New “BrowserGate” report claims LinkedIn secretly scans user browsers for installed extensions and collects device data


A new report is alleging LinkedIn uses hidden JavaScript to scan its visitors’ browsers for installed extensions, looks for those that compete with its own sales tools, and then twists its users’ arms until they stop using those and pick LinkedIn’s products, instead.

However the social network says this is a smear campaign run by a disgruntled extensions developer who lost a court battle in Germany. An “association of commercial LinkedIn users” called Fairlinked e.V published a report detailing “BrowserGate” – claiming LinkedIn scans for thousands of browser extensions and ties the results to identifiable user profiles – and by scanning, LinkedIn harvests personal and corporate information.

Read more…
Source: TechRadar News


Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • Analysis of user password strength

    June 18, 2024

    The processing power of computers keeps growing, helping users to solve increasingly complex problems faster. A side effect is that passwords that were impossible to guess just a few years ago can be cracked by hackers within mere seconds in 2024. For example, the RTX 4090 GPU is capable of guessing an eight-character password consisting of ...

  • Finland sees record number of data breach reports in 2023

    June 18, 2024

    A record high number of data breaches were reported to Finland’s Data Protection Ombudsman last year, according to a report by news group Uutissuomalainen. In total, the office received 6,900 data breach reports in 2023, an increase of 1,400 on the figure for 2022. Assistant Data Protection Ombudsman Heljä-Tuulia Pihamaa told Uutissuomalainen that the sharp rise ...

  • Hackers are using fake Chrome, Word and OneDrive errors to trick people into installing malware

    June 17, 2024

    Proofpoint has observed an increase in a technique leveraging unique social engineering that directs users to copy and paste malicious PowerShell scripts to infect their computers with malware. Threat actors including initial access broker TA571 and at least one fake update activity set are using this method to deliver malware including DarkGate, Matanbuchus, NetSupport, and various ...

  • Keytronic confirms data breach after Black Basta ransomware gang strikes again

    June 17, 2024

    Hardware firm Keytronic has confirmed a significant data breach weeks after the Black Basta ransomware group leaked over 500GB of the company’s stolen data around two weeks ago. The company, known for its printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), reported the cyberattack in an SEC filing over a month ago on May 6 – the attack was ...

  • Malvertising Campaign Leads to Execution of Oyster Backdoor

    June 17, 2024

    Rapid7 has observed a recent malvertising campaign that lures users into downloading malicious installers for popular software such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Teams. The installers were being used to drop a backdoor identified as Oyster, aka Broomstick. Following execution of the backdoor, we have observed enumeration commands indicative of hands-on-keyboard activity as well as the ...

  • Philippines Maritime Industry Authority web-based systems hit by cyber attack

    June 17, 2024

    Four web-based systems belonging to the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) were “attacked and compromised” on Sunday, MARINA said Monday. MARINA said it deployed its concerned officials and employees to its Central Office to “to implement expeditious measure to ensure the protection of the integrity of the systems.” Read more… Source: MSN News Sign up for our Newsletter Related: