About this extension

Overview:
This extension guards against coordinated pharting attack vectors targeting unsuspecting users who lower their guard when accessing fradulent websites.

By analyzing and intercepting such attacks, users are given a chance to review their options to either continue as-is, continue using a fake profile, or end the web session.

The interception also encourages users to exercise critical thinking and therefore providing fodder to be weary of future attacks.

Scope:
This extension makes use of your bookmarks and browser history to facilitate it's analysis. (All your personal data does not leave your computer and is therefore safe to use.) If a website appears to be initiating a pharting attack but the website has previously been bookmarked by the user, it is assumed that the user trusts that website and the web session is allowed to continue.

If a website appears to be initiating a pharting attack and the user has visited that website multiple times in the past, the PhartShield will inform the user, allowing the user to make an informed decision whether to proceed or stop.

Implications:
What harm could Pharting do? As an example, during the 2020 US Presidential Campaign hackers used phishing emails to infiltrate the Ukrainian gas company Burisma in order to dig up damaging information on Joe Biden of which his son is a board member.

Privacy:
This extension does not communicate with any servers, does not collect any information and does not track the user.

Disclaimer:
This extension is provided as-is and makes no claim or warranty of any kind. The author will not be held liable for any loss caused by your use or misuse of this product.

Open Source:
PhartShield is fully Open Sourced (MPL 2.0).

Addendum:
This extension is not related to the competing product, PhartGuard.

Developer comments

Pharting is no laughing matter. From something as simple as exposing your private health conditions to something as serious as jeopardizing a multi-million dollar business deal, phishing affects us all in a very personal way. Victims of pharting should not shy away from crowds or attempt to camouflage the ordeal. This will only serve to make phishers more bold. The first step to fixing the problem is accepting that it is a problem. Only then can the healing begin. PhartShield was created to carry this mantle and put the tools into the hands of those who need it.

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Release notes for 0.1.4

changed the question mark icon to a paperclip as suggested by public

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