You might want to check your Google Chrome extensions as 16 have been earmarked as 'major security threats' that could potentially expose you to dangerous viruses and steal your information.
Getting the right Chrome extensions can completely change how you browse the internet. They offer a wide range of enhancements including adblockers, visual effects, and keyboard improvements. If you're not using extensions you're doing yourself a disservice!
However, due to the vast number of extensions available through the Chrome store, some have been able to slip through the cracks and target users by stealing their data and even infecting their devices with dangerous viruses, as per the New York Post.
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Reports from GitLab Threat Intelligence indicate that at least 3,200,000 Chrome users have been potentially impacted by these nefarious extensions, and the issue lies with the fact that you almost always hand over complete control of your browser when using them.
These extensions transfer your information and browser details over to scammers and threat actors, who then can access and sell your data and infiltrate your devices through additional updates.
Cybersecurity experts have thankfully outlined 16 separate extensions that you'll definitely want to get rid of, as they are likely engaging in some of the unethical practices outlined above. They are as follows:
- Adblock for Chrome
- Adblock for You
- Adblocker for Chrome (NoAds)
- Blipshot
- Color Changer for YouTube
- Emoji Keyboard Emojis for Chrome
- Emojis (Emoji Keyboard)
- KProxy
- Mike Adblock für Chrome
- Nimble Capture
- Page Refresh
- Super Dark Mode
- Themes for Chrome and YouTube Picture in Picture
- Video Effects for YouTube and Audio Enhancer
- WAToolkit
- Wistia Video Downloader
A large portion of these are specific adblockers that can potentially engage in search engine fraud that utilizes the ad revenue gained to make money, but others likely target your browser and data.
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Chrome is likely to automatically delete these from the store and user profiles automatically once they're identified, but it's still worth double checking to ensure that they're gone for good as you can often override Google's deletion attempts.
Thankfully there are plenty of alternative options that you can choose from if you don't want to lose the functionality that any of the above extensions offer you, although it's definitely worth opting for ones that have both a high review score and a large number of ratings, as these are far more likely to be legitimate.
It's definitely worth remaining skeptical in general though, as even popular extensions have become involved in controversy in the past. As good as the best extensions might be, it's not worth exposing your data or infecting your gadgets.