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EP 271.5 Deep Dive. Santa and The IT Privacy and Security Weekly update for the week ending December 23rd., 2025
Season 6 Episode 271
Our daily digital tools—browsers, apps, and smart devices—offer convenience but also expose us to hidden security risks. This guide reveals how ordinary technologies can imperil privacy and safety, focusing on three major areas: browser extensions, typo-prone website visits, and internet-connected cameras.
The Hidden Spy on Your Browser
Browser extensions, designed to block ads or save passwords, can also harvest personal data or hide malware. Researchers recently found popular Chromium extensions secretly recording entire conversations with AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Gemini—logging prompts, responses, and timestamps, then transmitting them to outside servers. Many of these tools were deceptively labeled as privacy enhancers and featured in official stores, masking their data collection practices under carefully worded policies.
Another danger, exemplified by the GhostPoster malware campaign on Firefox, showed how malicious code can bypass security. The attackers embedded it in an image file within the extension’s icon—an area security software rarely scans. The code then downloaded additional payloads from remote servers in timed stages to avoid detection. Together, these examples illustrate that browser extensions can function as open doors for data theft and hidden malware, exploiting misplaced trust.
When a Typo Becomes a Trap
Even something as minor as mistyping a web address now carries serious risk. A "parked domain"—an inactive site often resembling a misspelled version of a popular URL—has become a common tool for cybercriminals. Once relatively harmless, these domains are now overwhelmingly malicious. According to Infoblox research, over 90% of visits to parked domains result in exposure to scams, illegal content, or automatic malware downloads, compared to less than 5% a decade ago.
Simply visiting one of these pages can trigger pop-ups for fake antivirus subscriptions, redirect you to scam sites, or silently infect your device. In today’s environment, a typo is no longer an inconvenience—it’s a gateway to immediate compromise.
The Camera That Turns on You
Internet-connected security cameras promise safety but can create severe privacy breaches when poorly secured. A massive hack in South Korea exposed footage from over 120,000 cameras in homes, clinics, and salons, which hackers later sold online. Most intrusions stemmed from weak or unchanged default passwords. This event underscores that devices we install for protection can become surveillance tools for attackers if we fail to secure them properly.
Staying Smart and Safe
The dangers from compromised extensions, malicious parked domains, and insecure cameras highlight one shared truth: convenience often conceals risk. To navigate safely, users should:
1. Question their tools—research extensions or apps and limit unnecessary permissions.
2. Avoid careless mistakes—double-check URLs before pressing enter.
3. Secure devices—use strong, unique passwords and update firmware regularly.
Ultimately, cyber safety depends on ongoing vigilance rather than one-time fixes. Like Santa in a playful ESET report who “tightened his security” after a fictional data breach, users too can—and must—strengthen their defenses. Staying alert, skeptical, and proactive transforms technology from a source of danger into a safer partner in modern life.
Published on 12 hours ago