People are being urged to be aware of hackers attempting to gain access to personal emails through Google Chrome with a new type of malware.
Scammers are using a fake Chrome browser extension known as AF in a bid to get data from Gmail inboxes, with cybersecurity experts warning that victims of this scam were tricked after they received an email urging them to install a hoax extension.
Although the hackers were initially targeting just Gmail users in South Korea, it has since been spreading to US and Europe, meaning Irish Chrome users should be on high alert.
Who is behind the scam?
The virus was initially uncovered by the joint cybersecurity team from the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the National Intelligence Service of the Republic of Korea, Express reports.
These groups warned that once the extension is installed, the virus can hijack the victim’s Gmail account, allowing hackers to peer into your personal messages and steal your information.
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It is thought that the scammers behind the elaborate cyber attack are a North Korean hacker group.
How to avoid
As the extension can be installed on any PC, you should be careful when you receive emails asking you to download any files on Chrome.
To avoid this happening, firstly it is advised that you never install anything onto your PC without doing the research first.
If you are interested in popular Google Chrome extensions like Grammarly and Tab managers, then it is best to do so from official sites like the Chrome web store. Furthermore, you should check reviews before downloading products.
As well as Chrome, the scammers are also using the extension to target Android smartphones. Once the victim's phone has been hacked, then the scammers can use the web-to-phone synchronisation feature to install apps from a PC right onto a phone without the user's permission.
Once this has been done hackers could install software that could be used to steal information and see what the user is up to using the front-facing camera.
Although this type of malware has not become a widespread problem yet, it is still a worrying development, and users are urged to do everything they can to keep their devices safe.
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