Thousands Download Fake Adblock Plus Extension After Google Lists It in Their Store

As many as 37,000 Google Chrome users may have fallen victim to a fake Adblock Plus extension that appeared in the Google Store after slipping past Google’s extension verification process.

Engadget reports that as many as 37,000 Google Chrome users could have been tricked into downloading a fake Adblock Plus extension. Popular cybersecurity Twitter account SwiftOnSecurity tweeted about the rogue chrome extension noting that a large number of Chrome users had already downloaded the extension.

Google allows 37,000 Chrome users to be tricked with a fake extension by fraudulent developer who clones popular name and spams keywords. pic.twitter.com/ZtY5WpSgLt

— SwiftOnSecurity (@SwiftOnSecurity) October 9, 2017

SwiftOnSecurity also criticised Google for their failure to protect both their users and extension developers affected by the fake extension,

Legitimate developers just have to sit back and watch as Google smears them with fake extensions that steal their good name pic.twitter.com/3Tnv4NtY9t

— SwiftOnSecurity (@SwiftOnSecurity) October 9, 2017

According to SwiftOnSecurity, the extension was created by a “fraudulent developer who clones popular name and spams keywords.” The developer used the name “Adblock Plus” and had a considerable number of reviews on the extension, which only added to the illusion of authenticity that fooled so many users. One user reported random tabs opening and ads injected into his browser immediately after installing the extension, but the extent of the extension’s powers are currently unknown.

Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering issues of free speech and online censorship. Follow him on Twitter @LucasNolan_ or email him at lnolan@breitbart.com.