Browser Promising Privacy Protection Contains Malware-Like Features, Routes Traffic Through China

A web browser linked to Chinese online gambling websites and downloaded millions of times routes all internet traffic through servers in China and covertly installs programs that run in the background, according to findings published by network security company Infoblox. The researchers said the Universe Browser, which advertises itself as offering privacy protection, includes features similar to malware such as key logging and surreptitious connections.

Infoblox collaborated with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on the research. The investigators found links between the browser and Southeast Asia's cybercrime ecosystem, which has connections to money laundering, illegal online gambling, human trafficking and scam operations using forced labor. The browser is directly linked to BBIN, a major online gambling company that has existed since 1999. Infoblox researchers examined the Windows version of the browser and found that it checks users' locations and languages when launched, installs two browser extensions, and disables security features including sandboxing.

Re:And the name of this browser?

[DeanonymizedCoward]

I know RTFA is hard, but from TFS: ... The researchers said the Universe Browser ...

Re:

[bn-7bc]

well they should have put the name up front. maybe even in the first sentence " Universe Browser Universe linked to Chinese online gambling websites ....." , that way all the critical info is easy to find, if people want more thay can read on if not they know exectly what to avoid in 2 seconds. better yet but the name in the title

Re:

[Djdatlondon]

Universe Browser. It says it right there in the write up...

Just another use of the "Big Lie"

[gweihir]

Works in marketing, politics, and other areas of human interaction.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]

Re:Just another use of the "Big Lie"

[TwistedGreen]

Thanks a lot, now you got me looking at a wikipedia page with a picture of hitler at work.

Re:

[gweihir]

Human history is messy...

Nope.

[PPH]

Not for me. I'm sticking to the NBA gambling sites [nbcnews.com]. Thanks anyway.

So that browser behaves like Windows?

[ffkom]

For diverting one's personal data across oceans to some Microsoft data center and "covertly installing programs that run in the background" malware-like Windows 11 does not require any additional software to be installed. So no need to install that Chinese browser if you're already infected with Windows.

Best advertising line for malicious spyware

[Chris Mattern]

Billing it as extra-secure privacy protection ensures you pull up people who have something interesting to hide.

Install stupid programs, win stupid prizes.

[wildstoo]

n/t

A Little Common Sense

[MightyMartian]

It just goes to show you, there's none more gullible than the paranoid.

China? So?

[dwater]

> through servers in China

So what?

Re:

[bn-7bc]

this just in: When Russia finally collapses completely (including but not limited to the Ukraine nivation) , there is one comon anemy left, china, they are just focusing the narrative sooner rather than later

So

[Djdatlondon]

You don't need any other browser other than librewolf for privacy. It isn't really a hard question to be honest. There are plenty of others that 'claim' to be, Such as brave, But in my observations on their actual netwok activity I have my doubts. Anything chrome based or vaguely connected to google in anyway whatsoever is a total no go in this area.