1.3 mn users faced browser extension threats in H1 of 2022: Researchers

Cyber-security researchers said on Thursday that more than 1.3 million users were affected by threats hiding in browser extensions in the first half of 2022.

The figure is over 70 per cent of the number of users affected by the same threat throughout 2021.

Kaspersky researchers analysed what risks innocent-looking browser extensions pose to users and the activities of cybercriminals hiding threats under add-ons.

Mimicking popular apps such as Google Translator or extensions with useful functionality like PDF Converter or Video Downloader, threats in browser extensions can insert advertisements, collect data about users’ browsing histories and even search for login credentials.