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Adware vendors buy Chrome Extensions to send ad- and malware-filled updates
ars technica website
| Jan 17 2014, 3:10pm -0800
| Ron Amadeo
Posted on 01/20/2014 9:57:14 AM PST by Utilizer
click here to read article
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In a nutshell, some extensions can compromise your system(s) via extension updates, so care needs to be taken when using them. Ars technica has more details but cannot be excerpted, however a search for the article will provide more details and this seems important enough to let any Chrome users know despite their restrictions.
1
posted on
01/20/2014 9:57:14 AM PST
by
Utilizer
To: Utilizer
Do Firefox/IE add-ons have the same vulnerabilities?
2
posted on
01/20/2014 9:59:50 AM PST
by
Dr. Sivana
(“The only thing that can save us is if Kerry wins the Nobel prize and leaves us alone.”-Moshe Yaal)
To: Dr. Sivana
Not so far, from what I read at the ars technica site. Only Chrome. However, that may simply mean that none has yet been discovered on the other browsers so I thought this important enough to make others aware and begin checking their own extensions for possible similarities.
3
posted on
01/20/2014 10:02:36 AM PST
by
Utilizer
(Bacon A'kbar! - In world today are only peaceful people, and the mooslimbs trying to kill them-)
To: Utilizer
From the article:
Update: Google got back to us, and stated that Chrome’s extension policy is due to change in June 2014. The new policy will require extensions to serve a single purpose.
To: smoothsailing
The new policy will require extensions to serve a single purpose. Yes, read that. However, that does nothing to solve the immediate problem nor does their statement mention that they will remove the offending extensions or even notify users of the problems.
5
posted on
01/20/2014 10:13:35 AM PST
by
Utilizer
(Bacon A'kbar! - In world today are only peaceful people, and the mooslimbs trying to kill them-)
To: PeteePie
Ping. Noticed you had a problem with Chrome recently...
6
posted on
01/20/2014 10:19:04 AM PST
by
Utilizer
(Bacon A'kbar! - In world today are only peaceful people, and the mooslimbs trying to kill them-)
To: Utilizer
Who uses Chrome, or allows extensions on their computer?
7
posted on
01/20/2014 10:56:10 AM PST
by
Dan(9698)
To: Utilizer
8
posted on
01/20/2014 11:05:29 AM PST
by
PeteePie
(Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people - Proverbs 14:34)
To: Utilizer
What you say makes sense and it’s clear they’re doing nothing between now and June.
I’m a bit of a novice at this sort of thing. I run Chrome on this PC I’m using now and also it’s pretty much built in to my Dell Venue 7” tablet.
I am relatively confident that my PC is OK, but I wonder about the tablet. I havn’t noticed anything particular but I also havn’t installed any security apps on the tablet either. I’ve only had it a few months. I’ve read pros and cons about the tablet apps and havn’t come to any conclusion.
Do you know anything about tablet security?
To: Dan(9698)
There are some, actually, and extensions (also called add-ons) are parts of many web browsers. Two I use quite extensively are the extensions AdBlocker and Ghostery and find them quite handy. I have also tried Chrome and did not think much of it, although it comes as a default browser on some Linux distros.
10
posted on
01/20/2014 11:08:03 AM PST
by
Utilizer
(Bacon A'kbar! - In world today are only peaceful people, and the mooslimbs trying to kill them-)
To: ShadowAce
Ping. You might find this interesting...
11
posted on
01/20/2014 11:09:45 AM PST
by
Utilizer
(Bacon A'kbar! - In world today are only peaceful people, and the mooslimbs trying to kill them-)
To: PeteePie
12
posted on
01/20/2014 11:10:38 AM PST
by
Utilizer
(Bacon A'kbar! - In world today are only peaceful people, and the mooslimbs trying to kill them-)
To: smoothsailing
Do you know anything about tablet security? Not enough to even offer advice, I am afraid. Most of the work I do is on desktop computers and usually involves updates and resolving crash issues, generally to the re-install level if necessary to get rid of malware.
13
posted on
01/20/2014 11:13:53 AM PST
by
Utilizer
(Bacon A'kbar! - In world today are only peaceful people, and the mooslimbs trying to kill them-)
To: rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; Salo; JosephW; Only1choice____Freedom; amigatec; Still Thinking; ...
14
posted on
01/20/2014 11:14:17 AM PST
by
ShadowAce
(Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
To: Utilizer
So they buy a legitimate app or extension and spread their disease that way?
15
posted on
01/20/2014 11:18:10 AM PST
by
GeronL
(Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
To: Dan(9698)
Chrome has its own OS and Android is theirs too I think. They have a lot more games/apps apparently than Linux.
Not that it matters to me.
16
posted on
01/20/2014 11:19:53 AM PST
by
GeronL
(Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
To: Utilizer
Chromium is a stripped down version of Chrome I think
17
posted on
01/20/2014 11:20:49 AM PST
by
GeronL
(Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
To: GeronL
So they buy a legitimate app or extension and spread their disease that way? According to the ars technica article, yes some people have done so through the Chrome extensions and people were not aware that this was happening or that the extensions were the reason why problems were appearing.
18
posted on
01/20/2014 11:25:42 AM PST
by
Utilizer
(Bacon A'kbar! - In world today are only peaceful people, and the mooslimbs trying to kill them-)
To: Utilizer
19
posted on
01/20/2014 11:25:46 AM PST
by
ConstantSkeptic
(Be careful about preconceptions)
To: ConstantSkeptic
Thanks for the link! That was very informative, and identified at least two of the extensions that were causing problems. Users need to be aware of the dangers still, so the more people are informed about this the better, and also be aware that this could be a potential problem in the future as well.
20
posted on
01/20/2014 11:30:22 AM PST
by
Utilizer
(Bacon A'kbar! - In world today are only peaceful people, and the mooslimbs trying to kill them-)
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