[taspeotis]

Is it correct to class this as malware? I get that the portmanteau is "malicious software" and hijacking your Google search results isn't the friendliest thing to do but I think this is closer to "adware" than "malware".

Although the author seems like a bit of a di- ...fficult person, maybe we should coin the term "dickware" to cover this sort of software.

EDIT: I missed the keylogging bit, thanks to everybody that pointed it out. Adware + Spyware = Malware.

[Bud]

It's inserting fake search results and running a keystroke monitor. To me this isn't even a close call; of course it's malware. I would also say that any developer who would do this simply can't be trusted; if he will do this, he might do just about anything else. He doesn't seem to have any regard for others.

[prafuitu]

It is not inserting fake search results nor is it logging any of your keys! Look a the source code at http://ionut-botizan.net/window-resizer

It is just proxying clicks on real results through Ecosia's servers instead of Google's.

[orf]

a hell of a lot of chrome extensions inject adverts and other tracking code into websites you visit, like Facebook and youtube. would you class those extensions as malware as well?

[dudus]

I would. Why wouldn't you?

[orf]

I would, but that then means that the chrome web store is riddled with malware which isn't a nice thought and doesn't bode well for its future as something that is supposed to be more secure than traditional native platforms.

[JohnTHaller]

Considering that Google search result ads are riddled with malware* and Google AdSense ads are riddled with malware and that Google Play has numerous ongoing issues with Android malware, I don't think it's really surprising that the Google Chrome Extensions store is also riddled with malware.

* Which my mother confirmed JUST THIS WEEKEND by searching Google for Firefox and Spider Solitaire clicking one of the Google ads up top for each to get the download and... 2 hours of cleaning later and removing 18 different malware apps. Then just deciding it was faster to restore it to a factory image.

* * Which I'm trying to block one by one using the pitiful tools that Google makes available to block individual adsense advertisers.

[hrjet]

Something that was supposed to be secure is not. So you stop calling malware, malware?

Move on.

[orf]

I was agreeing with him, perhaps I should have phrased it better.

[mparlane]

He said it was capturing keystrokes... so most definitely malware. In fact, is this not "Spyware" ??

[Svip]

It also keylogs your key strokes in the browser. Sounds a bit like malware to me.

[dec0dedab0de]

The term malware came about as an umbrella to cover viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, and adware. It made it much easier to explain to users what was going on, while still using words that make sense.