When we think of cyber threats, we often picture shady websites or phishing emails. But sometimes, the danger is hiding in plain sight—right inside your browser. A recent investigation revealed that over 100 malicious Chrome extensions were quietly stealing user data, hijacking sessions, and redirecting traffic, all while pretending to be helpful tools.
Yes, they were sitting comfortably in the official Chrome Web Store. Many had thousands of downloads. And most users had no idea.
Let’s break down what happened, how it affects everyday users, and—most importantly—how we can all stay safer online.
Security researchers at DomainTools recently uncovered a massive wave of malicious Chrome extensions. These weren’t obscure, hard-to-find add-ons. They were easy to find, highly rated, and appeared to offer useful functions—like productivity tools, VPNs, file converters, and even crypto-related utilities.
But behind the friendly icons and helpful-sounding names, these extensions were part of a coordinated campaign to collect sensitive data from unsuspecting users.
In total, over 100 Chrome extensions were flagged, collectively downloaded millions of times before being removed.
So how did these extensions manage to do so much damage without raising red flags?
Once installed, they behaved normally at first—just enough to keep users unaware. But in the background, they were doing things users never approved:
In short, they turned your browser into a spy, silently working against you while you browsed.
While this discovery is global in scope, it has real relevance locally, too. Many users across sectors, including in India, have unknowingly installed these extensions. And the threat wasn’t limited to personal data.
Corporate environments, especially those with weak browser control policies, were at risk of session hijacking, data leaks, and account takeovers. Think about someone accessing sensitive CRM dashboards or internal tools through Chrome—without realizing that their browser is compromised.
The Indian BFSI sector, already under pressure from emerging cyber threats like quantum computing risks (as noted by a recent ISB study), now faces a double blow. Even conventional browser extensions—if not vetted—can become a weak link in a company’s defense.
To its credit, Google has acted swiftly, removing the malicious extensions from the Chrome Web Store after researchers shared their findings. But that’s only part of the solution.
The extensions may be gone from the store, but users who had already installed them remain vulnerable—unless they manually remove them. That’s the problem with browser-based threats. Detection is delayed, and by the time the cleanup happens, the damage could already be done.
The good news? You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself.
Here are 5 quick actions to help safeguard your browser and data:
We rely on browsers every day—to check email, manage bank accounts, share files, and run entire businesses. But when we install an extension, we’re giving it deep access to our lives.
This recent wave of fake Chrome extensions is a wake-up call. Even if you’re cautious online, it’s still easy to be tricked by what looks like a harmless tool.
Cybersecurity isn’t about paranoia—it’s about awareness.
At Saptang Labs, we believe protecting your digital space should be simple, proactive, and human-centered. This isn’t just a tech story. It’s a reminder that in the digital world, even small choices—like clicking “Add to Chrome”—can have big consequences.
Stay safe. Stay informed.
You may also find this helpful: Quantum Computing Threats Are No Longer Distant: Why We Need to Act Before It’s Too Late