Cog Browser Extension

The Cog browser extension carries several intrusive capabilities that it might activate when installed on the user's device. The extension is created specifically to impact the Chrome Web browser. When fully established, it could cause a drastic increase in the advertisements encountered while browsing the Internet, as well as frequent redirects to unfamiliar or dubious websites. In short, the application may exhibit adware and browser hijacker features.

Adware applications are created as a way for their operators to earn profits via the delivery of intrusive advertisements. One of the risks associated with advertisements generated by unproven sources is that they are often observed to promote questionable or unsafe destinations. Users could be presented or even taken to sites running fake giveaways, supports frauds, technical support schemes, or shady adult pages and betting/gaming platforms.

On the other hand, browser hijackers are equipped with the necessary capability to take over the victim's Web browsers. To be more precise, these invasive PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) will modify the browser's homepage, new tab page and default search engine. All affected settings will now start leading to a promoted page, which is commonly a fake search engine.

Frequently, applications like the Cog browser extension, also try to spy on users' browsing activities. They may collect information related to visited websites, conducted searches and clicked URLs. The gathered and then transmitted data also may include numerous device details or even account credentials, banking data, and payment info that the PUP has extracted from the browser's autofill data.