text: 43. October 31, Network World – (International) Researcher warns that ‘zombie browsers’ are skyrocketing. Some Web browsers can be tricked into using so-called malicious extensions that can give hackers the ability to hijack the user’s session, spy on Web cameras, upload and download files, and in the newer mobile-device area, hack into Google Android phones. An IT security consultant at Deloitte Hungary spoke about the topic he calls ―zombie browsers‖ during the Hacker Halted Conference in Miami the week of October 29. He said up until a year ago, only 10 of these browser malicious extensions were known to exist, but 2012 has seen 49 new ones already. ―It’s skyrocketing,‖ the consultant noted, and he faulted the antivirus vendors for allegedly not addressing the issue at all. ―Even after two years, none of the antivirus vendors detect these,‖ he said, saying he’s issuing a plea for them ―to try harder on detecting malicious extensions.‖ In his talk, he explained how malicious extensions in Firefox, Chrome, and Safari have been created by attackers that try to get them added to the user’s browser through Web-based drive-by downloads or infected attachments. The result might be giving the attacker a way to steal data or spy on users, he said. Source: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9233140/Researcher_warns_that_zombie_browsers_are_skyrocketing