Cybersecurity Blog

Downloading Browser Extensions – 11/24/16

 

Just like apps, music and video; browser extensions should only be downloaded from official reputable sources.  Some Mount Royal students found that out the hard way this week when they downloaded a browser extension being offered outside of the Chrome Web Store. The extension spammed fellow students within Blackboard causing a lot of embarrassment and annoyance.  Unfortunately, due to the method of email delivery ITS was unable to simply filter out the annoying emails.

No matter how legitimate a download seems to be, if it is not downloaded from an official source there is a greater chance the download could be malicious.  Official sources are manufacturer’s web stores like iTunes, the Google Play store and the Chrome Web Store as well as brand websites like Starbucks.

Although downloading from official sources decreases the chance that you will  download a malicious app, there are no guarantees. Malware designed as fake apps can also be found on these sites.  However, by checking reviews and choosing apps that have a documented history, you can usually spot fake apps before they end up on your device.

Happy Safe Downloading!!