Google Chrome, a much in a demand web browser with over 32 million users worldwide has caught up in a spyware related data scam recently.
According to Cybersecurity researchers from Awake Security, a company which keeps a tab on cyber threats appearing in network traffic, the spyware was keeping an eye on the online activity of Chrome users through compromised web extensions and has collected loads of data related to browsing history, passwords and other credentials from over 30 million users so far.
Security researchers claim that spyware could be the most far-reach malevolent chrome store campaign found in the history of Google and was been overlooked by the web search giant all these days.
Contrarily, a statement issued by Scott Westover, the official spokesperson of the Alphabet Inc subsidiary, defends the move and claims that the data collection been done under the full supervision of Google engineers and the collected material is being used for automation and analysis purposes.
The internet juggernaut has also reacted and reportedly removed more than 70 of the browser extensions from its Chrome web store after it received a tip-off from the Awake Security last month.
As usual, like the market of Mobile Operating systems, Google dominates the web browsing business as well as it occupies over 60% of share- as per the numbers available on Stat Counter. It has also mellowed many times earlier that it has zero tolerance towards malware and malicious ads and will never entertain any fraudulent activities on its platforms which do not adhere to the company policies.
Note 1- Spyware is a kind of malware variant that indulges in stealing data and sends it to remote servers or sells it to 3rd parties such as ad firms.
Note 2- Meanwhile, the Computer Operating system giant Microsoft has issued an update that the latest Windows 10 Update will reduce the extensive usage of RAM by Google Chrome.