Firefox add-on spies on Google search results

Security researchers have warned about the existence of new spyware that creates a Firefox add-on, which can monitor users' search activities.

The spyware initially pretends to be an Adobe Flash Player update and, when executed on a user's computer, creates a Firefox add-on called Adobe Flash Player 0.2'. It was said to appear through forum posts.

Trend Micro's Jonathan Leopando said in a blog post that it had a disturbing "capability to monitor the user's browsing activities, particularly his/her Google search queries using the Firefox browser. It then sends the information it gathers to http://{BLOCKED}jupdate.com."

The add-on could also inject advertisements into a Google search results page.

Leopando said malware had historically generally targeted Internet Explorer, which is why many users opt forother browsers like Firefox, Chrome and Safari.

He said: "Though this used to be considered a safe computing practice before, it seems it no longer is with the proliferation of malware targeting the most popular alternative internet browser- Firefox."