'Install the Extension for Chrome to Protect Your Privacy' Pop-Up Scam

The 'Install the Extension for Chrome to Protect Your Privacy' pop-ups employ commonly encounter scam tactics to scare users into buying or installing dubious software products. The pop-ups are designed to appear legitimate, at least at first glance. One specific app that has been observed to be promoted by these deceptive pop-ups and their associated webpage is the adware app Clipboard Sync Beta.

In the vast majority of cases, users will not encounter the 'Install the Extension for Chrome to Protect Your Privacy' pop-ups willingly. Instead, they will be taken to scam by a previously visited dubious website. One such example is the untrustworthy important-incoming-news.com website that caused redirects to the pop-ups.

After landing on the scam page, users will be shown a pop-up window containing a fake alert. Users will be left with the impression that their current online security is not sufficient and that they need to install the promoted app that is presented as a Chrome browser extension supposedly providing increased privacy protection. Clicking on the 'Download' button, however, opens the Chrome Web Store page for Clipboard Sync Beta, which, as we said, is an adware that has no connection to cybersecurity.

Users should always be cautious when seeing offers to immediately install a seemingly important piece of software. In most cases, the promoted apps will be thinly-disguised adware, browser hijackers, rogue apps, or other PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs).