13 The malware is affecting around three million people around the world as per install numbers and can ‘hijack’ your URL. It means that the extension can track every time you click on a new link and alert the hacker. The hacker then has the option to redirect you to a new URL of his choosing, rather than sending you to your real destination. And, as with most crimes, there’s a monetary motive at play. Redirecting user traffic to ads and phishing sites by the millions can yield a pretty steady income stream. "For every redirection to a third party domain, the cybercriminals would receive a payment," said the report by Avast Threat Intelligence.