Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a network of 152 Google Chrome extensions that act as new tab live wallpaper add-ons to distribute a potentially unwanted program (PUP) family.
The cluster spans 38 separate Chrome Web Store publisher accounts and three brand backends: tabplugins[.]com, yowgames[.]com, and chromewallpaper[.]com. They have been collectively installed 105,000 times. The names of some of the extensions are listed below –
- Neymar – Football Live Wallpaper (laafpeklcnlfmjaofbndehkjpnccbhek)
- Satoru Gojo Manga Live Wallpaper (mnpacdigbockiilmilhbedciadenfdnb)
- Porsche 911 – Sports Car Live Wallpaper (dead service worker) (iedplnnolciaofkakkjmcojnmklpfikg)
- Satoru Gojo Live Wallpaper (ipiabbhciknabpoihaakdahgghllelpj)
- Hello Kitty Wallpapers HD New Tab (hijpkhinofkdobfagfbobnnoihmopgkk)
- Pusheen Cat Wallpapers HD New Tab (famchdjojcnakamhkddkpaglnkonkfnl)
- Peach & Goma Wallpapers HD New Tab (nomekamioepglinefhenifnbegjhfiai)
- Spider-Man Miles Morales Swing Live Wallpaper (jjngbcodoldjmpjpfbhfelaljbdlkekh)
- BMW M3 Neon Night Drive Live Wallpaper (gfikbhpfjldbbikolkcimfgmejhdkjbe)
- BMW Wallpapers (dbiamdajndfmpmmeklcbbnekhkdcakhf)
- Death Note Anime Wallpapers HD New Tab (pkdloppfapenphihgbldhjjlfhgnkmcg)
- Sonic Frontiers Starfall Live Wallpaper (imkepemaflommlonnppjobgdpokbfmoj)
- Tanjiro – Demon Slayer Live Wallpaper (ibglidkppckhminbhbgcajomjplomcka)
- Neymar New Tab Wallpaper (gkbfokaephnaajnmpgiieidpfieamggb)
- Anime Car Drift Live Wallpaper (bcafgkhoifffmnoajkgmbhcojpabjffm)
- Choso Wallpapers New Tab (ojeaociifmdciibodcifjjocdlbjjeep)
- Anime Rain Live Wallpaper (npcghghfkbpgiamoifabankdnmopenni)
- Minecraft Sakura Pond Live Wallpaper (mjdhgndjbajnanfimjipafechjbakdhh)
- Straw Hat Live Wallpaper Ghost of Tsushima (lblgjffllphdepifdkfhlihddckhlkll)
- Zenitsu Agatsuma Live Wallpaper (laeciedchhnmnfhllplcgkfcdbdfgdhn)
“Every listing declares on the Chrome Web Store that it will not collect or use user data, while the linked privacy policy admits the opposite: that the extensions log IP addresses, ISP, click counts, and referrers and share that data with Google AdSense, DoubleClick, and third-party ad partners,” Socket security researcher Kush Pandya said.
What’s more, a sub-cluster of the identified extensions defines two hard-coded URLs in a JavaScript file (“js/bg.js”) that are activated during install and uninstall operations –
- The install URL includes the Urchin Tracking Module (UTM) parameters “utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=tanjiro-demon-slayer-live-wallpaper” thereby disguising the extension opening a tab on install as an “organic” search.
- The uninstall URL is a google.com/url redirect wrapper that masquerades the uninstall as genuine Google Search activity.
Organic search on search engines like Gook refers to the unpaid listings on a search engine results page (SERP) generated by algorithms. Their placement is…
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