Watch out for TWO new symbols or risk getting hacked

GOOGLE makes it easier to avoid shady Chrome extensions.

Two icons added to the Chrome Web Store on Wednesday help users identify add-ons they can trust.

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Extensions can be installed in Chrome to change the way the browser works.

For example, they can save your passwords for you or translate foreign websites into a language you can read.

But although they are very useful, cyber criminals can use extensions to wreak havoc on your PC.

For example hackers It is known use fake extensions to install malware on devices that can steal logins or banking information.

In a blog post on WednesdayGoogle announced two new badges for the Chrome Web Store, its in-browser marketplace for extensions.

They appear under the title of add-ons listed in the store to determine if they can be trusted.

First up is the Featured badge, which looks like a ribbon and is stuck on extensions that follow Google’s best practices.

According to the search giant, this means they “offer a pleasant and intuitive experience” and “respect end-user privacy”.

Also, getting the badge requires an extension to have a store listing page that is clear and helpful to users, with high-quality images and a detailed description.

The second icon is the Established Publisher badge, which takes the form of a tick inside a multi-pointed star.

To receive them, an extension’s publishers must be verified and have a “positive track record” with Google services.

Google says the badges “do it [easier] Users can find great extensions while also recognizing the publishers who create them.”

Shady extensions disguised as legitimate are banned by Google.

The company monitors and tries to keep the Chrome Web Store free of them, but they occasionally slip through the net.

In 2020, cybersecurity enthusiasts discovered malicious Chrome extensions downloaded by more than 80 million people.

Available through the Chrome Web Store, the shady tools allowed hackers to take over your phone or spam you with ads that drained your device’s battery life.

More than 300 malicious extensions were detected by AdGuard, which develops a series of ad blocking and privacy protection software.

The downloads were disguised as ad blockers, games, themes, and wallpapers. They have now been removed from the Chrome Web Store.

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