Malicious browser extension forces users to visit binkiland.com
Friday 27 March 2015, 11:34PM
By John Viser
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Binkiland, sometimes also mistakenly referred to as Bikiniland, is a cross-browser add-on running on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and MS Internet Explorer. It’s not a run-of-the-mill extension, though. Whereas browser helper objects, as the domination implies, are there to help users with their web surfing in a variety of ways, this one does more harm than assistance. Before describing the negative effects that this app causes on the compromised computer, it should be remarked that its unethical nature comes to light as early as the installation phase.
Instead of implementing decent and truthful marketing, the authors of Binkiland choose a different distribution method called bundling. Whereas this concept is widespread in the software industry and tends to be used in a good context most of the time, some shady schemes have malicious implications. By conspiring with third-party free tools such as streaming video downloaders, media players and other web service enhancements, the bad guys get their malign code delivered to PCs as a package, where its presence is kept secret to an extent.
When on a computer, the Binkiland add-on makes the whole idea and benefits of browsing preferences go down the drain. Regardless of the URLs you had for the default homepage, desired web search provider and new tab page, these will get overruled by a new value – binkiland.com. In other words, this landing page replaces your custom settings, so you will be constantly directed to it. Design-wise, the site is like a typical search engine out there, but you never opted into using it. Also, it has quite a bit of advertising on its pages in the shape of sponsored links and ads above the fold.
The sole actionable option that Binkiland victims have is to get rid of the adware, which is a more complex process than the standard add-on removal. Some professional security sites provide tips and tricks to uninstall this unwanted entity from the infected computer in several mouse clicks.