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:

  • T-Mobile discloses second data breach since the start of 2023

    May 1, 2023

    T-Mobile disclosed the second data breach of 2023 after discovering that attackers had access to the personal information of hundreds of customers for more than a month, starting late February 2023. Compared to previous data breaches reported by T-Mobile, the latest of which impacted 37 million people, this incident affected only 836 customers. Still, the amount ...

  • New LOBSHOT malware gives hackers hidden VNC access to Windows devices

    May 1, 2023

    A new malware known as ‘LOBSHOT’ distributed using Google ads allows threat actors to stealthily take over infected Windows devices using hVNC. Earlier this year, BleepingComputer and numerous cybersecurity researchers reported a dramatic increase in threat actors utilizing Google ads to distribute malware in search results. Read more… Source: Bleeping Computer  

  • IT giant Bitmarck shuts down customer, internal systems after cyberattack

    May 1, 2023

    German IT services provider Bitmarck has shut down all of its customer and internal systems, including entire datacenters in some cases, following a cyberattack. The company, one of the largest service providers for German health insurers, said no customer, patient, or insured individuals’ data had been accessed in the security breach — at least not according ...

  • Android Minecraft clones with 35M downloads infect users with adware

    April 27, 2023

    A set of 38 Minecraft copycat games on Google Play infected devices with the Android adware ‘HiddenAds’ to stealthily load ads in the background to generate revenue for its operators. Minecraft is a popular sandbox game with 140 million monthly active players, which numerous game publishers have attempted to recreate. Read more… Source: Bleeping Computer  

  • CISA Releases One Industrial Control Systems Medical Advisory

    April 27, 2023

    CISA released one Industrial Control Systems Medical (ICS) medical advisory on April 27, 2023. These advisories provide timely information about current security issues, vulnerabilities, and exploits surrounding ICS. CISA encourages users and administrators to review the newly released ICS medical advisory for technical details and mitigations Read more… Source: U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Related story: CISA Releases ...

  • Linux version of RTM Locker ransomware targets VMware ESXi servers

    April 27, 2023

    RTM Locker is the latest enterprise-targeting ransomware operation found to be deploying a Linux encryptor that targets virtual machines on VMware ESXi servers. The RTM (Read The Manual) cybercrime gang has been active in financial fraud since at least 2015, known for distributing a custom banking trojan used to steal money from victims. Read more… Source: Bleeping Computer