For those who’re utilizing this VPN extension on Chrome, delete it now

If there may be one factor I prioritize on my PC extra than performance, it is safety, and the very last thing I would like is for any of my private data to fall into the mistaken fingers. Typically, when you obtain apps from trusted suppliers and often use Windows Defender, it is pretty straightforward to maintain your PC safe. Nonetheless, there are delicate methods unhealthy actors can access your information without you even realizing it.

One potential methodology is thru Google Chrome extensions. Whereas many Chrome extensions are well-intentioned and pose no menace to your PC, one extension was lately found to be a major security risk, regardless of having each the “Featured” and “Established Writer” badges from Google, in addition to hundreds of downloads.

The extension is known as FreeVPN.One, and in case you have it put in, it is best to delete it instantly. Why may you be questioning? Based on cybersecurity researchers on the Koi Security firm, it is secretly taking screenshots of your browser.

To uninstall an extension from Chrome, click on the Extensions icon (the puzzle piece), then subsequent to the extension’s title, click on the three dots and choose Take away from Chrome.

Individuals use VPNs for privateness, however this uncovered VPN extension does the alternative

FreeVPN.One is discovered to be secretly taking webpage screenshots with out consumer consent

Sometimes, whenever you obtain and use a VPN, you are doing so to reinforce the safety and privateness of your looking. Nonetheless, it appears the FreeVPN.One extension on Google Chrome is doing something however that. Whereas its web page on the Chrome Internet Retailer could recommend that it is simply an on a regular basis browser VPN, it is really doing way more than simply hiding your IP deal with.

Based on the cybersecurity researchers at Koi Security, after an investigation, they discovered that the FreeVPN.One extension is finishing up a sequence of “suspicious actions” within the background that you do not even find out about. One among them is secretly taking screenshots of your browser.

Koi Safety studies that whenever you load a webpage with the extension put in, it instantaneously takes a screenshot of your webpage and sends it to a site registered to the extension’s developer. Because of this when you’re viewing delicate data in your browser, reminiscent of personal messages, photos, or banking particulars, FreeVPN.One may need secretly captured a screenshot of it. That is carried out by way of a script that the extension mechanically injects when a webpage hundreds. “No consumer motion, no UI trace, the screenshots are taken within the background with out you ever understanding,” Koi Safety explains.

FreeVPN.One additionally provides a “Scan with AI Risk Detection Device.” This function takes a screenshot of a webpage and sends it to a site for scrutiny by its “vetted evaluation companions” to find out if a web site is protected. Based on FreeVPN.One’s privacy policy, this solely happens whenever you use the function. Nonetheless, the coverage doesn’t point out that it’s really capturing a screenshot of each webpage you go to with out your consent, as was lately found.

The developer asserts that the screenshots are merely a safety function

Koi Safety’s findings solid excessive doubt on that

When Koi Safety contacted the developer of the FreeVPN Chrome extension, they claimed that the rationale screenshots have been being mechanically taken was a part of a “Background Scanning function” and that it will solely occur if a web site was thought of suspicious. Nonetheless, Koi Safety discovered that it took screenshots of trusted web sites, reminiscent of Google Sheets and Google Pictures, thereby disproving that declare. The developer claimed the photographs weren’t being saved or used wherever. Nonetheless, the developer offered no proof of this being the case, and it is unattainable to know what occurs to one of many screenshots after it is taken. When the developer was requested to show their legitimacy, reminiscent of a LinkedIn profile or GitHub account, they stopped speaking.

Based on Koi Safety, this improvement started in April 2025, when the extension was up to date to require extra permissions, together with the “all_urls” permission, which grants entry to each web site you go to. Because the report explains, a VPN sometimes requires Proxy and Storage permissions to function; nonetheless, FreeVPN.One requests considerably extra permissions than different VPN companies require. In July, the VPN was up to date once more, this time with “AES-256-GCM encryption with RSA,” which makes its actions more durable to trace.

As of now, FreeVPN.One remains to be accessible on the Chrome Internet Retailer and nonetheless carries its “Featured” badge and “Established Writer” badge. The latter signifies that the writer has a “constant constructive observe report with Google companies,” according to Google. Nonetheless, based mostly on Koi Safety’s report, it’s clear that Google ought to reevaluate each of those badges. In case you have the FreeVPN.One extension put in, I like to recommend you uninstall it instantly and alter any passwords for accounts you used whereas it was energetic.