You are browsing the web when a warning suddenly takes over the page.It says your browser needs a "Critical Update" before you can continue.
It looks like Chrome.The message feels urgent.
So, clicking Update may seem like the safest thing you can do.That is exactly what makes this fake Chrome update scam so convincing.Recent reports linked aggressive fake browser update warnings to a Chrome extension called Enable Right Click & Copy - Smart Unlock + OCR.
The extension was originally developed as a legitimate tool for restoring right-click and copying features on websites that block them.However, security researchers at Socket now say the extension was later acquired by a threat actor and updated with malicious functionality.
It had around 70,000 users when that malicious functionality appeared, although researchers caution that this does not mean every user received the malicious version.The extension was delisted from the Chrome Web Store on Aug.
14 after being flagged as potentially malicious.FAKE WINDOWS UPDATE INSTALLS HIDDEN MALWAREFake Google Chrome update prompts may appear on normal websites and urge users to download unfamiliar files instead of updating through Chrome itself.(David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)The bigger lesson goes beyond one extension.
Something you installed months ago and trusted every day can change after an update.Here's how this fake Chrome update scam works, how to spot the warning signs and what you can do to protect your browser and computer.Missed CyberGuy LIVE? Watch the Protect Your Money replayOur free CyberGuy LIVE class, Protect Your Money From Today’s Biggest Threats, has ended, but you can still watch the full replay and download our financial protection checklist.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson walks you through five simple ways to help defend yourself against AI scams, fraud, identity theft and financial hacks.You’ll learn how to set up bank alerts, strengthen your account logins, protect your phone n...