Tag Archives: browsers

Browser extensions turn nearly 1 million browsers into website-scraping bots

MellowTel is also problematic because the sites it opens are unknown to end users. That means they must trust MellowTel to vet the security and trustworthiness of each site being accessed. And, of course, that security and trustworthiness can change with a single compromise of a site. MellowTel also poses a risk to enterprise networks… Read More »

Time to check if you ran any of these 33 malicious Chrome extensions

Screenshot showing the phishing email sent to Cyberhaven extension developers. Credit: Amit Assaraf A link in the email led to a Google consent screen requesting access permission for an OAuth application named Privacy Policy Extension. A Cyberhaven developer granted the permission and, in the process, unknowingly gave the attacker the ability to upload new versions… Read More »

Brave takes on the creepy websites that override your privacy settings

Getty Images reader comments 53 with 32 posters participating Share this story Some websites just can’t take “no” for an answer. Instead of respecting visitors’ choice to block third-party cookies—the identifiers that track browsing activity as a user moves from site to site—they find sneaky ways to bypass those settings. Now, makers of the Brave… Read More »

New browser-tracking hack works even when you flush caches or go incognito

Getty Images reader comments 103 with 76 posters participating, including story author Share this story The prospect of Web users being tracked by the sites they visit has prompted several countermeasures over the years, including using Privacy Badger or an alternate anti-tracking extension, enabling private or incognito browsing sessions, or clearing cookies. Now, websites have… Read More »

Chrome users have faced 3 security concerns over the past 24 hours

reader comments 29 with 23 posters participating Share this story Users of Google’s Chrome browser have faced three security concerns over the past 24 hours in the form of a malicious extension with more than 2 million users, a just-fixed zero-day, and new information about how malware can abuse Chrome’s sync feature to bypass firewalls.… Read More »

Malicious Chrome and Edge add-ons had a novel way to hide on 3 million devices

reader comments 6 with 5 posters participating Share this story In December, Ars reported that as many as 3 million people had been infected by Chrome and Edge browser extensions that stole personal data and redirected users to ad or phishing sites. Now, the researchers who discovered the scam have revealed the lengths the extension… Read More »

Chrome and Edge want to help with that password problem of yours

Enlarge / Please don’t do this. Getty Images reader comments 105 with 87 posters participating Share this story If you’re like lots of people, someone has probably nagged you to use a password manager and you still haven’t heeded the advice. Now, Chrome and Edge are coming to the rescue with beefed-up password management built… Read More »

Up to 3 million devices infected by malware-laced Chrome and Edge add-ons

reader comments 33 with 22 posters participating Share this story As many as 3 million people have been infected by Chrome and Edge browser extensions that steal personal data and redirect users to ad or phishing sites, a security firm said on Wednesday. In all, researchers from Prague-based Avast said they found 28 extensions for… Read More »

4 major browsers are getting hit in widespread malware attacks

reader comments 67 with 51 posters participating, including story author Share this story An ongoing malware campaign is blasting the Internet with malware that neuters the security of Web browsers, adds malicious browser extensions, and makes other changes to users’ computers, Microsoft said on Thursday. Adrozek, as the software maker has dubbed the malware family,… Read More »

Brave browser-maker launches privacy-friendly news reader

Getty Images reader comments 61 with 44 posters participating, including story author Share this story Brave Software, maker of the Brave Web browser, is introducing a news reader that’s designed to protect user privacy by preventing parties—both internal and third party—from tracking the sites, articles, and story topics people view. Brave Today, as the service… Read More »