the malicious activities of these extensions said that nearly all such extensions were distributed free of cost by the hackers. They were apparently useful extensions for the users that pretended to be very safe by raising alarm whenever the user tried to visit a harmful website. However, once the extensions were downloaded and installed, they indulged in nefarious activities without the knowledge and permission of the users. These programs contained spyware to keep a close watch on the browsing history of the user. They also looked for private and sensitive details of the users stored inside the computer. What is surprising is the fact that these extensions were connected to a network of nearly 15000 websites and they could transmit sensitive details about the user. These malicious domains were purchased from Galcomm, a communication company backed by Israel. The company has denied any role in this spyware campaign. 

It is going to be an uphill task for Google Chrome to track down the identities of developers who made these extensions. This is because these extensions were submitted to Chrome Web store with fake identities. In any case, Google Chrome is no interested in unearthing the kingpin behind this spyware racket as its own reputation as a highly secure browser comes under fire. It is really embarrassing for Google Chrome because the company had claimed to have ramped up security way back in 2018.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Microsoft Office Support Through Unified App on Android and Ios

 Who doesn’t love Microsoft Office, the most popular productivity suite available in the market? Of course, you use the productivity tools from Microsoft on your computer and laptop at home and office. Now you want these apps to help you out when you are on a move. In fact, you do not need to download individual apps like Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint in your smartphone.  Microsoft Office support  plans to make available all its popular productivity apps on mobile platforms whether it is Android or iOS. Tech giant Microsoft gave an inkling of its future plans during Ignite conference that was recently organized in Orlando Florida. It was revealed during this conference that the company is planning to introduce a new version of the app that will combine the three most popular productivity apps of Microsoft Office namely Word, Excel, and Power Point. Work on these apps while being on a move and also share documents with your friends easily. If you are using an Andr...

At&t Tries Hard to Prevent T-mobile From Surging Ahead in 5g

 AT&T is undoubtedly a giant in the telecom sector around the country. The company made every effort in the last few weeks to tip the scales in its favor in its fight with T-Mobile in the field of 5G services. T-Mobile was the first out of the blocks in 5G and it must have hurt the ego of the company of the stature of AT&T. The best way to thwart the growth story of T-Mobile was to prevent it from amassing mid-band spectrum.  AT&T Mail support  has decided to flex its regulatory muscle to stop T-Mobile from surging ahead of it in the 5G race. AT&T filed a petition with FCC in September 2021 saying it should not allow any single player to amass more than one-third of the total spectrum in a given marketplace. Mid band spectrum which lies in the range of 2.5-6 GHz is considered ideal for use in 5-G technology. As T-Mobile has recently taken over Sprint, it allows the company to bid for a big chunk of the mid-band spectrum on auction by the government. If o...

Microsoft Warns but Windows 7 Loyalists Refuse to Budge

 Windows 7 has to be the most popular operating system launched by Microsoft ever. Despite company having moved up first to Windows 8 and now to Windows 10, loyal Windows 7 users continue to refuse to leave their loved operating system. It is really surprising for experts, especially when Microsoft has officially withdrawn its  Windows help and support  to Windows 7.  According to analytics firm Net Market Share, the market share of Windows 7 in January 2020 has fallen only slightly from 29.57% in December 19 to 25.56%. Ironically, Microsoft officially withdrew its support to Windows 7 in January 2020 that is reflected in the data released by Net Market Share. In fact, even Microsoft is disappointed by this small decline in market share of Windows 7 as it was expecting a much bigger decline in market share of Windows 7. But what comes as a shock for the company is the fact that the numbers are literally unchanged in terms of market share of Windows 7 in February 2020...