Users are allegedly being locked out of their systems and unable to use other apps by new spyware for Google Chrome. The virus, known as “StealC,” requires users to enter their Google account credentials to utilize other applications. It does this using a novel method known as “AutoIt Credential Flusher.”

The method was found by OALABS researchers, and since August 22 of this year, conventional malware loaders and information-stealing programs like Amadey have been using it in the wild.

How is a user of Google Chrome locked in a fullscreen window by malware?

StealC employs Chrome’s Kiosk Mode function, which locks the machine in a fullscreen Chrome window and disables the standard F11 and Esc keys, according to the research. In case you didn’t know, Chrome frequently uses Kiosk Mode in public. 

The address bar, toolbars, and navigation buttons are gone from the Google Chrome interface when it is in this mode. In this mode, the virus displays a screen to users asking for their Google account credentials to do any kind of operation on the laptop.

When you enter your login and password, the data is taken advantage of by the info thief known as StealC, which was uncovered in February of last year.

What is the process to exit Google Chrome’s Kiosk mode?

The first thing to remember is that the Esc and F11 keys won’t assist you return to windowed mode if you have the malware infection and are locked in Chrome’s Kiosk mode. Other keyboard shortcuts, such as “Alt+F4”, “Ctrl + Shift + Esc,” “Ctrl + Alt + Delete,” and “Alt+Tab,” are also available. Just to refresh your memory, Alt+F4 ends the active application—in this example, Google Chrome—while Alt+Tab allows you to move to a new one.

Try bringing up the Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del in case the Kiosk mode appears again. When it does, choose the Processes tab, locate Google Chrome, right-click it, and select “End task.” As an alternative, you might use.