Password theft from web browser is another threat we need to consider seriously. Here are some protection tips and advice.
Nowadays, every computer user uses a particular web browser to access the Internet for both private as well as work-related matters. Most of the popular and widely used browsers, including Google Chrome, Safai and Mozilla Firefox, offer to save your data: login credentials, credit card details for e-commerce sites, billing and shipping address, username and passwords for social networking sites, passport number, and other personal information. This autofill data feature seems quite convenient and saves users a lot of time and effort by filling out the same forms automatically using the saved info.
However, there is a catch: since the browsers store heaps of user’s confidential information, it also attracts potential hackers and cyber criminals to lurk around, leading to possible data breaches. Along with the auto-fill data, any other sensitive information and valuable files stored on your system can be scooped up by the hackers if your laptop or desktop computer gets infected by spyware – a piece of malware that gathers information about the targeted user or organization and sends such collected data to advertisers, data firms, or other third-party entities.
How Malware Steals Passwords from Your Web Browser
Google Chrome and other Chromium-based web browsers (such as Microsoft Edge, Brave Browser Opera, etc.) always save the user data in the same place which makes it easy as pie for cyber crooks to find it. But, browsers store passwords and other information in encrypted form to keep intruders from seeing that saved data.
Here’s the crux of the problem – since the spyware or info stealer that has penetrated the system is running as a genuine program under your account, the browser decrypts the saved data stored on your computer without asking for further authentication, assuming that the access request is made by the user.
Tips to Prevent Password Theft Browser Hijacking Attempts
To reduce the risks of being a victim of password theft, follow these below-mentioned safety precautions.
- Install a powerful antivirus and anti-malware software to keep your system protected against deadly malware infections (such as spyware, viruses, ransomware, rootkits, etc.) round the clock.
- Outdated systems and software may contain unpatched flaws that cybercriminals can exploit to inject malware. Hence, it is extremely essential to keep your web browser up to date at all times.
- Use any of the trusted password manager applications available on the web to protect your digital life.
