Google has announced that it will add a new security warning when downloading suspicious or potentially malicious files via its Chrome web browser.
“We’ve replaced the previous warning message with a more detailed message that provides more nuance about the nature of the risk and helps users make a more informed decision,” said Jasika Bawa, Lily Chen, and Daniel Rubery from the Chrome security team.
Therefore, the search giant is introducing a two-tiered download warning classification for suspicious and dangerous files, based on Google Safe Browsing verdict.
Each category comes with its own icon, color and text to distinguish the categories and help users make an informed choice.
Google is also adding a feature called Automatic Deep Scan for users who have enabled Chrome’s Safe Browsing Enhanced Protected Mode, which will stop you from being prompted every time to send a file to Safe Browsing for a deep scan before opening it.
If such a file is embedded inside a password-protected archive, users are now given the option to “enter the file’s password and send it along with the file to Safe Browsing so that it can be opened and a deep scan can be performed.”
Google stressed that the files and their associated passwords are deleted immediately after scanning, and that any data collected is only used to improve download protection.
“In Standard Protection Mode, when you download a suspicious encrypted archive, you will also be prompted to enter the file’s password, but in this case, both the file and the password will remain on your local device and only the metadata of the archive content will be checked by Safe Browsing,” the company said.
