- #Zenmate security & privacy vpn in uc browser software#
- #Zenmate security & privacy vpn in uc browser windows#
In fact, there was even a research paper published by UC Berkeley, Google, and other co-authors who called out Crossrider’s business practices.Ĭrossrider is a mobile, desktop, and extension development platform that enables drop-in monetization via major ad injectors. We closely examined Crossrider’s history here and learned that it was a big player in the ad injection industry. Crossrider offered monetization options that were used by ad injectors Instead, the Crossrider platform was abused by third parties to spread malware and adware. While many outlets attributed this “Crossrider malware” to the people/business behind Crossrider itself, the truth is that Crossrider never created malware.
#Zenmate security & privacy vpn in uc browser software#
installs are typically triggered by bundlers that offer software you might be interested in and combine them with adware or other monetizing methods.
#Zenmate security & privacy vpn in uc browser windows#
Crossrider not only targets Windows machines but Macs as well. Targeted browsers are Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and sometimes Opera. The installers usually resort to browser hijacking. The common method to infect end-users is software bundlers. You can still find numerous outlets that discussed Crossrider malware and adware infecting various devices, such as with Malwarebytes, Symatec, and Security Beulevard in 2019.īelow is an excerpt from a Malwarebytes article that discussed how Crossrider malware infected devices through software bundles:Ĭrossrider offers a highly configurable method for its clients to monetize their software. Kape (formerly Crossrider) created a cross-browser development platformīefore 2018, Kape Technologies was called Crossrider and it was often discussed in the malware and adware industry. To get a better understanding of the situation, we must first examine the history of Kape.
Unfortunately, many VPN users remain oblivious about the real owners of the VPN they are using as well as the history behind some of these entities. In fact, Kape has been on a VPN buying spree since 2017.
While this may come as a surprise to some, it is nothing new in the industry. The most recent example of this is with ExpressVPN, which announced plans this week to be acquired by Kape Technologies. Update: We have added new information and corrections to this report, while also publishing another article that closely examines the business of Kape and Crossrider.Īs is normal in the tech industry, the VPN world is undergoing some major changes and consolidation. This report examines the history of Kape Technologies and its rapid expansion into the VPN industry. Kape Technologies (formerly Crossrider) has now acquired four different VPN services and a collection of VPN “review” websites that rank Kape’s VPN holdings at the top of their recommendations.