Cybersecurity Blog

Your ad-blocker Chrome extension may be malware – 04/19/18

 

Adguard has found 5 very popular ad-blocker Chrome extensions in the Google Webstore which contain malware that allows a criminal to take control of your browser.

  • AdRemover for Google Chrome
  • uBlock Plus
  • Adblock Pro
  • HD for YouTube
  • Webutation

Google has removed the extensions. However if you have installed one of them:

  1. Uninstall it immediately.
  2. Change the passwords on all your accounts.
  3. Keep an eye on your bank accounts and credit card statements.

The malware these extensions contain work in the background making detection very difficult. As far as the user is concerned the extension is what it appears to be. For this reason millions of unsuspecting users downloaded them onto their machines.

How do you protect yourself from malignant browser extensions? Don’t download them.  If you really, really need the extension make sure you know who the developer is. Stick to well known trusted developers that you recognize.

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