Alert for extensions for Chrome and Microsoft Edge with malware

virus extension

Avast detailed that unofficial browser extensions for Instagram, Facebook, Vimeo, and others could infect your computer.

Experts ensure that every day the services of antivirus detect thousands of cyber attacks while others can get past security by putting computers at risk.

Recently he was alerted about extensions for Chrome and Microsoft Edge that they have malware and that can put the Privacy of people.

virus

Researchers from Avast identified a virus that has been hidden in at least 28 extensions that are associated with the most popular platforms in the world, such is the case of Instagram, Facebook, Vimeo and others.

According to the experts, the objective of the malware is to redirect user traffic to ads or sites of phishing, and to steal people’s personal data, such as dates of birth, email addresses, and active devices.

In this sense, the researchers detailed that the first objective is to monetize traffic, since criminals receive a payment for each redirection to a third-party site.

However, with this method it is also possible to redirect users to ads or phishing sites.

“Our hypothesis is that the extensions were deliberately created with the malware embedded or the author waited for the extensions to become popular and then released an update that contained the malware. It could also be that the author sold the original extensions to someone else after creating them, and then the buyer introduced the malware, ”said Jan Rubín, Malware Researcher at Avast.

What is to be done?

Avast detailed that so far it is known that the virus in the extensions it has been able to infect around three million people worldwide.

malware

Some of the Javascript-based extensions are known to have made it possible to download the virus on the user’s computer.

Although researchers have been able to identify 28 extensions with malwarethese are still available for download. The company has already contacted Microsoft and Google Chrome, who are working to eliminate them.

While you can act on it, Avast recommends users to uninstall the following extensions: