goinggreek.info
The Agora => UK & World News => Going Geek info => Topic started by: Maik on Monday, 20 January, 2014 @ 18:48:46
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Adware pedlars are buying extensions for the Chrome browser and adding code that hijacks searches or inserts sponsored ads, reports suggest.
Extensions are self-contained software add-ons for Chrome that add specific functions to the browser.
At least three extensions for Chrome are suspected of being taken over by adware pedlars.
One developer said he sold his Chrome extension for a "four-figure" sum to an ad marketing firm.
Google has now removed two of the extensions believed to have been compromised in this way.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25808193
The purchase of popular browser extensions for Google chrome or Mozilla Firefox is a lucrative business. Companies offer developers sums in the four or five digit range to get full control over the extension.
I have described a year ago how companies take advantage of users by acquiring Firefox add-ons (http://www.ghacks.net/2013/01/13/how-companies-take-advantage-of-mozillas-addon-repository/), and Chrome has seen its fair share of extension (http://www.ghacks.net/2013/11/28/remove-ads-hola-unblocker-injects-websites-visit/) controversy (http://www.ghacks.net/2012/11/23/warning-proxtube-extension-injects-ads/) as well (http://www.ghacks.net/2013/12/26/hoverzooms-malware-controversy-imagus-alternative/).
http://www.ghacks.net/2014/01/18/monitor-extension-updates-chrome-firefox/
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Thanks Maik - not surprising I suppose. It would be nice if ghacks could publish a full list.
Tony