Google Chrome users risk being HACKED by sneaky scam that quietly ‘infects’ your gadgets
Watch out for this seriously dodgy Chrome scam
GOOGLE CHROME users are being warned over a dangerous new online scam that can steal your bank details.
It involves using a very common pop-up alert to trick you into installing a dangerous Chrome extension – which could leave you penniless.
The dodgy extension is called 'Reader Flash', created by a mysterious developer known only as 'fbsgang'.
Once you've installed it, it'll track which websites you go to, as revealed by Telefonica's cybersecurity blog .
The extension knows when you've entered details into a form – like your bank login details, or info inputted when signing up for a credit card – and can scoop it up.
This gives hackers access to very sensitive information about you, which leaves you wide open to being defrauded.
So how do you end up getting the dodgy malware on your computer?
It tricks you into thinking you're downloading Flash Player (a legitimate add-on for watching videos), but you're actually installing a criminal app instead.
This will only happen if hackers detect you're using Google Chrome.
"Instead of targeting victims through searches or massive emailing – which would make this campaign much more successful but at the same time much more 'detectable' – the attackers have opted for another method," security experts at Eleven Paths explain.
"They infect websites using a JavaScript that can detect if the browser is a Chrome one.
"In such a case, they just redirect to a website indicating the users that they must install Flash, and then they are redirected to that extension."
What happens is that you'll go to a website, and see an on-page pop-up asking you to install Flash.
You'll install the extension, and then hackers will be able to see things you type into the Google Chrome web browser.
Researchers say they've reported the scam to Google.
We've asked Google for comment and will update this story with any response.
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Do you ever worry about being hacked? Let us know in the comments!
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