Google Chrome experiment warns of malicious add-ons

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Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

Browser extensions should enhance your browsing experience every day, frompassword managerstoVPNs. But some are malicious, as the Google Chrome extensions checkup experiment currently warns.

For example, when you install a VPN extension, you expect it to guarantee your privacy and protect your anonymity online. However, some of thesetoolscan share your information to other entities.

Quick Tip:

If browsing the Internet privately is your main priority, then switching to a browser that features built-in security features is the next logical step.

As such, we recommend you give Opera a try. It comes with an ad and tracking blocker as well as a VPN service.

These security features can be further enhanced by the wide selection of extensions that are available thanks to the browser’s Chromium-based engine.

Opera

Google Chrome experiment warning

Google Chromerecently added an extensions checkup experiment that may warn you about the possibility of some extensions compromising your security and browser performance. You have to enable the feature to get the warning, though.

In addition, the feature gives you multiple warning message options depending on how it’s enabled.

For example, theEnable on Startupsetting can offer a neutral, performance, or privacy-focused message.

So, depending on the setting you choose, you may receive the warning that some extensions can monitor your browsing activity. Also, the warning messaging advises you to deactivate any add-on you didn’t install.

It appears that some malicious extensions may also cause your browser to behave abnormally. You should consider turning off the extension in question in such a case too.

Google takes down malicious Chrome extensions

The extensions checkup warnings are joiningChrome’s list of experimental features a few days after reports that Google took down about 106 maliciousChromeadd-ons.

Before this move, cybersecurity firm Awake haduncovered111 illegitimate Chrome extensions. Users had downloaded these malicious browser add-ons about 33 million times.

According to the firm, the extensions were part of a broader privacy breach. The now-removed apps could take screenshots of the user’s device or read user input.

In addition, some of the extensions delivered malicious payloads.

Google Chromeuses numerous security techniques, including sandboxing, to prevent malware from affecting the user’s PC. However, it seems that the bad extensions bypassed all these features.

What do you thinkGoogle Chromeshould do to enhance browser privacy and security? You can always let us know via the comments section below.

Google Chrome experiment warns of malicious add-ons#

Opera#

Google Chrome experiment warning#

Google takes down malicious Chrome extensions#

Google Chrome experiment warns of malicious add-ons

Opera

Google Chrome experiment warning

Google takes down malicious Chrome extensions