Users of Google’s Chrome browser on Monday reported seeing typically secure news and media websites getting flagged by the browser as potential malware threats. As one variation of Chrome’s browser security warning read:
“Content from cm.netseer.com, a known malware distributor, has been inserted into this web page. Visiting this page now is very likely to infect your Mac with malware.”
Full screenshot below:
Users reported seeing this or similar messages from Chrome when using it to access The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Washington Post, National Review Online, Deviant Art, and even TPM.
Google told TPM in a statement: “We don’t comment on individual malware cases but the team is looking into this.”
Google’s own help pages give users and website owners instructions on preventing their devices from being infected with malware.
In mid-January, a number of Chrome users reported seeing popular tech websites flagged as malware based on their use of the isocket ad network. Isocket’s CEO countered by saying it was Google’s Chrome browser that was being overzealous, telling Search Engine Watch:
“Google’s malware system is often contradictory and prone to false positives that inappropriately cripple good websites.”
