Security was never the strong suit of browser-based crypto wallets to store Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and other cryptocurrencies. However, new malware makes the safety of online wallets even more complicated by directly targeting crypto wallets that work as browser extensions such as MetaMask, Binance Chain Wallet or Coinbase Wallet. Named Mars Stealer by its developers, the new malware is a powerful upgrade on the information-stealing Oski trojan of 2019, according to security researcher 3xp0rt. It targets more than 40 browser-based crypto wallets, along with popular two-factor authentication (2FA) extensions, with a grabber function that steals users’ private keys. MetaMask, …

XDEFI Wallet, a browser-based wallet service for decentralized finance (DeFi) and nonfungible token (NFT) users, launched its public version on the Chrome Store. Similar to the widely-used browser extension wallet MetaMask, the XDEFI Wallet supports DeFi applications across multiple blockchains. According to the announcement, the browser wallet works with the Ethereum (ETH) network and other Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible chains. Supporting THORchain and Terra, XDEFI Wallet has plans to include Avalanche, Solana and Arbitrum. In a previous conversation with Cointelegraph, Émile Dubié, co-founder and CEO of XDEFI Wallet, argued that cross-chain compatibility was necessary to ensure better utilization of Web 3.0. …

Beginning Sept. 1, decentralized search engine Presearch will be listed as a default option on all new and factory-reset devices sold in the United Kingdom and Europe, a move that could erode Google’s dominance in the search engine market. The decision by Google to list Presearch as a default browser option follows a protracted legal battle with the European Commission over accusations that the technology company used Android to solidify its search engine dominance. In 2018, the European Commission’s antitrust regulator fined Google a record 4.24 billion euros for unfairly limiting competition on smartphone operating systems. In 2019, Google said …

Google is running crypto ads again after its updated financial products and services policy went into full effect on Aug. 3. The multinational giant banned crypto- and initial coin offering-related advertisements back in June 2018, and the updated policy allows regulated crypto entities to market their services once again. ICOs have been left out in the cold, however. Google’s crypto ad policy revision was first outlined in June and stipulates that “advertisers offering cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets” targeting United States consumers are allowed to advertise their services and products if they meet specific requirements. The move will provide additional sales …

Digital currency exchange Coinbase has announced a new browser extension for its native wallet, enabling users to more easily connect to decentralized applications and decentralized finance directly on their desktop. The Coinbase Wallet browser extension is now available on Google Chrome, the company announced Monday. Coinbase Wallet lead Sid Coelho-Prabhu said that more than 1 million Coinbase Wallet customers regularly connect to applications like Uniswap and Compound. The new Chrome extension will streamline this process, removing the need to scan a QR code on their mobile devices each time they want to connect. Coelho-Prabhu explained: “Starting today, we’re making it …

Major privacy-focused browser Brave is inching closer to offering a private search engine. Brave announced Wednesday that the company has acquired Tailcat, an open search engine developed by a group formerly working on privacy search and browser products at Cliqz. Operating under the majority holding of Hubert Burda Media, Cliqz terminated its efforts on browser and search tech in May 2020. According to the announcement, Tailcat will serve as a foundation for the upcoming Brave Search — an inbuilt search engine designed to enable private and transparent web surfing. Brave CEO and co-founder Brendan Eich told Cointelegraph that the firm …

Podcaster Joe Rogan has revealed that he uses the privacy focused Brave browser to avoid internet ads and Google tracking in the latest episode, which features American musician and comic Reggie Watts. It’s one of the most high profile endorsements in Brave’s history with Rogan’s podcast downloaded more than 190 million times each month. The show was recently licensed to Spotify in a $100 million deal. This latest episode has already received 1.7 million views on YouTube in the first 24 hours. You’re getting tracked In the 2.5 hour episode, Rogan and Watts devoted almost 30 minutes to discussing Internet …

A security researcher has discovered another 22 Google Chrome web browser extensions built to steal their users' cryptocurrencies. Cybersecurity news outlet Naked Security reported on Friday that Harry Denley, a security researcher specializing in cryptocurrencies, discovered 22 more malicious Google Chrome extensions. The extensions he discovered impersonated well-known crypto firms such as Ledger, KeepKey, MetaMask and Jaxx. Their purpose is to trick users into giving away the credentials needed to access their wallets. Most of the phishing extensions have already been taken down as of press time. Per the report, most were down within 24 hours of Denley reporting them. …