--- title: Millions Downloaded Malware Infected Chrome And Edge Extensions description: Millions Downloaded Malware Infected Chrome And Edge Extensions --- [Securafy Knowledge Hub](https://blog.securafy.com) - [Topics](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-cover) - [Tools](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-tools) - [Books & Guides](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-books) [Talk to Securafy](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call) [Topics](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-cover) [Tools](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-tools) [Books & Guides](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-books) [Talk to Securafy](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call) [Knowledge Hub](https://blog.securafy.com) / IT Operations IT Operations # Millions Downloaded Malware Infected Chrome And Edge Extensions Millions Downloaded Malware Infected Chrome And Edge Extensions ![Rodney Hall](https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/Rodney%20Hall-1.png) By Rodney Hall Updated Jul 2024 3 min read Share [**](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://blog.securafy.com/2020/12/29/millions-downloaded-malware-infected-chrome-and-edge-extensions) [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.securafy.com/2020/12/29/millions-downloaded-malware-infected-chrome-and-edge-extensions&text=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EMillions+Downloaded+Malware+Infected+Chrome+And+Edge+Extensions%3C%2Fspan%3E) [**](mailto:?subject=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EMillions+Downloaded+Malware+Infected+Chrome+And+Edge+Extensions%3C%2Fspan%3E&body=https://blog.securafy.com/2020/12/29/millions-downloaded-malware-infected-chrome-and-edge-extensions) ![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)Avast are the makers of popular antivirus software. Their researchers, recently found a total of twenty-eight different Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge extensions that were laced with malware. Worse, they found the extensions have been downloaded by more than 3 million users around the world. All of the extensions were designed to help facilitate the download of pictures and video from platforms like Spotify, Vimeo, Instagram and Facebook. According to the researchers, the malware is JavaScript-based and is designed to display ads or direct users to phishing sites where their personal information may be collected for later use. **Avast's research team had this to say about their findings:** "*Users have also reported that these extensions are manipulating their Internet experience and redirecting them to other websites. Any time a user clicks on a link, the extensions send information about the click to the attacker's control server, which can optionally send a command to redirect the victim from the real link target to a new hijacked URL before later redirecting them to the actual website they wanted to visit. User's privacy is compromised by this procedure since a log of all clicks is being sent to these third-party intermediary websites."* As malware goes, that's certainly not the worst thing we've seen, but it is a genuine threat that puts your privacy, and potentially your personal information at risk. If you rely on a number of browser extensions, especially those that facilitate easier and more convenient downloading of images and videos, and you use either Edge or Explorer, it pays to purge your existing collection of extensions and reinstall clean copies. This is especially true if you've been noticing aberrant behavior in your browser. Unfortunately, many users tend to download and forget about extensions, so it may not be obvious at first glance that the two (your extensions and the malware) are connected. In light of that, it pays to conduct a thorough review of your system. Tagged Under IT Operations[Cybersecurity](https://blog.securafy.com/tag/cybersecurity)Business Continuity In This Article Need Help With Your Current Setup? Talk through your current systems, risks, and support gaps with Securafy. [Book a Strategy Call](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call) ## Join The Conversation Have a question or perspective on this topic? Add it below. ![Rodney Hall](https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/Rodney%20Hall-1.png) About The Author Rodney Hall · President & COO Rodney Hall is the President and COO of Securafy, with 2 decades of experience in IT service management and operations. He writes about the less glamorous but essential side of IT: support systems, documentation, business continuity, recurring issues, downtime, and the processes that keep client environments running well. His perspective comes from years spent improving how service is delivered, how teams respond, and how small problems are prevented from becoming much larger ones. Outside of work, Rodney enjoys home improvement projects, woodworking, and dirt bike riding. His personal mission mirrors Securafy’s: helping businesses stay secure, compliant, and ready for whatever comes next. **Writes about:** Managed IT, IT operations, service delivery, business continuity, downtime prevention, support processes, operational risk [More From This Author →](https://blog.securafy.com/author/rodney-hall) Related Articles Business Continuity [Compliance Risk Assessment: How Downtime Impacts Your Bottom Line](https://blog.securafy.com/compliance-risk-assessment-how-downtime-impacts-your-bottom-line) When