Google has included new security features to their Chrome browser to help protect against malicious websites as you browse the web.
This new Safe Browsing API can also be used by developers to keep their apps and other software safe from potentially harmful downloads.
This move is due to the over 1.1 billion users relying on Chrome for their daily browsing needs.
Chrome will show you a warning message before you visit a site that is suspected of containing malware or phishing.
A phishing attack takes place when someone masquerades as someone else to trick you into sharing personal or other sensitive information with them, usually through a fake website. Malware, on the other hand, is software installed on your machine, often without your knowledge, and is designed to harm your computer or potentially steal information from your computer.
With Safe Browsing technology enabled in Chrome, if you encounter a website suspected of containing phishing or malware as you browse the web, you will see a warning page.
To use these features, open the browser’s Settings panel and scroll down to the Privacy section (you may need to click Show advanced settings to get there), and check the boxes labeled Use a web service to help resolve navigation errors and Use a web service to help resolve spelling errors. Also, be sure to check the Enable phishing and malware protection box.
Additionally, click the Content settings tab and consider restricting some content. You can, for example, disable JavaScript (which is often exploited by malware) and plug-ins. When you do so, Chrome will notify you when a site is using them so that you can voluntarily opt in for legitimate sites.
