Be cautious while installing Google Chrome extensions: Cyber security agency

Internet users should exercise caution while installing Google Chrome extensions as company has removed over 100 malicious links after y were found collecting "sensitive" user data, country's cybersecurity ncy said on Wednesday.

Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In), national techlogy arm to combat cyberattacks and guard Indian cyber, said it has also been found that se extensions contained code to bypass Google Chrome's web store security scans. malicious extensions h ability to take screenshots, re clipboard, harvest auntication cookies or grab user keystrokes to re passwords and or confidential information, it said.

"It has been reported that Google has removed 106 extensions of Google Chrome browser from chrome web store which were found collecting sensitive user data," ncy said in visory.  "se extensions reportedly posed as tools to improve web searches, convert files between different formats as security scanners and more," it ded.

federal cybersecurity ncy suggested users uninstall Google Chrome extensions with IDs given in IOCs (organisational chart) section. Users can visit chrome extensions p and subsequently enable developer mode to see if y have installed any of malicious extensions and n remove m from ir browsers, it said.

ncy vised Internet users to only install extensions which are absolutely needed and refer user reviews before doing so. y should uninstall extensions which are t in use, it said, ding that users should t install extensions from unverified sources.

(Photo credits: AP)