It is able to overwrite the Chrome browser and replace the original shortcuts with fake ones. The Chromium virus is a malicious web browser that is created using the Chromium code. While Chromium is a legitimate browser, its open-source code has made it unstable, full of bugs and a target for spreading viruses. A majority of the code mimics the classic Google Chrome browser, but the difference is that some of the code is contributed by others. What Is Chromium?Ĭhromium is an open-sourced web browser project made by Google. This is what happened with the Chromium virus. While they allow you to customize your experience, viruses can also piggyback on their code and infiltrate your device. Open-source devices have their pros and cons.