The Google logo adorns the outside of the Google building in New York City. Google Chrome extensions are being used to infect millions of users with malware. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Researchers at Avast Wednesday reported that some 3 million people may have been infected with malware hidden in at least 28 third-party Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge extensions associated with some of the world’s most popular platforms.
According to the researchers, the malware has the functionality to redirect user’s traffic to ads or phishing sites and to steal people’s personal data, such as birth dates, email addresses, and active devices.
The extensions hit by the malware include Video Downloader for Facebook, Vimeo Video Downloader, Instagram Story Downloader, VK Unblock, and other browser extensions on the Google Chrome browser and some on Microsoft’s Edge browser. The researchers have identified malicious code in the Javascript-based extensions that let the extensions download further malware onto a user’s PC.
Avast’s threat intelligence team started monitoring this threat in November 2020, but believes that it could ..
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