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:

  • APT and financial attacks on industrial organizations in H1 2023

    September 25, 2023

    This summary provides an overview of reports of APT and financial attacks on industrial enterprises that were disclosed in H1 2023, as well as related activities of groups that have been observed attacking industrial organizations and critical infrastructure facilities. For each topic, Kaspersky researchers have sought to summarize the key facts, findings, and conclusions of the ...

  • UK: Reported cyber security breaches increase threefold for financial services firms

    September 25, 2023

    Cyber security breaches for UK financial services firms have increased threefold from the years of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, with the highest – reportedly – being in the pensions sector. New research by the international law firm RPC shows that the amount of reports of cyber security breaches to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has increased from ...

  • Hackers break into Russian database with data on hundreds of millions of flights

    September 23, 2023

    Ukrainian hackers have hacked into the Russian database of the Sirena-Travel booking system, obtaining information on 664 million flights over the last 16 years. They also obtained the names, phone numbers and document numbers of the passengers. News of this was posted on the Telegram channel of the hacker community KibOrg. An unknown group called Muppets, ...

  • Lingerie group Wacoal hit by cyber attack

    September 22, 2023

    The websites for Wacoal, Fantasie, Freya and Elomi are all down and displaying an error message stating that the sites are “under maintenance”. One independent Wacoal stockist told Drapers the European arm of the Japanese business had been hit by a cyber attack on Tuesday (19 September) which has affected ordering systems, websites and phone systems. Read ...

  • Rare Backdoors Suspected to be Tied to Gelsemium APT Found in Targeted Attack in Southeast Asian Government

    September 22, 2023

    A cluster of threat actor activity that Unit 42 observed attacking a Southeast Asian government target could provide insight into a rarely seen, stealthy APT group known as Gelsemium. The researchers found this activity as part of an investigation into compromised environments within a Southeast Asian government. Unit 42 researchers identified the cluster as CL-STA-0046. This unique ...

  • Bermuda: Governor Confirms A ‘Major Cyber-Attack’

    September 22, 2023

    “Bermuda’s Government IT systems were subjected to a major cyber-attack” and the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre and the National Crime Agency “have been in contact with the Bermuda authorities, and are providing advice to support them,” Governor Rena Lalgie said. The Governor said, “Yesterday Bermuda’s Government IT systems were subjected to a major cyber-attack. That ...