Security News 260,000 Chrome Users Exposed by Fake AI Extensions Targeting Gmail

[lokamoka820]

Content source

https://www.ghacks.net/2026/02/14/260000-chrome-users-exposed-by-fake-ai-extensions-targeting-gmail/

More than 260,000 Chrome users unknowingly installed browser extensions labeled as a helpful AI assistant. According to researchers at LayerX, the coordinated campaign involved over 30 fake Chrome extensions posing as services similar to ChatGPT and Claude.

Examples include:

• AI Sidebar (gghdfkafnhfpaooiolhncejnlgglhkhe) – 70,000 users
• AI Assistant (nlhpidbjmmffhoogcennoiopekbiglbp) – 60,000 users
• ChatGPT Translate (acaeafediijmccnjlokgcdiojiljfpbe) – 30,000 users
• AI GPT (kblengdlefjpjkekanpoidgoghdngdgl) – 20,000 users
• ChatGPT (llojfncgbabajmdglnkbhmiebiinohek) – 20,000 users
• AI Sidebar (djhjckkfgancelbmgcamjimgphaphjdl) – 10,000 users
• Google Gemini (fdlagfnfaheppaigholhoojabfaapnhb) – 10,000 users

 

[Parkinsond]

I'm back to Vivaldi seeking an extension-less experience again.

 

[lokamoka820]

I'm back to Vivaldi seeking an extension-less experience again.

I've found a lot of bugs in MS Edge, so I don't think it's right for me.

 

[Parkinsond]

I've found a lot of bugs in MS Edge, so I don't think it's right for me.

Me too; I have uninstalled Edge, installed Chrome, then just few hours ago decided to install Vivaldi again; it's slowly getting better; its adblocker performed better than the previous time with YT.

 

[lokamoka820]

Me too; I have uninstalled Edge, installed Chrome, then just few hours ago decided to install Vivaldi again; it's slowly getting better; its adblocker performed better than the previous time with YT.

Will Microsoft Edge return again if I uninstall it?

 

[Parkinsond]

Will Microsoft Edge return again if I uninstall it?

No; you need just to disable its two update services.

 

[Halp2001]

It wasn’t just Chrome: Edge also had suspicious clones of ChatGPT/Claude, and Apple’s App Store saw “AI” apps that were pure scamware with abusive subscriptions. Different platforms, same script: the AI disguise used to trick users.

 

[lokamoka820]

No; you need just to disable its two update services.

I can't believe Chrome, Brave, and Vivaldi get the latest updates even when I don't open them, while Edge and Yandex are still waiting for me to update them.

 

[Parkinsond]

I can't believe Chrome, Brave, and Vivaldi get the latest updates even when I don't open them, while Edge and Yandex are still waiting for me to update them.

In addition, the update get released for Brave before Edge.

 

[lokamoka820]

@Halp2001 I believe all Chrome browsers are affected by this because they share the same store.

 

[lokamoka820]

In addition, the update get released for Brave before Edge.

I'm starting to like Brave again, especially now that the excessive writing to SSD issue has been resolved.

 

[Parkinsond]

I'm starting to like Brave again, especially now that the excessive writing to SSD issue has been resolved.

Agree, but I live a Linuxish period currently, installed LibreOffice, and adding one more Linuxish flavor with Vivaldi.

 

[Halp2001]

@lokamoka820 It’s true that the issue can affect more browsers, especially those that allow installing extensions from the Chrome Web Store (like Brave, Opera, or even Edge if enabled). However, it doesn’t happen automatically in “all Chrome browsers”; it depends on how each one handles that compatibility.

 

[lokamoka820]

Agree, but I live a Linuxish period currently, installed LibreOffice, and adding one more Linuxish flavor with Vivaldi.

What problems have you encountered in Chrome?

 

[Parkinsond]

What problems have you encountered in Chrome?

Chrome is the "reference" browser; no problem at all.
It's Edge which has some bugs.
I have installed Vivaldi beside Chrome to avoid using extensions (uBOL).