Each day, we find out a piece of news about a laptop hacking or hear a private story from a friend, family member, or coworker who got hacked. Just like with driving a car, sooner or later you too can have an accident, regardless of how nice or bad of a driver you are.
“Google Chrome has been successfully hacked yet again with multiple new vulnerabilities that impact the browser across all major platforms.” – Forbes
Google has issued a warning to billions of Chrome users that the browser has been successfully targeted by hackers, showing 30 new security gaps, seven of which are with “high” risk to users.
According to the company’s announcement, an update is going to be released within the following few days to resolve the issues, which affect Windows, macOS, and Linux. It’s unknown who hacked the company or whether any users’ privacy was compromised. The company is currently refraining from sharing further hack details until a majority of users are updated with a fix.
Browser hijacking can be a serious security issue. Hackers frequently block browsers, but they can also steal data from your device. Even „the biggest” can be the victim of a hacker attack, so prevention is extremely important.
What is the best way to see if my browser has been hacked?
There is no way to know for sure if your browser has been hijacked without the use of professional tools and methodologies, but if you suspect that your browser may have been hacked, follow the steps listed below:
- Check to see if the browser starts up automatically.
- Check to see if any browser-related modules are running but aren’t being used.
- Detects unusual behavior while using the browser.
- Make sure there isn’t any transfer. If your browser frequently redirects to a specific page, it could be hijacked.
- Check your device for any browser-related security alerts.
- Take a lookout for any ongoing downloads.
- Check to see if the browser is running normally or if it opens automatically.
- Looking for any strange add-ons or plug-ins.
- Check your email for any unauthorized logins or any data breaches.
- If all of the above are available, read more information in the Google Support section.
A browser hijacker is defined as “a type of unwanted software that modifies the settings of a web browser without the user’s permission.” As a result, unwanted advertising is displayed in the browser, and a current home page or search page may be replaced with the hijacker page. The goal is to influence users to visit specific web pages so that the hijacker can earn more advertising revenue. Browser hijackers may also contain spyware trying to collect banking information and other sensitive information.
It’s difficult to protect yourself against browser hijacking. Actually, from another point of view, if you’re lucky, you’ve never had your computer hacked. But is it possible that it has already actually happened and you are unaware of it? In any case, keep in mind that the key to safe web browsing is prevention.
Cyber threats are a major issue in all businesses around the world, but their impact can be minimized or eliminated with the help of insurance products. Your Cyber insurance will help you understand your organization’s current capabilities. So prepare and respond to evolving cyber threats to reach a much better level of cyber security.