Monday, September 8, 2025
27.6 C
Lagos

NCC-CSIRT Alerts on Google Chrome Extensions Malware

The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has identified five malicious Google Chrome Extensions that surreptitiously track online browser’s activities and steal their data.

According to NCC-CSIRT, the five malicious extensions which the McAfee Mobile Research Team earlier discovered are Netflix Party with 800,000 downloads, Netflix Party 2 with 300,000 downloads, Full Page Screenshot Capture Screenshotting with 200,000 downloads, FlipShope Price Tracker Extension with 80,000 downloads, and AutoBuy Flash Sales with 20,000 downloads.

The NCC-CSIRT said the five google chrome extensions identified have a high probability and damage potential and have been downloaded more than 1.4 million times and serve as access to steal users’ data. The telecom sector-focused cybersecurity protection team alerted telecom consumers to be cautious when installing any browser extension.

“The users of these chrome extensions are unaware of their invasive functionality and privacy risk. Malicious extensions monitor victims’ visits to e-commerce websites and modify the visitor’s cookie to appear as if they came through a referrer link. Consequently, the extensions’ developers get an affiliate fee for any purchases at electronic shops,” the advisory said.

In addition, the advisory stated that, although the google team removed several browser extensions from its Chrome Web Store, keeping malicious extensions out may be difficult. The NCC-CSIRT, thus, recommended that telecom consumers observe caution when installing any browser extension.

“These include removing all listed extensions from their chrome browser manually. Internet users are to pay close attention to the promptings from their browser extensions, such as the permission to run on any website visited and the data requested before installing it. Although, some extensions are seemingly legit, due to the high number of user downloads, these hazardous add-ons make it imperative for users to ascertain the authenticity of extensions they access.” the advisory stated.

Google Chrome extensions are software programmes that can be installed into Chrome in order to change the browser’s functionality. This includes adding new features to Chrome or modifying the existing behavior of the program itself to make it more convenient for the user. They serve purposes such as block ads, integration with password managers and sourcing coupons as items sent to a shopping cart.

The Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) is the telecom sector’s cyber security incidence centre set up by the NCC to focus on incidents in the telecom sector and as they may affect telecom consumers and citizens at large.

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

Nigeria, Brazil Central Banks Deepen Economic, Financial Co-operation

Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, has held talks...

Ecobank Nigeria to Host Second Edition of Design & Build, Showcasing Premier Innovators in Design, Construction

Ecobank Nigeria, a subsidiary of the leading pan-African banking...

Expert: Fintech, Financial Inclusion Critical for Sustainable Growth of Nigerian Economy

A renowned economist, Dr. Biodun Adedipe, the Chief Consultant/CEO,...

Sterling Bank Marks One Year of Africa’s Groundbreaking Core Banking System

Number one Best Workplace in Banking in Nigeria and...

Topics

Stanbic IBTC Bank PMI: Business Confidence Jumps as Growth Sustained at Start of 2025

The nascent growth in the Nigerian private sector seen...

NSE’s New Equities Market Structure Set for July 2

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (The NSE) is pleased to...

NCC: Inside the N150bn Spectrum Haul in 5 Months

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has exceeded its...

SanlamAllianz Targets 27 African Markets for Insurance, Financial Services

Sanlam, Africa’s largest non-banking financial services provider, and Allianz,...

‘AMCON Deserves Commendation for Supporting IDPs’

Deputy Governor, Yobe State, His Excellency, Engineer Abubakar Aliyu...

Nigeria Tax Crackdown: An Imperative for Automated Business Solutions

Nigerian companies must ensure that they have robust, automated...

NCC: How to Protect 114m Nigerian Internet Users Online

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated how the...

Portugal Football Club Signs on 19-Year-Old Nigerian- born Yaqub Usman-Malah

L-R: President, Brito Sport Club, Jose de Castro Dias and Nigerian-born young...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img