I think almost everyone around the globe uses Google as their default web browser. Keeping that in mind, the tech giant keeps on adding new features to enhance security. This time Google has introduced features that enhance user security when downloading password-protected files from potentially risky sources. What is it and how does it work? Let’s find out.
With the latest Google security update, you get a “two-tier” download warning system. It uses AI-powered malware verdicts from the existing Google Safe Browsing feature. So now the updated warning messages provide additional information about the risks. It also helps differentiate between lower confidence and high-risk downloads. For downloads with uncertain risks, users will see a “Suspicious download blocked” message, while high-risk downloads will show a “Dangerous download blocked” warning.
Even with the Enhanced Protection mode, users in Safe Browsing will be asked to share file contents with Safe Browsing for a thorough scan. On the privacy front, Google says that these files are analysed only for security purposes and are deleted afterward.
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When a user downloads a password-protected file with Enhanced Protection or Standard Protection enabled, Chrome will request the file password to facilitate scanning.
As per the Chrome security team, only the metadata of the archive contents are checked and the file is deleted after the scan.
These changes might look minor, but according to Google, these have led to significant improvements in user behaviour. Users are not ignoring warnings now as much as they would do earlier.
While this is a good security feature, some companies are afraid that it might lead to potential data leaks and can warn their employees to not use Chrome to download the files.
What do you think? Will you provide passwords for a scan or not?
