{"id":27895,"date":"2026-01-28T05:06:49","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T05:06:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/28\/users-warned-about-chrome-extensions-with-major-security-risk-remove-these-apps-now-tech-news\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T05:06:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T05:06:49","slug":"users-warned-about-chrome-extensions-with-major-security-risk-remove-these-apps-now-tech-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/28\/users-warned-about-chrome-extensions-with-major-security-risk-remove-these-apps-now-tech-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Users Warned About Chrome Extensions With Major Security Risk: Remove These Apps Now | Tech News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9860267\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">January 28, 2026, 10:14 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9860267\" class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-237532047 asubttl-schema\">Web extensions are useful tools to block ads, or help you translate easily but they can also become an easy route for malicious attacks.<\/h2>\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-5a1f752c26bd5231 artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-5a1f752c26bd5231 stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-5a1f752c26bd5231 deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-5a1f752c26bd5231 fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" title=\"font\" class=\"jsx-5a1f752c26bd5231 lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-5a1f752c26bd5231 artsharwrp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Users%20Warned%20About%20Chrome%20Extensions%20With%20Major%20Security%20Risk%3A%20Remove%20These%20Apps%20Now - %0D%0Ahttps:\/\/www.news18.com\/tech\/users-warned-about-chrome-extensions-with-major-security-risk-remove-these-apps-now-ws-e-9860267.html%3Futm_source%3Dwhatsapp%26utm_medium%3Dsocial_share%26utm_campaign%3Dnw18english%0D%0A %0D%0A Get the latest news anytime, anywhere. Install News18 app for free! %0D%0Ahttps:\/\/onelink.to\/website-share-eng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"jsx-5a1f752c26bd5231 sclrnd wapp social_share\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-5a1f752c26bd5231 notifycnt social_share\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/new_share_icon.svg\" alt=\"new share icon\" title=\"new share icon\" width=\"8\" height=\"9\" class=\"jsx-5a1f752c26bd5231 social_share\"\/><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/new_whatsapp_icon.svg\" alt=\"new whatsapp icon\" title=\"new whatsapp icon\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" class=\"jsx-5a1f752c26bd5231 social_share\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-237532047\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-237532047 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The security firm has talked about a slew of extensions that may have caused some damage. (Photo: AI generated)\" title=\"The security firm has talked about a slew of extensions that may have caused some damage. (Photo: AI generated)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-237532047\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The security firm has talked about a slew of extensions that may have caused some damage. (Photo: AI generated)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Browser extensions are helpful in many ways but these can also become an easy route for bad actors to infect systems. And a new security report suggests around 17 browser extensions in Chrome, Edge and Firefox have the potential to cause big damage. The details provided by cybersecurity firm LayerX suggests there are 17 malicious extensions that have the potential to enable user tracking in the background and you don\u2019t even get a whiff of it. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">The worrying part is that over 500,000 downloads have already been recorded for the culprit extensions and these companies are doing their best to get people to delete\/remove them from their browser right away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\"><strong>Chrome And Edge Extension Dangerous Threat: What We Know<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">The firm claims around 17 dangerous extensions have been downloaded more than 840,000 times and seem to have bypassed all possible security checks to operate for over 5 years. These tools could be as simple as a YouTube video downloader, translating text in real time or even check for online shopping items and their price history. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Most people use extensions for these functional reasons so when some of these are dubbed to be malicious, the security red flags are sure to spook anyone. These extensions have been found culpable across all the popular web browsers and not just Chrome, which is likely to be the most affected by the risks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\"><strong>Browser Extension Risk: How It Can Attack<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">The security firm has shared the details about the extensions and which ones topped the dubious list. The report says, \u201cGoogle Translate in Right Click&#8221;, was the most downloaded extension at 500,000 installs from the app store. These are all the extensions that the firm is warning users about:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"listOncontentArticleUL\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Page Screenshot Clipper<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Full Page Screenshot<\/li>\n<li>Convert Everything<\/li>\n<li>Translate Selected Text with Google<\/li>\n<li>Youtube Download<\/li>\n<li>RSS Feed<\/li>\n<li>Ads Block Ultimate<\/li>\n<li>AdBlocker<\/li>\n<li>Color Enhancer<\/li>\n<li>Floating Player \u2013 PiP Mode<\/li>\n<li>One Key Translate<\/li>\n<li>Cool Cursor<\/li>\n<li>Google Translate in Right Click<\/li>\n<li>Translate Selected Text with Right Click<\/li>\n<li>Amazon Price History<\/li>\n<li>Save Image to Pinterest on Right Click<\/li>\n<li>Instagram Downloader<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">The malware used an advanced technology that allowed them to infect systems with hidden links or dangerous codes that are embedded into images. The more concerning aspect about the malware is that attackers can delay its trigger and by then users lose track of such threats and the data theft is done in the background.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"9\" class=\"story_para_9\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Microsoft and Mozilla have since then removed all the extensions but a 5 year timeline for their presence means some of the users might have already faced issues because of the malicious nature of these tools that might look unharmed to the user.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"10\" class=\"story_para_10\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Cyber experts usually share tips, asking people to avoid installing apps from unknown sources but these extensions were available through official apps stores, so the concerns are related to how these companies vet the apps that bypass the system. <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-682fbfc7a2c851af artnws newsletter\">\n<p>Handpicked stories, in your inbox<\/p>\n<p>A newsletter with the best of our journalism<\/p>\n<p><input type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Enter Your Email\" class=\"jsx-682fbfc7a2c851af artnwinpt\" value=\"\"\/><button class=\"jsx-682fbfc7a2c851af subscrbe newsletter\">submit<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-237532047 atbtlink Location\"><span>Location :<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>California, USA<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-237532047 atbtlink fp\"><span>First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"rs\">\n<p>January 28, 2026, 10:14 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-237532047 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/tech\/\">tech<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> Users Warned About Chrome Extensions With Major Security Risk: Remove These Apps Now<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-237532047 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/tech\/users-warned-about-chrome-extensions-with-major-security-risk-remove-these-apps-now-ws-e-9860267.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:January 28, 2026, 10:14 IST Web extensions are useful tools to block ads, or help you translate easily but they can also become an easy route for malicious attacks. The security firm has talked about a slew of extensions that may have caused some damage. (Photo: AI generated) Browser extensions are helpful in many&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27896,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27895\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}