Researchers have revealed that a new spyware hidden in many Chrome extensions might have been stealing users’ browser history. In addition to this, they say that these extensions have been downloaded 32 million times already.

The researchers who revealed this security flaw are associated with Awake Security. They spoke to Reuters about the spyware they found that plagued Google Chrome web browser. In reporting this story, Reuters mentioned that many people use the browser for sensitive internet activities like email and payroll. Making this malicious attack more worrisome.

However, the good news is that Google also got the alert early. The company claims to have removed about 70 of these malicious extensions from Chrome Web Store. A spokesman from Google said:

“When we are alerted of extensions in the Web Store that violate our policies, we take action and use those incidents as training material to improve our automated and manual analyses.”

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These Chrome extensions got as high as 32 million downloads because they were camouflaged as useful browsing tools. Some claimed to be able to block users from visiting untrusted websites; and others claimed to be useful in converting files from different formats to a preferred one.

Since they were also free to download, the far-reach of the attack is understandable. For now, the only detail available is that the spyware steals browsing history and login details. Google has not revealed the developers behind the spyware. Awake Security researchers allege that the developers likely used false contact information when they submitted their extensions.

These are not the only issues that Google Chrome browser is facing. Forbes reports that Chrome was unable to keep users signed in since Microsoft updated Windows 10 in May 2020. The browser cannot also sync data, store cookies, remember passwords and so on.

Additionally, Google has been in court over Chrome tracking users even in incognito mode.

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