Google Chrome Adds 3 New Security Features to Enhance Your Safety You Should Know
Google on Thursday announced a raft of new security changes it says will improve protection and control over personal data while browsing the web. Here's what you need to know.
Andrew Kamau, Chrome product manager at Google, confirmed that the latest version of the web browser comes with an updated Safety Check feature that includes new essential security resources. Safety Check will now run automatically in the background, with additional proactive steps to keep Chrome users safe. Among those steps, Kamau said, is protection against abusive notifications “by automatically revoking notification permissions from sites that Google Safe Browsing finds are tricking users into granting permission.”
Another new feature of Safety Check is the ability to check for any installed add-ons that may pose a security threat and notify the user. Safety Check “will take you to the add-ons page and show you a summary panel with quick controls to remove them,” Kamau said.
Safety Check will also now remind you of any security issues that need to be patched. “As always, Safety Check will continue to help you ensure you have the latest security patches and check your passwords for potential security risks,” Kamau said.
There’s also a new one-click opt-out feature for Chrome users. While Google Pixel users already have this feature, Kamau said it’s “coming to more Android devices soon.” The feature lets users tap to opt out directly in the notification drawer, and Chrome will immediately take action. “This has already resulted in a 30 percent reduction in notification volume,” Kamau said.
In short, these are the new security features in Google Chrome.
1. New Safety Check
This new version is designed to detect malicious downloads, compromised passwords, unsupported extensions, and other risks, and will automatically run in the background to scan for more types of threats.
Safety Check will be able to revoke permissions from sites you no longer use, alert you to potentially unwanted website notifications, and remind you of any security or privacy issues that need your attention.
2. Remove site notifications
Not only can unwanted website notifications be annoying, they can be dangerous, and Chrome is now making it easier to opt out of them. Now on Pixel phones and coming soon to other Android devices, a new “Unsubscribe” button will appear in the notification drawer so you can quickly turn off notifications for a specific site.
3. Grant one-time website permissions
Finally, Chrome on Android and PC will now let you grant one-time permissions to certain websites. You’ll only be able to allow certain permissions, like access to your camera or microphone, once. After you exit the site, those permissions are revoked and you’ll need to grant them again the next time you visit that site.