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Malicious Chrome extensions on the rise

August 27, 2013

Malicious Chrome extensions on the rise

ZDNet, By Larry Seltzer 

According to Fabio Assolini, Senior Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab, attackers are increasingly using malicious Google Chrome extensions to compromise users.

Assolini specifically cites a one such example currently masquerading as a Facebook video. The malware, which is Turkish in origin and targeted at Italian users, hijacks users' Facebook accounts and web browsers. Assolini says they have also seen variants in Latin America.

Users don't use enough good sense when applying extensions in a browser, according to Asssolini.  Extensions are highly-privileged, and they have access to all the data, passwords and websites visited by the user. As he described in a blog on earlier versions of this problem in January of this year, Kaspersky has seen malicious Chrome extensions hosted in the official Chrome Web store, and reports of them go back much further. Read more.

Malicious Chrome extensions on the rise

Malicious Chrome extensions on the rise
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About Kaspersky

Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection, specialized security products and services, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help over 200,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.

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