Trojan masquerades as Google Chrome extension

Cybercriminals are leveraging the growing popularity of Google Chrome to spread malware, according to researchers at anti-virus company BitDefender. Virus writers are sending unsolicited emails stating that a new extension of the browser is available. The messages contain a link, which, if followed, directs users to a spoofed Chrome Extensions page that offers a malicious executable. Researchers identified the malware, an “.exe” file instead of a legitimate ".crx" extension, as a trojan that attempts to block access to Google and Yahoo pages and redirect users to fake versions of those sites. — AM