Millions using Chrome at risk from drive-by hackers, experts warn

HACKERS could attack entire streets by simply driving down them, UK cyber-security experts have claimed after finding a glitch in Google Chrome that puts millions of households at risk.

The vulnerability of the US tech company’s popular web browser means that hackers could quickly access the Wi-fi networks of British homes in order to steal passwords and activate webcams on connected devices, they say.

The fault in the browser that would allow someone near a victim’s home to hack onto their network within one minute, arises from a weakness in Chrome’s source code, experts from Surecloud, cyber-security consultancy, have found.

This issue was reported to Google earlier this year. Surecloud was told by the company that the browser was “working as designed” and Google did not plan to update it.

During an attack, the target will see a page pop up that looks like their Wi-fi router’s administrator menu. Otherwise there are no signs that an attack is taking place.

Elliot Thompson, the researcher who found the weakness, said: “We would estimate that at least three million households in the UK and about 30 million households worldwide are vulnerable. This is an issue that web users should be aware of and take steps to protect themselves against.”

Surecloud recommends that households which fear they may be at risk should clear their browser’s saved passwords and not allow automatic reconnection to their home networks.

A Google spokesman was contacted but did not comment before the time of publishing.