Browser extensions are quite popular because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing you to level up the functionality of your web browser. In spite of the fact that this is the case, approximately seven million people who have downloaded browser extensions in the past two years have gotten infected with some form of malware. This information comes from a remote released by Kaspersky, and it sheds light on how risky browser extensions can be.
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the vast majority of malicious extensions, or 70% to be precise, infected users with adware. That means that there were around 4.3 million browser extensions that posed a risk to users that downloaded them with all things having been considered and taken into account. Additionally, malicious browser extension downloads in the first half of 2022 have crossed the 1.3 million mark which represents an increase from last year.
In 2020, approximately 3.6 million malicious browser extensions were installed. That number dropped to 1.8 million in 2021, but if current trends persist we might see the numbers for this year touching or perhaps exceeding 2.5 million.
Another thing to note about this research is that it only counts users who are customers of Kaspersky. The numbers are likely much higher when the wide populace is factored in, and that suggests that this is a massive problem that few people know about.
Some of these extensions act as productivity tools, whereas others allow your browser to interface with other software. The proportion of extensions that are malicious are quite high, and adware can be a very disruptive influence since it would cover a user’s screen with ads that they can’t click away from. Google needs to take the initiative here as the company behind the most popular browser in the world, although the tech giant’s track record with security is spotty at best. It will be important to address this issue lest it spirals out of control.
Read next: These Two Countries Are Sponsoring More Cyber Attacks Than Any Other Nation, New Data Reveals
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the vast majority of malicious extensions, or 70% to be precise, infected users with adware. That means that there were around 4.3 million browser extensions that posed a risk to users that downloaded them with all things having been considered and taken into account. Additionally, malicious browser extension downloads in the first half of 2022 have crossed the 1.3 million mark which represents an increase from last year.
In 2020, approximately 3.6 million malicious browser extensions were installed. That number dropped to 1.8 million in 2021, but if current trends persist we might see the numbers for this year touching or perhaps exceeding 2.5 million.
Another thing to note about this research is that it only counts users who are customers of Kaspersky. The numbers are likely much higher when the wide populace is factored in, and that suggests that this is a massive problem that few people know about.
Some of these extensions act as productivity tools, whereas others allow your browser to interface with other software. The proportion of extensions that are malicious are quite high, and adware can be a very disruptive influence since it would cover a user’s screen with ads that they can’t click away from. Google needs to take the initiative here as the company behind the most popular browser in the world, although the tech giant’s track record with security is spotty at best. It will be important to address this issue lest it spirals out of control.
Read next: These Two Countries Are Sponsoring More Cyber Attacks Than Any Other Nation, New Data Reveals
