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Chrome Safe Browsing Will Soon Warn You About Bad Extensions

Plus more in-depth file scanning

By Joshua Hawkins Joshua Hawkins Freelance Technology Reporter Full Sail University Josh Hawkins is a freelance writer for Lifewire who loves writing about the latest tech and gadgets that help make people’s lives easier. As an avid gamer and VR enthusiast, he also enjoys diving deep into the technology that helps bring those kinds of experiences to life. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 3, 2021 03:45PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Internet & Security Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Google has revealed plans to bring more advanced security features to Chrome, including a notification that users may not want to trust an extension. Google said the new features will arrive soon, but did not reveal an exact date. According to The Verge, Chrome also will add the option to provide more in-depth scanning of any downloaded files, to help ensure you aren’t making your computer vulnerable to malware or viruses. Firmbee.com / Unsplash The update also will bring better protection for users before they install an extension and give it access to their browser and computer. Google claims it has seen an 81% increase in unsafe extensions being disabled through Google Safe Browsing. Soon, safe browsing features will give users a prompt if an extension doesn’t meet the parameters set for it by the Developer Program Policies. Likewise, any extensions developed while following those guidelines will be considered trusted and let through without any issue. Download protection is another key point Google will address with these additions. Soon, Enhanced Safe Browsing will offer more in-depth scanning of risky files, which it will block if they seem too dicey. You can, of course, bypass this blocking if you trust the download, but it will provide additional warning for any files you may need to worry about. To protect your privacy, Google says any uploaded files that are scanned are deleted shortly after. Google The new features will arrive in the browser's current build, Chrome 91, which already added freezing tag groups and other additions to the browser. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Can Chromebooks Get Viruses? How to Run a Google Security Checkup How to Fix a Privacy Error In Chrome Opera vs. Google Chrome The 9 Best Free Antivirus Software of 2022 How to Install, Manage, and Delete Safari Extensions How to Fix a Connection-Is-Not Private Error What Is the Google Chrome Browser? The Top 10 Internet Browsers for 2022 How to Block YouTube on Chromebook 12 Best Free Spyware Removal Tools (October 2022) How to Use Firefox for Mac 3 Best Free Antivirus Apps for Android Phones How to Use Google Chrome Commands 14 Best Free Bootable Antivirus Tools (October 2022) How to Use Firefox's Privacy and Security Features Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies