Google Chrome Extension Steals Login Details 155
An anonymous reader sends word of a proof-of-concept Google Chrome browser extension that steals users' login details. The developer, Andreas Grech, says that he is trying to raise awareness about security among end users, and therefore chose Chrome as a test-bed because of its reputation as the safest browser. Grech says he does not doubt that Chrome is a safe browser, but the point is that such an extension could be written for any of them. Grech says he has not uploaded his extension to the Google Chrome repository or anywhere else; but he has published enough details to allow others to reproduce the technique easily.
How is this different (Score:5, Insightful)
OK... (Score:5, Insightful)
He's just doing basic stuff here with that extension. When you try to install any extension Chrome throws up a warning that the extension can access your personal data on whatever sites the extension author has requested access to in the manifest.json file. Ignore that warning at your own peril, especially if it doesn't match with what the extension description says it should do.
Lots of extensions inject content scripts. Lots of extensions do random AJAX calls to random sites that the user doesn't have open in a tab. That he put the two together to steal data is hardly revolutionary.
The only problem I see is that if the author specifies enough websites in their extension permissions, Chrome truncates them to "multiple sites" which is a bit ambiguous.
Standard abuse of trust. Is this /. worthy? (Score:2, Insightful)
Guy learns to program, abuses trust of software users. Film at 11?
"For now.,," (Score:5, Insightful)
> For now, only install plugins from people you know and trust...
Um, "for now"?
Re:How is this different (Score:5, Insightful)
Does it surprise anyone
Yes, anyone who is not a geek.
Look, to us tech people, these things are obvious. But everyone else out there doesn't have a clue. You have to design the car so that the user doesn't get the idea of looking into the fuel tank with a lighter, or if he does get that idea, that he can't do it. No matter how silly it sounds. This is why our society works, because we can safely use tools without having to be experts in them.
Erm, news? (Score:4, Insightful)
What is this browser safety you speak of? (Score:2, Insightful)
In other news ... (Score:4, Insightful)
Executing arbitrary code downloaded from the internet might lead to arbitrary code execution. Not news.
Andreas Grech (Score:3, Insightful)
Someone should illustrate his lack of body armor by shooting at him with a large caliber rifle.
Re:How is this different (Score:1, Insightful)
Like addons.mozilla.org?
Re:How is this different (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:How is this different (Score:1, Insightful)
Funny story, that's the Safari 5's extension store concept.