Crapware Finds a New Way to Trick Users to Install Browser Extensions

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Kent

Level 10
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Well-known
Nov 4, 2013
468
Source------------- http://www.howtogeek.com/198377/cra...to-trick-users-to-install-browser-extensions/

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Last year, Google announced plans to lock down Chrome so that extensions can’t be side-loaded by crapware installers. Sadly they’ve found a way to trick users into installing lousy extensions, although in this case these spyware and adware extensions do exist in the Chrome Web Store.


As usual, this starts by making the huge mistake of going to Download.com and downloading some freeware. Anybody that makes the mistake of clicking Accept all the way through the installer will end up with a much slower computer full of crapware and sadness.

Rant: somebody at CNET is responsible for this and they should be punished, fired, and then re-hired and fired again. It’s ridiculous that obvious scams like this are allowed to exist all over the internet.

img_5437f2f4abe29.jpg


After you make the mistake of clicking that Accept button and closing out the installer, a little while later you’ll be shown this window, which is automatically loading the Google Chrome extensions page and then clicking the install button for you.

An unsuspecting user might make the mistake of clicking the Add button here.

img_5437f29ea0434.png


o remove these extensions, thankfully it’s as simple as heading to chrome://extensions in your address bar (or using the main menu and going to More Tools and then Extensions), and then clicking the Remove from Chrome trash can icon.

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This is a good time to mention…


Run the Google Software Removal Tool!
Google just launched a new tool that will help you clean up your Chrome browser from anything that is interfering with normal operation. It will even disable your extensions (you’ll need to possibly re-enable extensions that you do want).

All you need to do is navigate to www.google.com/chrome/srt/ and click the Download now button, run it, and click Remove suspicious programs if any are found.
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When it restarts it’ll ask you to reset your browser, which can be really helpful in preventing crashes and other problems.
 

Prorootect

Level 69
Verified
Nov 5, 2011
5,855
Stop to advertise Softpedia, other Softonic, otherwise you would have downloaded bundled crap too .. your choice.
Recently, I lost all confidence in the web, and I consults some safe websites only. Some, a few.

NO more confidence to the web - even well-known websites.

Don't trust any!
 
Last edited:
S

Sr. Normal

Stop to advertise Softpedia, other Softonic, otherwise you would have downloaded bundled crap too .. your choice.
Recently, I lost all confidence in the web, and I consults some safe websites only. Some, a few.

NO more confidence to the web - even well-known websites.

Don't trust any!

With softpedia never had problems, but almost everything I download there is for Linux.
If you re- read what I wrote Softonic , you will find it an irony . However I'll put a smiley to make it clearer.

Kind regards
 
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Prorootect

Level 69
Verified
Nov 5, 2011
5,855
Yes yes, I had found your irony about Softonic, no problem. For Linux - it's another song, much more secure.

- for greater security - would be best to limit the field of action.
 
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I

illumination

Yes yes, I had found your irony about Softonic, no problem. For Linux - it's another song, much more secure.
- for greater security - would be best to limit the field of action.
Linux is not bullet proof, but way more secure as you stated. Acquiring software through software centers/package managers is a whole lot safer then directly from the web. From what i understand, windows 10 will be implementing a feature similar to a package manager.

Oneget
 

Prorootect

Level 69
Verified
Nov 5, 2011
5,855
Yes, thank you Illumination for this good news!
- from your link, we read:
'Forget the Windows Store. Microsoft is working on a Linux-style package management framework for Windows, and it’s included with Windows 10. It’s being tested with Chocolatey’s existing packages, and allows you to easily install desktop applications and other software.
This is huge news. If you’ve ever used Linux, you’ve probably wanted a package management system for the Windows desktop ever since. Now it’s finally arriving!
..
As OneGet is part of the latest version of PowerShell, it’s included by default in the Windwos 10 Technical Preview.
..
Windows geeks, celebrate! The era of an officially supported Windows package manager is now almost here!'

.. almost ..
 
S

Sr. Normal

Yes yes, I had found your irony about Softonic, no problem. For Linux - it's another song, much more secure.

- for greater security - would be best to limit the field of action.

Totally agree . There are programs that I do not download from their webs, such as the Iobit or Daemon Tools brands, that adds always a lot of unwanted soft.

Linux is not bullet proof, but way more secure as you stated. Acquiring software through software centers/package managers is a whole lot safer then directly from the web. From what i understand, windows 10 will be implementing a feature similar to a package manager.

Oneget

That should be the way to work . Choose an application and it will automatically download and install . No virus , no additives, no problems, no reboots ...
 
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