Recently Google announced a new security feature to Chrome browser intent for detecting untrusted downloads and extensions by its Enhanced Safe Browsing feature, which was launched a year ago. Google said it will now offer additional security when users try to install a new extension from the Chrome browser, alerting if it can be a trusted download or extension or not.

At present, more than 75% of all add-ons on the platform are reported, the company pointed out, computing “any downloads created by a developer who permits the Chrome Web Store Developer Program Policies, will be treated as trusted Enhanced Safe Browsing.”

What is Enhanced Safe Browsing?

Enhanced Safe Browsing consists up of sharing real-time information with Google Safe Browsing to proactively protect users against threatening sites. The company also reported that its integration with Safe Browsing’s blocklist API helped improve privacy and security, with the total number of mischievous downloads disabled by browser increased by 81%.

While coming to Chrome’s new download security feature that scans downloaded files for malware by utilizing metadata about the downloaded file, alongside permitting the users the option to send the file to be scanned for a more in-depth analysis.

Google said, “If a user wants to share the file, Chrome will directly upload the file to Google Safe Browsing, which will scan it using its dynamic and static analysis classifier in real time.” “After a short wait, if Safe Browsing discovers the files are unsafe, Chrome will notify with a warning.”

How to Safeguard Your Device using Enhanced Protection?

Despite the file being names as probable dangerous; users still have the option to launch the file without scanning. Should users accept to scan the file, the company concluded the files are deleted from Safe Browsing for a short time after scanning.

While it did not even define the accurate timeframe for when this deletion of the file would happen, in conformity with Google Chrome Privacy Whitepaper, the company “preserve the transferred information in its raw form and contain this information for up to 30 days of time period” for all Safe Browsing requests, after which only malicious information are preserved.

The new features are available initiating with version Chrome 91, this version of the browser was released on the 26th of May. Users can go through the Enhanced Safe Browsing by just navigating inside Settings > Privacy and Security > Enhanced protection. By following these simple steps one can easily get alert or notify for unauthorized downloads or extensions, which keeps your system safe and secure from malicious software and threatening downloads.