Security researchers have discovered a fiendish form of browser malware that stands in for your copy of Google Chrome and hopes you won't notice the difference.
As reported by PCRisk, the "eFast Browser" works by installing and running itself in place of Chrome. It's based on Google's Chromium open-source software, so it maintains the look and feel of Chrome at first glance, but its behavior is much worse.
First, makes itself the default and takes over several system file associations, including HTML, JPG, PDF, and GIF, according to MalwareBytes. It also hijacks URL associations such as HTTP, HTTPS, and MAILTO, and replaces any Chrome desktop website shortcuts with its own versions. Essentially, eFast Browser makes sure to open itself at any opportunity.
During use, eFast Browser constantly displays pop-up and search ads on top of the page you're visiting. Some of these ads lead to ecommerce sites, while others redirect to potentially malicious webpages, where there's a risk of installing more adware or malware. PCRisk also warns that the browser collects browsing information that could be personally identifiable. It's unclear if eFast Browser adheres to any sort of privacy policy. (The company behind eFast Browser, Clara Labs, has its own privacy policy, though trying to load this page in Chrome brings up a malware warning.)
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday October 21 2015, @02:32AM
Haven't we seen this before? Systemd replaces half the operating system on Linux. And, Windows replaces any operating system, introducing malware at the kernel level.
There - it's been said. I've saved multiple people the trouble of pointing it out.
(Score: 1, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 21 2015, @03:05AM
Or: Chrome is malware, anyway.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Wednesday October 21 2015, @12:12PM
Chrome is a memory attack. It keeps spawning new processes until your computer slows to a crawl from swapping.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday October 21 2015, @01:30PM
No one will ever need more than 128 gig of memory, right?
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Wednesday October 21 2015, @02:24PM
I think it was "640G out to be enough for anyone".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 21 2015, @02:31PM
It was 640K. Now get off my lawn.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday October 21 2015, @02:37PM
WAS 640k - gotta keep up with the times, unless you've atrophied. That's why I like coming here to argue with people - it keeps my mind active. Now, YOU get offa MY lawn.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Wednesday October 21 2015, @04:36PM
Bitch, you get off my lawn. My first PC was an Apple 2 clone, the Franklin ACE 1200. Still have it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 21 2015, @09:58AM
/etc/rc lets you choose what movies to watch.
systemd clamps a VR helmet loaded with gay scat films to your head.