Google has recently confirmed the removal of 34 malicious extensions from Chrome. This is not the first time Chrome has faced this issue, and it’s possible that some people still have these extensions downloaded on their devices. So, here’s what we currently know about the situation.
The discovery of these malicious extensions was initiated by cybersecurity expert Wladimir Palant, who found a hidden code within the PDF Toolbox extension. This code had gone unnoticed for at least a year, highlighting the need for careful scrutiny. Following this discovery, Avast, a multinational cybersecurity software company, further investigated the issue and found 32 more malicious extensions. They promptly informed Google, who identified two additional extensions, bringing the total to 34.
It’s worth noting that these extensions were downloaded over 75 million times and had malicious capabilities such as injecting ads into pages, cryptocurrency mining, and collecting sensitive user data like browsing profiles, online banking credentials, and credit card information.
To give you a better understanding, here is a list of the 34 malicious extensions that were found in the Chrome Web Store:
1. Adblock Dragon
2. Alfablocker ad blocker
3. Amazin Dark Mode
4. Autoskip for YouTube
5. Awesome Auto Refresh
6. Base Image Downloader
7. Brisk VPN
8. Clickish fun cursors
9. Clipboard Helper
10. Cursor A custom cursor
11. Craft Cursors
12. Crystal Ad block
13. Easy Undo Closed Tabs
14. Easyview Reader view
15. Epsilon Ad blocker
16. Font Customizer
17. HyperVolume
18. Image download center
19. Leap Video Downloader
20. Light picture-in-picture
21. Maximum Color Changer for YouTube
22. Maxi Refresher
23. OneCleaner
24. PDF Toolbox
25. Quick Translation
26. Qspeed Video Speed Controller
27. Readl Reader mode
28. Repeat button
29. Screence screen recorder
30. Soundboost
31. Tap Image Downloader
32. Venus Adblock
33. Volume Frenzy
34. Zoom Plus
To remove a malicious extension, follow these steps:
1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the three vertical dots.
3. Click “Extensions.”
4. Select “Manage Extensions.”
5. Find the extension you want to remove and click “Remove.”
6. Click “Remove” again to confirm the removal.
To protect yourself from malicious extensions, follow these tips:
1. Thoroughly read reviews before downloading any extensions. Be cautious of negative reviews and overly positive reviews without specific details.
2. Download extensions from reputable sources, such as official browser extension marketplaces.
3. Look out for spelling and grammar errors in the extension’s name and description, as they may indicate a malicious extension.
4. Keep your operating system and web browser software up to date to have the latest security patches.
5. Pay attention to the permissions and extension requests during installation. Be wary if an extension asks for excessive or unnecessary permissions.
6. Install good antivirus software on all your devices to protect against malicious links, malware, and phishing scams.
In conclusion, the discovery and removal of these 34 malicious extensions emphasize the persistent issue of threats in the Chrome browser. Taking precautionary measures like being cautious of permissions, reading reviews carefully, regularly updating your software, and using antivirus software can help protect you from potentially harmful extensions. We hope that Google acts swiftly to remove any remaining malicious extensions. If you have any thoughts on how Google can improve their removal process, feel free to reach out to us at CyberGuy.com/Contact.
For more security alerts and updates, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter at CyberGuy.com/Newsletter. Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist known for his contributions to Fox News & FOX Business. If you have any tech-related questions, sign up for Kurt’s CyberGuy Newsletter, and share your voice, story ideas, or comments at CyberGuy.com.
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