According to the security company, the recent scam campaign has targeted users of the Chrome browser in particular.
The information security company Proofpoint warns above all Google Chrome users against falling into an increasingly common trap.
With its 65 percent market share, Chrome is the world’s most used web browser, so many threats primarily target its users.
Dangerous “update”
Proofpoint reminds us that “browser updates” advertised in pop-up windows on websites are not real updates.
A notification that pops up to the user’s eyes about updating the browser tries to entice the user to click on the message. The background is often a betrayal of the site’s information security, which criminals have managed to exploit and inject harmful code into the site.
One such browser update scam is called ClearFake, which blocks the site’s content from view, only showing a notification about installing a “browser update”. The update notification inspires trust by using the Chrome logo and the visual look of Google services, but it’s still a scam.
The story continues below the picture.
A ClearFake scam targeting Google Chrome users might look like this, for example. Do not click on such ad on any web page. Proofpoint
The notice implies that the website content cannot be displayed until the update is installed. No real browser update will announce itself, let alone act like this.
A file downloaded to the computer may contain, for example, malware, the installation of which may lead to the user’s own data security being compromised.
Only upgrade via official routes
Chrome, like other browsers, is updated either from the browser’s settings, from the developer’s official website or, for example, through a computer software update, but you should not believe any website’s announcement that the browser has been updated.
You can update Chrome by clicking on the symbol with three dots in the upper right corner of the browser Guide > About Chrome and selecting Update Chrome. If such a button is not available, you already have the latest version.
You can get more information about updating Chrome From Google’s support pages.
In addition to Chrome, similar scam campaigns have been targeted at least at Firefox and Edge users.
Sources: Proofpoint, Forbes