systems go down, compliance obligations don't pause—and the financial consequences ... Jul 28, 2026 Compliance [HIPAA Security Rule Changes Are Delayed To 2027: Why Healthcare Organizations Should Not Wait](https://blog.securafy.com/hipaa-security-rule-changes-are-delayed-to-2027-why-healthcare-organizations-should-not-wait) The updated HIPAA Security Rule won't take effect until 2027, but healthcare ... Jul 23, 2026 Compliance [Multi Factor Authentication Best Practices for CJIS Security Policy Compliance](https://blog.securafy.com/multi-factor-authentication-best-practices-for-cjis-security-policy-compliance) Law enforcement agencies and criminal justice organizations face mounting pressure to ... Jul 16, 2026 Compliance [CMMC Phase II Has Been Suspended: What Defense Contractors Still Need To Do](https://blog.securafy.com/cmmc-phase-ii-has-been-suspended-what-defense-contractors-still-need-to-do) The Department of Defense suspended CMMC Phase II enforcement, but that doesn't mean ... Jul 15, 2026 IT Operations [Cybersecurity For Veterinary Clinics: Protecting Client Data, Payment Systems, And Practice Operations](https://blog.securafy.com/cybersecurity-for-veterinary-clinics-protecting-client-data-payment-systems-and-practice-operations) Veterinary clinics handle sensitive client data, payment information, and critical ... Jul 9, 2026 IT Operations [AT&T Cybersecurity, AlienVault USM, And Managed Security: What SMBs Still Need To Own](https://blog.securafy.com/att-cybersecurity-alienvault-usm-and-managed-security-what-smbs-still-need-to-own) Managed security platforms like AT&T Cybersecurity and AlienVault USM provide ... Jul 8, 2026 Get Practical Cybersecurity Field Notes Monthly cybersecurity, compliance, and IT strategy updates from Securafy, written for business owners who need clear next steps. - Practical security tips from our Cyber Security Drip series - The Securafy Times, our monthly roundup on compliance and IT strategy - Occasional updates on new tools, guides, and research - No spam — unsubscribe anytime NIST CSF 2.0 Zero Trust Application Control CISA Aligned Enterprise Partner © 2026 Securafy — Columbus & Cleveland, Ohio [Main Site](https://www.securafy.com/) [Blog Home](https://blog.securafy.com/) [Contact](https://www.securafy.com/contact.html) [Privacy Policy](https://www.securafy.com/privacy-policy.html) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Rodney Hall", "url" : "https://blog.securafy.com/author/rodney-hall" }, "dateModified" : "2024-07-24T20:05:22.741Z", "datePublished" : "2020-12-29T16:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Millions Downloaded Malware Infected Chrome And Edge Extensions", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.securafy.com/2020/12/29/millions-downloaded-malware-infected-chrome-and-edge-extensions", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/securafy-logo.png" }, "name" : "Securafy Inc." } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://securafy.com/#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : [ { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressLocality" : "Columbus", "addressRegion" : "OH", "postalCode" : "43219", "streetAddress" : "4449 Easton Way, Suite 200" }, { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressLocality" : "Independence", "addressRegion" : "OH", "postalCode" : "44131", "streetAddress" : "6100 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 200" } ], "areaServed" : [ "Columbus OH", "Cleveland OH", "Ohio" ], "name" : "Securafy Inc.", "url" : "https://securafy.com/" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://securafy.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "inLanguage" : "en-US", "name" : "Securafy", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://securafy.com/#organization" }, "url" : "https://securafy.com/" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://blog.securafy.com/#blog", "@type" : "Blog", "name" : "Securafy Knowledge Hub", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://securafy.com/#organization" }, "url" : "https://blog.securafy.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://blog.securafy.com/2020/12/29/millions-downloaded-malware-infected-chrome-and-edge-extensions#article", "@type" : "Article", "author" : { "@id" : "https://www.securafy.com/about-us/#rodney-hall", "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Rodney Hall" }, "dateModified" : "2024-07-24T20:05:22+00:00", "datePublished" : "2020-12-29T16:00:00+00:00", "description" : "Millions Downloaded Malware Infected Chrome And Edge Extensions", "headline" : "Millions Downloaded Malware Infected Chrome And Edge Extensions", "image" : "https://www.securafy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/securafy-og-default.jpg", "inLanguage" : "en-US", "isPartOf" : { "@id" : "https://blog.securafy.com/#blog" }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.securafy.com/2020/12/29/millions-downloaded-malware-infected-chrome-and-edge-extensions", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://securafy.com/#organization" }, "url" : "https://blog.securafy.com/2020/12/29/millions-downloaded-malware-infected-chrome-and-edge-extensions" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://blog.securafy.com", "name" : "Knowledge Hub", "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://blog.securafy.com/2020/12/29/millions-downloaded-malware-infected-chrome-and-edge-extensions", "name" : "Millions Downloaded Malware Infected Chrome And Edge Extensions", "position" : 2 } ] } ```