Chrome extensionsare supposed to make your net web client even betterbut not all of them can be trusted.
As hard as Google tries, the Chrome Web Store isnt a marketplace of innocent utilities.
McAfees security analystsdiscovered this latest batch of five malicious Chrome extensions.
Together, they have more than 1.4 million downloads.
These extensions are different from each other, but have the same end goal in their design.
Either way, the goal is to make a commission on whatever you buy.
In this way, these extensions are different from typical scams.
They arent after your personal information, or attempting to break into your accounts.
Rather, they treat you and 1.4 million others as middlemen for their own commissions.
That doesnt make thembetterthan other malware, however, and should be stopped however possible.
Worse yet, each malicious extension surprisingly works as advertised.
FlipShope is actually a price tracker, and Full Page Screenshot Capture does capture screenshots of your web app.
Usually, apps and utilities containing malware are nothing less than a front to trick you into installing them.
If you installed any of these extensions in Chrome, delete them now.
How to protect yourself from malicious Chrome extensions
This issue isnt a new, by any means.
In fact, weve coveredhow to avoid malicious extensionsin the past.
Malicious extensions thrive off of confusing users with a similar name to another popular extension.
Pay close attention to the extensions web store listing.
Is everything spelled right?
Do the images match the advertised features?
Look at the reviews for the extensions.
Do reviewers seem legitimate?
Are they reviewing the right extension?
Do some external research into the extension before downloading.
What does Google pick up when you search for it?
