Security analytics firm Socket has identified 131 Chrome extensions designed to automate actions in WhatsApp Web and orchestrate bulk messaging. The cluster is primarily aimed at Brazil and collectively accounts for approximately 20,905 active users, pointing to a sustained, commercially motivated operation that has been active for at least nine months and received updates as recently as 17 October 2025.
Chrome extensions automating WhatsApp Web: what Socket found
Socket reports that the extensions share a common codebase, repeating UI patterns, and a unified update infrastructure—hallmarks of a single publisher operated under multiple brands. Their core capability is automated sending and scheduling of messages on web.whatsapp.com, effectively scaling outreach and evading platform limits.
According to Socket researcher Kirill Boychenko, the code is not classic malware but a high‑risk spam infrastructure. The extensions inject scripts directly into the WhatsApp Web DOM and run alongside legitimate application logic, automating mass sends while attempting to circumvent anti‑spam defenses.
White‑label distribution and reseller ecosystem behind the campaign
Despite varied names and logos, many listings are linked to publishers WL Extensão and WLExtensao. The tools are marketed as “WhatsApp CRM” solutions that promise sales growth, funnels, and bulk campaigns via the web client. Socket associates this pattern with a franchise‑style, white‑label model built on clones of ZapVende, a solution attributed to DBX Tecnologia.
Socket’s analysis notes that DBX Tecnologia promotes a reseller program enabling partners to rebrand and resell the extension, advertising recurring income of 30,000–84,000 BRL with a starting investment around 12,000 BRL. Public videos reportedly demonstrate techniques to evade WhatsApp anti‑spam restrictions, underscoring the campaign’s operational maturity.
Policy and compliance: Chrome Web Store and WhatsApp rules
Under the Chrome Web Store Developer Program Policies, publishing numerous extensions with duplicative functionality and spammy behavior constitutes platform abuse. Tools designed to systematically bypass rate limits and protections also violate sections on unacceptable content and API abuse.
WhatsApp’s Terms of Service and Meta’s Business Policies prohibit automated and bulk messaging without explicit recipient consent, as well as any attempts to circumvent platform restrictions. Automation via injected scripts in web.whatsapp.com that triggers sends without clear user confirmation falls under these prohibitions and can lead to account sanctions or bans.
Technical risks and abuse vectors in WhatsApp Web automation
The extensions operate as browser content scripts, injecting JavaScript into WhatsApp Web and interacting with the page’s live elements. This enables mass sending, message scheduling, and throttling strategies that simulate human behavior to dodge detection.
Security risks include phone number blocking due to anti‑spam enforcement, potential data exposure if updates are delivered from external infrastructure, and the rapid expansion of the spam ecosystem through easily cloned, rebranded packages.
Impact for users, businesses, and the browser ecosystem
Even with a “modest” install base near 21,000 users, synchronized campaigns can generate substantial volumes of unsolicited messages. For organizations, deploying such tools introduces legal and reputational risk: channel blocks, user complaints, and possible sanctions by Meta.
At platform level, the proliferation of near‑identical extensions strains Chrome Web Store moderation and erodes user trust in extension safety. This dynamic mirrors past abuse patterns where monetized spam tooling scales faster than manual review.
Practical risk‑reduction measures and safer alternatives
For users and companies: audit installed extensions; verify publishers and update history; minimize permissions; enable WhatsApp two‑step verification; avoid “WhatsApp CRM” extensions from the store and use the official WhatsApp Business API or approved solution providers.
For security and compliance teams: enforce enterprise browser controls (managed extensions) to block unapproved add‑ons; monitor for unusual WhatsApp Web activity patterns; and provide user training on the risks of messenger automation and data handling.
Socket’s findings show how a white‑label reseller model can rapidly scale anti‑spam evasion across the Chrome ecosystem. Treat WhatsApp Web automation tools with high skepticism, favor vetted business APIs, and align outreach with consent‑based practices to reduce the risk of account bans, data leakage, and financial loss.
