Google Chrome extension “Screenshot & Screen Capture Elite ” with over 1 million user installs is reportedly injecting ads into Google Search results page. Users who noticed the behavior posted reviews on the extension page saying they’re seeing ads on search results despite ad blocker extension UBlock Origin installed in the Chrome browser.
If you’ve installed Ad Blocking extension and still noticing ads on Google Search results page in Chrome, that probably has to do with Extensions you’ve installed. Specifically, Screenshot & Screen Capture Elite is doing this, reported by users on the extension page in Chrome Web Store.
The extension lets you capture screenshot of the current page and allows you to crop and save the image to your device or upload it to the web.
The uploaded screenshot provides a shareable URL containing the IP address 67.205.139.234.
As of writing, the Screenshot Capture Elite is on Chrome Web Store and installed by over 1 Million users.
Recently posted reviews by users reveal what the extension is doing behind the scenes.
For instance, a user left comment two days back with a message “This extension will add unrelated ads on top your Google search results, and is possibly tracking your search history as well”
User notes the ads won’t appear right away after installing the extension, it will take a while and says the behavior is “Very Sneaking”. We’ve embedded other reviews about the extension in the screenshot below.
After receiving reports from users that UBO extension isn’t blocking on ads Google Search results, Gorhill said on twitter the 1 Million + Extension is inserting the ads.
If you check the source code of the extension, then you can notice, it uses “Fly analytics ” and got permission to connect to external IP address 67.205.139.234, which we said above it uses to provide URL for the uploaded screenshot.
The extension has been reported and is still on the Chrome Web Store.
If you’re using the extension, uninstall it immediately. Before clicking the remove button, report to Google by selecting the “Report abuse” checkbox. You need to choose an abuse reason and submit your comment to the Chrome web Store team.
The Screenshot& Screen Capture Elite extension is also available on Edge add-ons Store with different icon and another publisher name, but it is the same extension. If you’ve installed the extension in Edge, remove it and report to Edge Add-ons Store team.
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