With most work now being done online, securing a digital presence has become an imperative. The online world is full of numerous threats in the form of phishing attacks and malware. Accounts can be secured and protected from malicious attacks by using Passkey, Authenticator apps, 2-factor authentication, and other security tools.
Google Chrome is the default browser choice for most internet users. Google protects users from online threats by bringing regular security updates and features. Chrome's Safe Browsing feature can protect devices from malware, suspicious extensions, phishing, annoying ads, and more. This feature can be used on Android, iPhone, and computer. Learn how to use the Safe Browsing feature in this post.
How Google's Safe Browsing Works
Google introduced the Safe Browsing feature in 2007 to protect users from online threats.
Sometimes while browsing the Internet, you might see the following warning messages:
- Deceptive site ahead.
- The site ahead contains malware.
- Suspicious site.
- The site ahead contains harmful programs.
If you see these messages, you will understand that Safe Browsing is working. Google displays warnings if a site contains harmful or fraudulent content, malware, social engineering attacks, or suspicious websites. Using this mode, Google crawls the web and finds malicious websites. This feature lists suspicious URLs by analyzing data. Every time you visit a website, Google will check your list to see if you are entering a harmful website.
Types of Google Safe Browsing Mode
How much security Safe Browsing provides depends on the settings selected from Chrome Settings. Google offers two Safe Browsing modes: Standard and Enhanced Protection. Let's learn about both the modes.
Standard Protection
Normally the standard protection mode is on by default. In this mode, Chrome provides warnings about known harmful websites, extensions, and downloads. In this mode, the URL of a site is checked from the Safe Browsing list. If it finds something suspicious, it sends some content and links to Google. You will also get a warning if your password is compromised.
Enhanced Protection
Enhanced Safe Browsing is an upgraded version of Safe Browsing. This mode offers enhanced protection from known and potential threats in addition to standard protection features. Google Chrome checks URLs in real time and provides relatively advanced security. There is also an option to scan downloaded files better.
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Which Mode Should be Used?
Enhanced Protection provides more security than Standard Protection. However, many people hesitate to enable this mode as the user's browsing habits are analyzed on the server for security purposes.
Rules for Running Safety Check in Google Chrome
Online security reviews can be done using Chrome's Safety Check feature. It keeps browsing activity safe by checking for important security updates. Let's learn how to run a safety check:
- Open Chrome
- Click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner
- First click on Settings and then on Privacy and Security option
- Click on the Check now option in the Safety check section
It will then verify that Chrome is up-to-date, check whether passwords have been compromised, check whether Safe Browsing is enabled, and ensure that installed extensions are safe.
Rules for Using Safe Browsing in Google Chrome
Safe Browsing can be enabled from both desktop and mobile versions of Chrome. Let's know the rules to access this feature from both platforms.
How to Activate Google Safe Browsing on Desktop
Rules for enabling Safe Browsing using Chrome from desktop:\
- Open Chrome
- Click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner
- Scroll down and select Settings
- Now click on Privacy & security
- Select Standard protection or Enhanced protection
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Select No protection to turn off Safe Browsing option, you will see a pop-up, select Turn off and confirm. Google recommends not turning off this protection. If you are working with a specific website, you can turn off the feature if you don't want to see this warning.
Rules to enable Google Safe Browsing on Mobile
Follow the steps below to enable Google Safe Browsing from the Chrome Android app or iOS app:
- Open Chrome
- Click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner
- Select the Privacy and security option
- Select Safe Browsing
- Select Standard Protection or Enhanced Protection
If you want to stop safe browsing, you can select No protection.
Reading about any kind of online privacy or security issue during normal browsing is quite annoying. It is possible to ensure security using Google Chrome without any special cyber security software. So no matter how secure your account is, or how strong a password you use, it's important to use Google Safe Browsing to protect your information from a major data breach - be it standard or enhanced.